When you hear the phrase “best running back in the NFL” who do you think of? Perhaps you think of the Tennessee Titans super star back Chris Johnson? Maybe you think of Oakland Raiders star Darren McFadden or the Viking’s Adrian Peterson. These are all good backs but perhaps no other running back means more to his team that the Bear’s Matt Forte.
Forte has been a one man wrecking crew for the Bears so far this season. Through the Bears first seven games of the season, Forte has rushed for a total of 672 yards (currently second in the NFL) with two touchdowns. Through the air, he’s gained 419 yards and has one touchdown there.
He’s already over 1000 total yards through seven games (he currently has a total of 1091 yards from scrimmage) and is on pace to top the 2000 yard mark if he keeps going like he is.
And with his ability to make the offense work, there is no doubt that Forte is going to achieve the 2000 yard mark and help the Bears make the playoffs.
When you look at the good running backs in the NFL you have to look at those that are helping their teams win. Peterson isn’t doing much to help his team win but he’s still cranking out the yards. Johnson has been having a good season right now but hasn’t had the impact that Forte has.
When offensive coordinator Mike Martz first came to the Bears it was thought that the days of running the football would be something of the past. But remember what Martz was able to do with Marshall Faulk when he was with the St. Louis Rams. Now it appears as if Forte is being used in a similar fashion and that means he’s going to get some big numbers in this offense.
The Bears utilize Forte a lot and he’s the biggest part of their offense. Without him, the Bears wouldn’t have won a single game this season. He means that much to the Bears.
Forte is undergoing some issues with his contract and deserves to get a new deal. He’s more than proven that he is worth any amount of money that the Bears would pay him and probably more and he needs to get a new deal. The Bears can’t afford to lose him next season nor can they afford to have him suddenly decide to hold out in an attempt to get a new contract. Paying Forte would be a step in the right direction.
Chicago may have known what they were getting with Forte when they got him and he’s had a mixed bag of results during his career. His second season with the team was a bit of a difficult one as he spent some of his time injured and therefore wasn’t as effective as he had been in his first season. His third season was good enough and so far his fourth has been one of the best in the history of running backs.
But another question is just how much longer can Forte play at this pace, not just in this season but for the rest of his career. He is being used a lot as a runner and he may end up wearing down as the season goes on. That would put the Bears in a bad situation.
But for now Forte has been one of the best backs in the NFL and should continue to be a top of the line back as long as he stays healthy.
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