D’Andre Swift Is the Key to Bears’ Offensive Success

Baltimore Proved Why Swift Is Vital to the Offense

Coming into this game, the Ravens had been struggling to contain their opponents’ rushing attack. They were already over halfway to their rushing total allowed the previous year in their first six games of the season in 2025. While injuries have plagued Baltimore, the bye week allowed them to get healthy and make the necessary adjustments to beat the Bears, holding them to just 96 rushing yards. 

Leading up to the game, Swift was limited in practice for the week. He had been dealing with a nagging groin issue for the previous two weeks. Still, while Swift didn’t have a monumental day on the ground, he showed his potential to be a game breaker if leaned upon more. Swift saw his season low in snap count, but made an impact with his 71 rushing and receiving yards.

Bengals and Giants Defenses Provide Opportunity

After a slight lull against Baltimore, D’Andre Swift and the offense should be excited about the matchups they have coming up. Cincinnati’s defensive struggles have been very apparent this season—they’ve allowed 27 points or more in seven straight games. In those games, teams have averaged over 150 yards on the ground. 

The Bengals have given up more rushing yards than anyone else in the NFL this year, and their last game saw no rectifying that issue. The Jets ran for over 250 yards to aid in their first win of the season. With Breece Hall picking up 133 yards on 7.4 yards per attempt, there is a clear path toward a big game for Swift. 

Similarly, the Giants have continued to struggle to keep teams out of the end zone on the ground, allowing a staggering 5.7 yards per attempt this season—last in the league. Further, they are coming off their worst performance of the season, allowing the Eagles’ shaky run game to exploit their weaknesses.

Consistency Is the Key In the Future

While Swift has shown flashes of a true RB1 this season, his consistency is key for continued success. His rushing attempt averages have been high, but it hasn’t been because of one or two long runs bringing up the average.

In his back-to-back 100-yard games, his longest runs were for 19 and 23 yards. There will be plenty of big-play potential against the Bengals and Giants. However, finding his rushing lanes and getting to the second level of defenses will continue to help along his potential career year. 

Swift’s singular 1,000-yard rushing season saw him average 4.6 yards per attempt and 65 yards a game in 2023. Currently, Swift is performing better in both categories. ESPN projects him to finish the season setting new career highs in both rushing yards and touchdowns. 

The Helping Hands in Swift’s Breakthrough

Swift’s success has been evident in the Bears’ last two wins, but there are other factors contributing to his success. The Bears’ offensive line has been stellar this year. The newly improved O-line has been at the top of the league in two major categories, time to throw and yards before contact per rush. This shows that the line has done its job, ensuring that Swift can get the ball and have space to operate immediately. 

Not only has the line’s play been stellar, but Ben Johnson’s effective offensive play design has been as well. While the offensive line has been giving Swift plenty of room to find holes, Johnson’s playbook allows for deception in the run game. If the offense can continue its dominance on the ground and enable Caleb Williams to make plays, we may see a truly special season offensively.

Expectations May Be High, but They Should Be

Swift has given fans hope that there may, for the first time since David Montgomery, truly be a true star back playing for the Bears. Expectations are at a new high for Swift in Chicago. With this mix of his ability and the offensive line’s emergence this year, 1,000 yards may be the tip of the iceberg. Combine this with the upcoming schedule for the Bears, and you may have a recipe for the playoffs if everyone continues to do their job in the windy city.