The Bears didn’t hire Jim Harbaugh — didn’t even try, in fact. But they can still follow his lead.
The Chargers are 2-0 for the first time since 2012, and not because Harbaugh has taken $52.5 million-a-year quarterback Justin Herbert to the next level, but because he’s invigorated a lackluster run game.
The Chargers, who were 25th, 30th and 21st in rushing under Brandon Staley, are second in the NFL after two games this season (197.5 yards per game) after rushing for 176 and 219 yards in victories over the Raiders and Panthers.
Running back J.K. Dobbins, who averaged 56.1 yards per game and 6.2 yards per carry in three seasons with the Ravens and John Harbaugh, is averaging 133 yards per game and 9.9 yards per carry — leading the NFL in both categories. It’s amazing how quickly some guys can get acclimated to a new offensive system.
As for Herbert, he’s less prolific but just as efficient as he’s been. He’s averaging 137.0 passing yards per game — way down from his career average of 277.8. But his passer rating is 97.5 — exactly his career average. And his touchdown percentage (three in 46 attempts) is a career high 6.5%. And after coming in with a career record of 30-31 in games he started and finished, he’s 2-0 under Harbaugh.
It’s early, of course. And the Chargers face tougher challenges than the Raiders (1-1) and Panthers (0-2). But Harbaugh’s history indicates his rushing success with the Chargers might have some staying power. In 2011 with the 49ers, he inherited Alex Smith, a former No. 1 overall pick, but rejuvenated that team with an effective rushing attack.
The 49ers, who were 19th and 25th in rushing under the previous coach, were eighth, fourth, third and fourth in rushing in Harbaugh’s four seasons — and went 44-19-1 with three appearances in the NFC Championship Game and one in the Super Bowl. Hmmm …
That sure seems like a lesson for the Bears and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. General manager Ryan Poles emphasized the support system Caleb Williams had that would prevent the rookie from having to carry too much of the load — a prudent plan. But the best support any quarterback can have — a productive run game — has been virtually non-existent.
The Bears are averaging 77.5 rushing yards per game — just 41.0 yards per game and 2.5 yards per carry from their running backs. DeAndre Swift has 24 carries for 48 yards (2.0 average). Ten of Swift’s 24 carries have gone for zero yards or less, with seven for negative yards.
That’s a big drop from the Luke Getsy era. Even with quarterback Justin Fields leading the team in rushing in 2023, Bears running backs averaged 89.0 yards per game — 13th in the NFL.
It doesn’t look like an easy fix. Waldron isn’t prone to emphasizing the run — the Seahawks were 31st in rush attempts last season, with Geno Smith at quarterback. And the Bears’ offensive line looks like it was put together last week. After Poles did all that work to revitalize the roster, the Bears are going to have to coach their way out of this mess. It’s old hat for Jim Harbaugh. For the Bears, it’s a huge challenge. It always is.
2. You can’t lament a Bears quarterback issue without looking north. While Williams is taking baby steps, the Packers just plugged Malik Willis in after Jordan Love was injured and — voila! — success.
Willis, who had a 39.0 passer rating in three NFL starts with the Titans, was remarkably accurate and efficient in his first start in Matt LaFleur’s offense Sunday — off one week of practice with the first team offense. He completed 12 of 14 passes (85.7%) for 122 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions for a career-best 126.8 passer rating in a 16-10 victory over the Colts at Lambeau Field.
And, not to belabor the point, the running game was the key to his success. The Packers had 53 carries for 261 yards (4.9 average). They had been averaging 119.0 rushing yards per game in LaFleur’s first 84 games.
That sets up a convenient point-of-comparison this week, with the Bears playing the Colts on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium. And the Colts will be without Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, who was put on injured reserve Tuesday with a sprained right ankle that limited him 10 snaps against the Packers.
3. Bright Side Dept.: It’s uncanny how the Bears always manage to test their fans’ optimism. But even with an offense that looks like it needs major surgery instead of physical therapy, the Bears are exactly where they were expected to be after two games — 1-1 after a one-score loss to a 2023 playoff team on the road (after having a chance to take the lead on their final drive). And still with the best quarterback prospect they’ve ever had. It’s been worse.
