Chicago Bears take on the Buffalo Bills in a Week 16 matchup

Lean on the running game some more

With the bitter cold, the running game will be critical. The ball will be hard and it will be more difficult to hold onto it. Fields already leads the league in fumbles with 15 so running the ball more will help reduce the chances of fumbling and losing the ball.

With Herbert back in, the Buffalo defense now has two other options to look out for in the backfield. Yes, Montgomery can get some yards. However, he is more of a bruiser who will break tackles. Also, he is more of a pass-catching threat.

Herbert and Fields can use their athleticism and speed to get away from the defense. They can cut and break loose. Once they get out on the open field, good luck.

Giving the defense someone else to think about other than Fields helps him. If the defense keys in on him too much, Herbert can break out with big yards. With more attention on those two, Montgomery can come in and make big plays.

The running formula with Herbert is something that has helped the offense. In the four games he missed, the Bears averaged 149.8 rushing yards per game, most of them by Fields. In the previous five games with Herbert, they averaged 246 rushing yards per game.

That formula will be big on Saturday. If the Bears can use the running game to control the clock they have a shot at the upset win.