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Forte had career year in 2013

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The following is the second of nine position reviews of the 2013 season.*

Matt Forte had one of the best seasons by a running back in Bears history in 2013, ranking second in the NFL in rushing with 1,339 yards and third in yards from scrimmage with 1,933.

Position Review

  • Quarterbacks

    Both are career highs and the most by a Bears player other than Hall of Famer Walter Payton.

Forte rushed for nine touchdowns in 2013, the most by a Bears player since Thomas Jones had nine in 2005. Forte also caught 74 passes for 594 yards and three TDs. The 74 receptions are the most ever by a Bears running back, breaking his own record of 63 set in 2008.

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Matt Forte ranked second in the NFL in rushing in 2013 behind the Eagles' LeSean McCoy.
"He's underrated, I think, in the public's eye," quarterback Jay Cutler said after Forte scored three of the Bears' four touchdowns in their season-ending loss to the Packers. "He did a heck of a job for us. I think he's the best all-around back in the NFL."

Forte produced big plays throughout the season on the ground. Interestingly, his five longest runs all came on the road: 55 yards in Pittsburgh, 53 yards in Detroit, 50 yards for a touchdown in Washington, 41 yards in Minnesota and 26 yards in St. Louis.

Forte rushed for over 100 yards in four of the last five games of the season, giving him 20 100-yard outings in his career, tying Gale Sayers for the second most in franchise history.

Forte became the first player in Bears history to top 1,000 yards as a rusher and 500 yards as a receiver in multiple seasons. He ranks second on the franchise's all-time rushing list with 6,666 yards, trailing only Payton (16,726).

Forte was voted to the second Pro Bowl of his six-year NFL career in 2013. The 2008 second-round pick was also selected in 2011 when he rushed for 997 yards in 12 games.

Backup running back Michael Bush rushed for 197 yards and three touchdowns on 63 carries. His longest run of the season was a 40-yard TD in a Week 15 win over the Browns in Cleveland.

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