4 Chicago Bears' keys to success for Week 3 vs. Indianapolis Colts

After a disappointing primetime loss a week ago, the Chicago Bears are looking to rebound on the road against the struggling Indianapolis Colts. In the team's third straight matchup against an AFC South opponent, the Bears are hungry to get back on the winning path, especially considering that the team will be fighting for head coach Matt Eberflus, who served as Indy's defensive coordinator before his hiring in Chicago.

This game is certainly in grasp for a Bears team that is still trying to find their identity throughout the young NFL season but to leave their eastern-bordering state with a win, it is important for the navy and orange to achieve the four following keys to success:

1) Establish the Rushing Attack Early

One of the Bears' biggest weaknesses throughout two games has been their rushing attack - or the lack thereof. Against the Titans and Texans, the Bears averaged just 77.5 yards per game on the ground, the fifth-worst mark across the league. Their 3.5 average yards per carry as a unit ranks even worse across the league as the fourth lowest, but perhaps more concerning than their inability to run the ball is their aversion to running early in games.

On Sunday Night Football a week ago, the Bears offense rushed the ball just four times in the first quarter, resulting in -3 yards. Finding a rhythm on the ground early allows the offense and the line specifically to put their stamp on the game from the get-go, and a failure to do so may make it hard to find that rhythm when you need it most in the second half.

Fortunately for the Bears, the Colts are currently ranked as the worst rush defense in the NFL, averaging a shocking 237 rush yards allowed per game through two weeks. Frankly, it is hard to envision a better opportunity for the Bears to find their identity on the ground than a matchup against the Colts. If the Bears can get the ball rolling on the ground early, the offense should look significantly more fluid compared to a week ago.