CHICAGO — The Bears entered Week 4 on a 2-game losing streak and accompanied by the criticism that comes with it. They spent the days ahead of Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams talking about a struggling offense and the run game in particular, hoping a solid performance would get coordinator Shane Waldron’s unit on track.

While it was nowhere close to perfect and massive issues remain, there was improvement in the overall operation and a couple nice moments from Caleb Williams, DJ Moore and D’Andre Swift.

It was good enough to push Chicago to a 24-18 victory over the Rams at Solider Field behind 133 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground.

There’s plenty to discuss after this one, so let’s break it all down in this instant analysis:

Bair’s break down

D’Andre Swift has mentioned mounting frustrations over a slow start to the season a few times already.

The high-priced running back struggled to find running room or a role in the passing game, which was a difficult thing for someone used to consistently performing well. That also led to a meeting with coaches and running backs about technique running in this new offensive scheme.

Whether it was that meeting or steady progress in practice or a good matchup, Swift went off on Sunday against the Rams. He piled triple digit totals in terms of total offense and scored from 36 yards out to give the Bears a 2-score lead early in the 4th quarter.

Not only was he productive, but Swift was also used the right way. He was given opportunities in space as a rusher and receiver. That led to some explosive plays that have been missing from the run game to this point, and he proved a quality outlet receiver Caleb Williams used several times throughout the game.

When recently asked about early struggles, Swift said he was frustrated but undeterred. He continued to work through a difficult period and proved he can be a real asset for the Bears offense when he gets going. The key, it seems, is finding the right spots and play calls to help him thrive. – Scott Bair

Key Stat

Swift had his best game as a Bear by a wide margin.

He rushed 16 times for 93 yards (5.8 avg) and tallied 72 receiving yards on 7 catches, leading the Bears in both rushing and receiving on the day.

That included a 36-yard scamper for his 1st touchdown of the season.

Swift — one of the Bears’ top free agent pickups in the offseason — had 78 total yards from scrimmage entering Week 4 and was averaging 1.8 yards per carry.

He became the first Bear to post 70+ rushing yards and 70+ receiving yards in a game since Jeremy Langford on Nov. 15, 2015.

Pivot Point

The Bears were down 6-0 in the middle of the 2nd quarter and having trouble getting their offense on track.

As we’ve seen several times already this season, the defense provided a much-needed spark as star end Montez Sweat sacked Matthew Stafford and stripped the ball in the process. Kyler Gordon recovered, setting the Bears up in a great spot.

The offense needed to go only 16 yards to find the endzone, which it did courtesy of a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Roschon Johnson.

That sparked the Bears offense as they scored on their next 3 drives: A field goal before halftime and then a touchdown pass to DJ Moore in the 3rd quarter and a Swift run in the 4th quarter.

What’s next

The Bears will play their second straight home game in Week 5 against Carolina. That’s a rich opportunity for victory that shouldn’t be missed, considering the Bears play away from home over the next three games after that Panthers contest.

Bair Mail is coming every Wednesday all year long, maybe more if the questions demand it. The easiest way to get involved: email us as mailbag@marqueesportsnetwork.com.