Matt Forte: 'Talk Is Cheap'
By Dan Durkin-
(CBS) Reflecting back on the Bears' 3-5 mark in the first half of the season, expectations haven't been met on offense. Compared to where they were at this point last season, on average, they're scoring five fewer points per game and are turning the ball over at a higher rate.
One of the few bright spots has been the steady play of running back Matt Forte, who has accounted for 36 percent of the team's total yardage, and his 58 receptions are the second-most in the NFL. For a team designed to move the ball via the air, such contributions from a running back should make for a well-rounded attack, but the Bears have been anything but, which has been frustrating for Forte and the offense as a whole.
"We should be putting a lot more points, obviously, because of the talent we have on this team," Forte said. "We just haven't -- the first half of the season -- been executing."
That's been a frequent refrain from coaches and players that at this point of the season has fallen on deaf ears. Call it a crutch phrase that players lean on, but it has validity. The ultimate truth lies in the fact that there's nothing that can be said that will fix the Bears' problems; the team simply needs to perform for 60 minutes.
"There's nothing I can say that's going to make you understand what's up with the Bears, or what's going on, or what's going to change," Forte said. "Because, to me, talk is cheap. So we have to go out there and show everybody. I'd rather show stuff than talk about it."
Forte figures to get plenty of opportunities to show everybody Sunday night, as the Green Bay Packers rank dead last in the league in run defense, allowing 153 yards per game.
"With a team like that, with a quarterback like they have and an offense like they run, we have to run the ball, control the clock and keep them off the field," Forte said. "We don't want our defense out there for long drives. So, we've got to get out there and put together long drives and score touchdowns."
Dan Durkin covers the Bears for CBSChicago.com and is a frequent contributor to 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter at @djdurkin.