The sight was not exactly the offensive backfield swap that had some Bears fans in a lather, particularly in a mistake-laden first half Sunday night against Green Bay.
On the plus side, J.D. Runnels didn’t fumble or telegraph a pass in his first appearance since Week 2. The virtually anonymous backup fullback didn’t touch the ball either. But failing to turn the offense into a pile of smoking rubble might have been enough to earn a New Year’s toast from those packed into Soldier Field.
Early on against the Packers, in fact, the non-quarterbacking members of the Bears’ backfield acquitted themselves well, quelling whatever nagging questions lingered.
Thomas Jones started and didn’t add to a litany of injuries involving ribs, ankles or groins.
Cedric Benson entered late in the first quarter and made an immediate impact, reaching a season-high for rushing yards before the half was out. He finished with a career-high 109 yards on 13 carries.
And Gabe Reid and Runnels, subbing in as fullback Jason McKie sat out with a bad ankle . . . well, they were appropriately and pleasantly anonymous.
That Jones merely took the field for the Bears’ first offensive possession isn’t medal-worthy–his welcome Sunday night was a Nick Barnett hit on his first carry that lifted him off his feet.
But it needn’t be underplayed. For the first time in his career, Jones started all 16 games of a season.
He started 14 in 2004 and 15 last season, but a full season of durability represents just another chit in his pocket as the well-established Bears starter. As a bonus, Jones’ 19 first-half yards pushed him past the 1,200 mark for the second straight season. He added 27 yards on nine carries to finish with 1,210 yards for the season
Benson, meanwhile, entered with 45 seconds left in the first quarter and immediately ran with a purpose.
His first carry came directly on the heels of the first Rex Grossman pass intercepted and returned for a touchdown, and Benson burst into a seam at the line of scrimmage for a 30-yard gain.
The second-year back added an 18-yard run later and ended the first half with 75 yards–a season high, bettering his 64 yards at St. Louis on Dec. 11 on just eight first-half carries and barely more than a quarter of play. He ran for over 100 for the first time.
The 93 rushing yards the Bears managed in the first half didn’t exactly pave the way for an offensive onslaught, but as more than three-quarters of what the team gained overall, it wasn’t the central problem. And at least Bears fans could breathe somewhat easy that some potential backfield issues don’t seem to be issues at all.
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bchamilton@tribune.com
