LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- - Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson knows a little something about a successful rushing attack. And he's impressed with Tampa Bay's ground game.
The NFL's top rushing teams face off when Bucky Irving and Tampa Bay visit D'Andre Swift and Chicago on Sunday night. The Buccaneers are averaging a league-high 168.6 yards on the ground, and the Bears are second at 150.8 yards per game.
"I mean, I'm telling you, this offensive line is really good," Johnson said. "The scheme is really good. They have a lot of variety with which they do things. Then the backs are phenomenal as well. It's a potent, potent rushing attack. ... So that'll be a huge challenge for us."
Tampa Bay's ground game was so good in Week 8 that it beat Atlanta 16-0 without completing a pass. Irving rushed for 170 yards and a touchdown in wet conditions as the Buccaneers set a franchise record with 324 yards on the ground.
Tampa Bay is averaging 231.3 yards rushing over its past four games, winning three times during the impressive stretch.
"I think we've tweaked some things, obviously, in how we're running it and the things that certain guys can do well up front, as well as what kind of runs the backs c...