Chicago Bears: Grading the team’s first half performance

Running backs: A

This is the sole unit on offense that is performing well. Jordan Howard, who broke the Bears’ rookie record for yards last season, is on pace to gain even more yards this season. Additionally, he has four rushing touchdowns, just two short of his total last season.

Howard has gotten some key runs this season. He had the winning run in overtime against the Pittsburgh Steelers and had a big run that set up the game-winning field goal (also in overtime) against the Baltimore Ravens.

Tarik Cohen is a perfect complement to Howard. While Howard is a hard runner who runs over people, Cohen, at 5-6 and 179 pounds, prefers to run around people. He definitely earned his “Human Joystick” moniker. He drives defenders crazy trying to bring him down

Cohen’s ability to get away from defenders has him also lining up as a slot receiver. Of course, the Bears’ troubles with receivers also has something to do with that. He has a 71.8 percent catch percentage. In the Panthers game, one of Trubisky’s four completions went to Cohen for 70 yards. For the season, Cohen has 467 total yards from scrimmage (228 rushing and 239 receiving). Interestingly, he has three touchdowns — one rushing, one reception, and one passing.

The workload Howard and Cohen have on their shoulders is incredible. To be able to do what they’re asked even when everyone on the field knows what will happen makes it more amazing. Those two players take the weight of the offense on their shoulders and do the work game in and game out. Hopefully, neither player breaks down. Hopefully, their load gets eased a bit in the second half.

The Bears offense has 116 first downs this season. Of those, they have 51 on the ground (5th in the NFL). Of those 51, 46 of them were by Howard (36) and Cohen (10). Howard’s total ranks him third in the league. If the passing game does a little more in the second half, we’ll have even more exciting times this season.