It’s Becoming Clear Justin Fields May Have Flipped The Switch
Through the first three games of 2023, it felt like Justin Fields was approaching his funeral as Chicago Bears quarterback. He’d thrown more touchdowns than interceptions and looked completely lost at times. People were ready to throw in the towel. Then he offered a tease in Week 4, lighting up the Denver Broncos for 335 yards and four touchdown passes. It was by far the best passing performance of his career. Sadly, it was undone by a 4th quarter collapse assisted by two ugly Fields turnovers.
People were certain the Bears QB would fall back to earth on Thursday night in Washington. He faced a ferocious Commanders front four. There was no way he’d survive the onslaught. People weren’t ready for what happened. Thanks to an outstanding performance by the offensive line and a historic one by D.J. Moore, Fields had his second-best game as a Bear with 282 yards passing and another four touchdown passes. In the past two weeks, he has completed 67% of his passes for 617 yards, eight touchdowns, and one interception.
He now leads the NFL in TD passes.
Justin Fields might be finding it in the nick of time.
He is now on pace for 3,896 passing yards, 37 touchdown passes, and 17 interceptions. That would easily be the best passing season a Bears quarterback has ever had. It’s hard not to wonder where this version of Fields was the whole time. In truth, he may have simply needed more time to grow comfortable in the offense. History does show that QBs hit their stride around one month into the second season in this wide-zone system. It also doesn’t hurt the Bears have faced two bad defenses in consecutive weeks.
That should not take away from Justin Fields’ accomplishments. It’s not like Denver and Washington were constantly busting coverages. Fields beat them with several good throws, showcasing improved accuracy, ball placement, and timing. Chicago now has ten days off to get healthy and prepare for a Minnesota Vikings team that hasn’t been good this season, particularly on pass defense. If this momentum continues to build, Fields may end up becoming what everybody had hoped: a franchise quarterback.
The fact he waited until the eleventh hour seems fitting.