Matt Forte and the Chicago Bears were nearly able to upset the Green Bay Packers in Week 1, but came up short by a final score of 31-23. Even though the Bears ended up losing the game, Forte personally proved that he still belongs among the top running backs in the NFL. He had a huge performance and is showing no signs of slowing down.
Throughout the game, Forte ended up carrying the football 24 times for 141 yards and a touchdown. He also caught five passes for 25 yards to add onto his impressive game.
Chicago is finally using Forte like he should have been used over the past few seasons. The reason for the change in how he is being used is due to finally having a capable coaching staff. John Fox and Adam Gase got the most out of their running backs with the Denver Broncos, but they never had anyone with the type of ability that Forte has.
Forte has been one of the most underrated running backs in the NFL throughout his entire career to this point, but perhaps people will finally see him for what he is with a good offensive system.
At 29 years old, Forte likely still has another good season or two left in his career. There is a chance that he will end up leaving the Bears following the 2015 season, as he will be set to hit the open free agency market. Chicago likely will try to get a new long-term deal done with him so that he can finish his career as a member of the Bears, but there is also a chance that they will allow him to walk because it will take too much money to re-sign him.
One thing is for sure, which is the fact that the Bears have a weapon that is ready to be used to the fullest of his potential. Forte has long been buried by Marc Trestman’s offense and while Green Bay’s defense is poor he is still capable of putting up huge games each and every week.
There aren’t many running backs in the NFL that have the ability to impact the game as much as a running back as Forte, much less that are capable of making an impact as a receiver out of the backfield as well.
It will be interesting to see what type of numbers Forte is able to put up throughout the course of the 2015 season. He certainly started the year of strong and there is no reason to believe that he will slow down at any point this year.
Expect to see Forte continue putting up huge performances for the rest of the season and to further prove that his name belongs among the elite group of running backs in the NFL.