4. The Bears still have a chance to be 4-2 or 5-1 heading into the bye with games coming up against the Colts (0-2), Rams (0-2, and without wide receiver Puka Nacua and possibly Cooper Kupp), Panthers (0-2) and Jaguars (0-2).
But it’s the same old story, with an offense on training wheels. Unless things develop quickly on that side of the ball, they’ll have a tough time against the tougher part of their schedule — a predictable fate in 2012, when they started 7-1 and finished 10-6 and out of the playoffs; and 2020, when they started 5-1 and finished 8-8, losing to the Saints in the playoffs. Even Matt Nagy was dubious about that fast start.
5. The Bears’ offensive line has taken a beating in the first two games. But, for what it’s worth, the combination of Braxton Jones, Teven Jenkins, Coleman Shelton, Nate Davis and Darnell Wright played all 70 snaps against the Texans. That’s only the 12th time in 36 games under Eberflus the Bears’ offensive line has played every snap.
That combination has played the last 96 consecutive snaps, giving them a chance to break the Eberflus-era record of 137 consecutive snaps set by Jones, Jenkins, Lucas Patrick, Davis and Wright last year against the Vikings (last 41 snaps), Lions (all 71 snaps) and Browns (first 25 snaps). Continuity might be the last hope for the offensive line.
6. Did You Know? The Bears have allowed 20 points or fewer in their last eight games. It’s the longest current streak in the NFL and ties their longest streak since 2005 (nine). The Bears also had eight consecutive games with 20 or fewer points allowed in 2018-19. Since then, their longest streak had been four as the Vic Fangio defense withered and eventually dissolved.
The Bears are 5-3 in the current streak. They were 7-1 in the 2018-19 streak, and 8-1 in the 2005 streak.
7. Field goals of 50-plus yards have become virtual chip shots in recent years, but never more than this season. Cairo Santos (53, 54) and the Texans’ Ka’imi Fairbairn (56, 59, 53) were a combined 5-for-5 on field goals of 50-plus yards Sunday night. With Fairbairn adding a 47-yarder, the two kickers were 6-for-6 with an average distance of 53.7 yards. And all of them had room to spare.
Through two weeks, NFL kickers have made 35-of-39 field goals of 50-plus yards (a once-unbelievable 89.7%), with 20 kickers making at least one. The NFL record is 70.7% in 2022 (152-of-215). From 2005-10, kickers made 54.5% of their kicks from 50-59 yards (312-of-572), with 95 attempts per season.
8. Quick Hits — The Bears’ defense has allowed an NFL-best three points and 2.8 yards per play (60-170, excluding kneel-downs) in the second half through two games. … Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen missed his 12th game in the last 36 when he sat out Sunday night’s game against the Texans with a heel injury. … The Bears’ 353 total yards are fewer than any back-to-back games in Waldron’s three seasons as the Seahawks’ offensive coordinator (437 in Games 8-9 in 2021). … The Bears have had just two possessions in the red zone (one touchdown, one field goal) — the fewest red-zone possessions in the NFL. The league average is six.
9. Ex-Bears Player of the Week — Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney had three receptions for 88 yards — a 41-yard touchdown and clutch receptions for 21 and 26 yards on the winning touchdown drive in a 22-21 upset of the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Monday Night Football.
It’s Mooney’s highest yardage total in 23 games — since he had four catches for 94 yards in a 20-12 loss to the Giants at MetLife Stadium in 2022.
9b. Honorable mention: Steelers quarterback Justin Fields completed 13 of 20 passes for 117 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in a 13-6 victory over the Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Fun Fact: Fields now has the same record in 13 career games with 140 or fewer passing yards (5-8) as his 13 games with 200 or more passing yards (5-8).
10. Bear-ometer — 9-8: at Colts (W); vs. Rams (W); vs. Panthers (W); vs. Jaguars in London (L); at Commanders (W); at Cardinals (L); vs. Patriots (W); vs. Packers (L); vs. Vikings (L); at Lions (L); at 49ers (L); at Vikings (W); vs. Lions (W); vs. Seahawks (W); at Packers (L).
