3 Chicago Bears Keys to Success for Week 11 vs the Green Bay Packers

1) Pound the Rock with Swift and Johnson

The Bears' offensive woes came to a head after the team's loss to the New England Patriots a week ago, ultimately leading to the termination of offensive coordinator Shane Waldron's contract. With passing game coordinator Thomas Brown now serving as the offense's interim coordinator and play-caller, the Bears might take on a different identity to support Williams against the Packers.

A former NFL running back himself, Brown should put Sunday's game in the capable hands of D'Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson. Looking at their four wins on the season, the offense averaged an impressive 123.75 rushing yards per game, which would rank 12th best in the league. The team's losses, however, tell a much different story, where the offense averaged just 95.6 rushing yards per game, which would rank eighth worst in the NFL. Even more concerning, if you omit the Bears' 202 rushing yards from their razor-thin loss to the Washington Commanders, the offense averaged just 69 rushing yards per game over their other four losses.

It is clear that statistically speaking, the Bears' ability to run the football effectively has greatly influenced the game's outcome. But beyond the numbers, consistently moving the ball on the ground would ultimately benefit the rest of the unit. Gaining momentum across the offensive line forces fewer opportunities for the Packers' stout defensive front to tee off in potential passing situations, and receivers would generate more separation if Green Bay were forced to commit more defenders to the box. For Williams, a persistent and effective rushing attack would be immeasurably helpful, as the pressure of moving the ball up and down the field would be lifted off the inexperienced rookie's shoulders. No matter how you look at it, Sunday's divisional battle becomes significantly easier if the offense can pound the rock with their powerful, downhill rushers.