Angry Running by D'Onta Foreman Powers Bears

The powerful running style of D'Onta Foreman helped ignite the offense and proved just the complement quarterback Tyson Bagent needed in a 30-12 win.

D'Onta Foreman isn't angry, he just runs that way.

Some backs might be angry if they were in his shoes, though.

His physical style Sunday in the 30-12 win over the Raiders on Wednesday earned him the Angry Run Scepter from NFL Network and the FedEx Ground Player of the Week.

It was somewhat ironic Foreman won the FedEx ground award since his Angry Run Scepter came for a pass play and he had been kidded after the game for being in the air all day—he kept hurdling tacklers instead of bowling them over.

He bowled over enough of them, though, particularly Marcus Epps. The Raiders defensive back was out of bounds at the time and so was Foreman but it didn't stop the Bears running back from turning into a runaway train with Epps assuming the role of common insect.

With 154 yards the last two games and three total touchdowns Sunday, it almost seems negligent Foreman went onto the inactive list for Weeks 2-5 while Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson did the backfield work. He didn't get mad.

"I've been in this position a lot in my life," Foreman said. "If you go back through the last three years, this has been my life.

"So I've just always kept the mindset that when you get your opportunity you got to go out there and capitalize on it. When you get it, try not to give it back. That's my main focus, honestly."

Foreman referred to his time in Carolina and Tennessee when he backed up Christian McCaffrey and Derrick Henry.

Johnson is likely to come back from a concussion this week, although Herbert is still out. So for now Johnson's playing status should remain unchanged, but he admits he wishes he didn't have to keep proving himself all the time.

"Yeah, I definitely feel that, honestly," he said. "But it's a business. There are a lot of other great running backs, a lot of really good running backs and a lot of good competition.

"I take nothing away from those guys. They push me each and every day to continue to excel and get better and better. It's part of how it goes. I've been on three different teams, so I've kind of had to prove myself to three different organizations. I feel like when I get my opportunity to do so I feel like I handle myself and carry myself in a way that I think they believe and trust in me. I just want to continue to grow and build on that."

On Sunday, Johnson's running style almost gave the Bears offense an identity.

"Maybe so," he said. "I can't say that it isn’t. I can't say that it is. But I will say that with me being out there I definitely do think my physicality brings energy to the team.

"They kind of feed off my energy when I’m going out there and doing what I do. Like I said, I just want to focus on getting better each week."

The Bears running game has gradually climbed back to the territory it held last year. They were No. 1 in running last year and have climbed to fifth this year even without the benefit of Justin Fields running last week and part of the previous game.

Foreman is averaging 4.7 yards, Herbert 5.3 and Johnson 4.9 yards per carry.

Foreman hopes he can continue contributing that way.

"I think just me continuing to go out there and stack days on top of days, games on top of games, I think it'll take care of itself," he said.

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