Chicago Bears Week 16 Winner No. 2: David Montgomery
David Montgomery has taken that leap that everybody was expecting from him, and in a big way. When healthy this year, he has played at a very high level and has shown lots of growth in the way he plays. His vision is improved, and he is running meaner than ever. The young back is a do-it-all player who can contribute to every aspect of his position, and he has shown it on a weekly basis.
The game against the Seahawks featured a lot of ground and pound due to the snow, but Seattle dominated the line of scrimmage. Only 45 yards on 21 carries does not scream “winner” at a glance. It actually looks like a poor day on the ground. Where Montgomery made most of his plays was in the passing game, leading the Bears in receiving with seven catches for 61 yards. He was also tied for the team-high in targets with nine.
As mentioned before, Nick Foles was able to hit Montgomery out of the backfield repeatedly because it seemed like the Seahawks refused to cover him. He was open too many times for Foles to pass up and the checkdowns would go for some nice yardage to move the sticks. Montgomery showed his vision by catching and turning quickly. Once he has the ball in his hands, he is a force due to his ability to make cutbacks and run through people.
David Montgomery played a great game on Sunday even when the running lanes were not there. The elite running backs are able to contribute even when running the ball is not effective. Guys like Dalvin Cook, Austin Ekler, Nick Chubb, and Joe Mixon have all seen increased usage as pass catchers which have contributed to their success.
Montgomery was not used early in the season as a pass catcher, but lately, he has been a factor in that part of the game. He is a weapon and should be fed the ball consistently.