BALTIMORE -- Chicago Bears running back Jordan Howard is making people forget about his early-season struggles.

Bothered by a shoulder injury, Howard rushed for just 59 yards combined in Weeks 1 and 2 and dropped several passes out of the backfield -- including a potential game winner against Atlanta. Howard basically disappeared in Tampa on Sept. 17, running the ball nine times for 7 yards.

The Buccaneers game was rock bottom. The past four games: Howard has gained 436 yards.

On Sunday, Howard set career highs in rushing yards (167) and carries (36), with 53 of those yards coming on one play in overtime.

“That’s kind of Jordan’s M.O.,” Bears right guard Kyle Long said. “Chop, chop, chop that tree, and eventually he’ll get a big one when we need it.”

Howard wore down the Ravens defense all afternoon, so much so that Baltimore veteran safety Eric Weddle failed to wrap up and complete the tackle on that deciding overtime run.

“My line opened a great hole for me,” Howard said. “It was just me and the safety one-on-one. He went for the ball, and I was able to fight him off. And then I ran as far as I could. I didn’t know how much room I had, but once he fell off, I saw that I could bounce to the outside. The receiver did a great job on the corner that let me get around. You just keep moving your feet -- and keep driving. You don’t want to stop moving your feet because it stops your momentum.”

Howard now has nine career games with 100 rushing yards. That's tied with Walter Payton for the most by a Bears player in his first two seasons, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

"Jordan ran like a warrior today," Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky said. "His run in overtime flipped the field for us. We were deep in our own territory, and he got us into scoring position. It didn’t surprise me because we were playing in overtime and everyone was tired, but he just keeps going and going.”

Howard’s second season is following a predictable script. Last year, Howard didn’t pick up steam until he took over the starting job from Jeremy Langford in Week 4. Howard never looked back.

The fifth-round pick ended his rookie year with 1,313 rushing yards -- second in the NFL only to Dallas’ Ezekiel Elliott -- to become the second-youngest Bears running back to eclipse 1,000 yards in a season.

After Sunday, Howard is on pace for 1,320 rushing yards in 2017.

“We’re really lucky to have Jordan,” Long said. “He’s a tremendous worker and runner. We know if we’re able to cover up the other guys there on defense, he can make stuff happen. He’s a real tough runner.”