Lamar Jackson has more rushing yards than the Chicago Bears in 2019

Share

The focus following the Chicago Bears' Week 7 loss to the New Orleans Saints will once again be on quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, and for good reason. Despite a solid final stat line (34-54, 251 yards, two TDs), most of his production was the result of garbage time against a prevent defense protecting a three-score lead.

And while Trubisky deserves most of the blame, the lack of a rushing attack can't be ignored.

The Bears, once again, ignored the ground game. Literally. Matt Nagy called just seven rushing plays, two of which went to wide receivers, and totaled just 17 yards on the ground. Rookie David Montgomery had just two carries for six yards. His biggest play was a bad one: a lost fumble.

This isn't a one-game anomaly either. This is a problem that has plagued the Bears all season. It's been so bad, in fact, that Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has outrushed the Bears' entire team so far in 2019.

Jackson, through seven games played, has 576 rushing yards. The Bears, as a team, have run for just 437. Even if you eliminate the one extra game Jackson has over Chicago because of the bye week, he's still more productive, by himself, than the stable of Bears runners.

Sure, Jackson is a potentially generational talent as a running quarterback. But the Bears entered Week 7 with one of the league's worst three rushing attacks. They're certain to drop even lower now.

As coach Matt Nagy said after the game, something's gotta change. Whether it's the offensive line, the play-calling or the players who are actually carrying the ball, the Bears won't win many more games if they can't develop an identity on the ground.

Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of the Bears.
Contact Us