After Bears running back Anthony Thomas scored the first of his two touchdowns Sunday–a 1-yard dive between the right guard and tackle in the second quarter–he sought out left guard Steve Edwards before heading to the sideline.
Edwards had stayed on the field to block for the extra point, but not before Thomas found him for a high-five. Thomas already had made a point to personally thank every other offensive lineman before putting on a baseball cap and resting on the bench.
Sunday, the “A” in “A-Train” stood for appreciative.
“The offensive line did a great job, my fullback did a great job and the tight end did also,” Thomas said after gaining 111 yards on 31 carries, his heaviest workload since carrying 33 times in the final game of the 2001 regular season.
Thomas also credited offensive coordinator John Shoop, coach Dick Jauron and the Bears’ trainers. He probably drove home Sunday night feeling bad about forgetting the grounds crew.
“It feels good to get back in the rhythm of things,” Thomas said.
Thomas had missed the previous two games with a sprained foot. The Bears not only had missed Thomas’ production but also the way his presence in the huddle kept the defense guessing and the chains moving.
Here’s a look at five plays during Sunday’s 20-7 Bears win that showed Thomas’ impact on the game–and the offensive game plan.
Situation: Third-and-1 from the Chargers’ 21 with 11:36 left in the second quarter.
Result: Doing most of the work himself, Thomas took a handoff and gained 15 yards over right guard Chris Villarrial to keep the drive alive.
Impact: In several situations in the last two weeks, as rookie Brock Forsey and backup Adrian Peterson filled in for Thomas, third-and-short had become a passing down. On one third-and-2 play in Thomas’ absence, the Bears even ran a set with an empty backfield. Giving the Bears a legitimate short-yardage running threat in those situations only expands the playbook and makes the Bears less predictable.
Situation: Third-and-goal from the 1 three plays later.
Result: Thomas found a crease and plowed through a small hole between Villarrial and tackle Aaron Gibson to score the Bears’ first touchdown. It was his seventh carry on that 12-play drive.
Impact: Without Thomas in the backfield, the Bears would have been more likely to try a play-action pass, and the end zone can be the easiest place to play pass defense because there’s less ground to cover for defensive backs. It also made a statement to the Chargers that the Bears could get the tough yard when they needed it and punctuated a punishing 64-yard drive in which Thomas made much of the room himself.
Situation: Fourth-and-2 from the Chargers’ 36 with 7:22 left in the third quarter.
Result: Thomas found room up the middle and followed the push behind center Olin Kreutz, Edwards and Villarrial for a gain of 3. The gain put the Bears over the 100-yard rushing mark for the day.
Impact: First, it told the Bears’ offensive linemen that the coaching staff had enough faith in them to convert a key fourth down, a good way to keep morale high. Second, it set up a 31-yard pass on the next play to tight end Desmond Clark, out of the same formation, as San Diego linebackers fixated on the run. Without Thomas, the Bears aren’t nearly so bold on either play.
Situation: Second-and-9 with 2:52 left from the Chargers’ 20.
Result: The Bears handed off to Thomas to eat some clock and possibly set up a Paul Edinger field-goal attempt, but Thomas followed his blockers and wiggled for 11 yards for a first down at the 9.
Impact: As important as the gain, Thomas stayed inbounds and forced San Diego to burn its final timeout with 2:47 left. It also set up a first-and-goal that all but assured a Bears victory.
Situation: Fourth-and-goal from the 1 with 26 seconds left.
Result: Thomas took a pitch and headed left behind the block of fullback Stanley Pritchett, who mauled the strong safety. Thomas barreled over linebacker Donnie Edwards for the final yard to break the plane of the end zone. Touchdown, Bears.
Impact: The final dagger, the play summed up the message the Bears sent to the Chargers: On this day, there was no stopping Anthony Thomas.
