It’s Time To Get Behind Justin Fields
Justin Fields needs more respect from fans and writers who want to see him traded. Their thought process is to trade him after his last two games since his trade value will never be better than it is right now. It’s now time to stop that madness and get behind Fields.
There have been struggles. When he was drafted in 1921, under head coach Matt Nagy, he was slotted as QB2, but had to assume starting QB duties when Andy Dalton suffered a knee injury in week two. Nagy didn’t design an offense around Justin’s skillset and the Bears sank to a 6-10 season. Nagy and GM Ryan Pace were fired after their last game of the season.
Fields had to adjust to a new offensive coordinator starting year two. The Green Bay Packers QB coach, Luke Getsy was hired as the Bears new offensive coordinator, but Getsy also made a crucial error by again trying to keep Fields in the pocket behind a porous offensive line. Depite that, the Bears managed to start the season with a 3-4 record.
The Bears defense was horrific in 2022, the team lost their last 10 games, falling to 3-14. No Bears team had ever lost 14 games in a single season. The defense allowed at least 25 points in every game during the losing streak.
2023 began with confidence renewed. Ryan Poles rebuilt the defensive front seven, added depth to the secondary. He signed Nate Davis and drafted the best OT in the draft. Through the first three games of this season, Luke Getsy’s game plan had Fields entrenched as a pocket passer again and the offense sputtered out of the gait. The defense was no better than they were last year. The Bears quickly fell to a record of 0-3.
Signs of Life Offensively
In week four, we finally saw Fields operating the offense at a high level. Through three quarters Fields was never better. He completed 23 of 24 passes. The only incompletion was a failed Hail Mary attempt to end the first half. Those 23 completions were good for 285 yards and four TDs. His QB rating was 155.73. Sadly, the defense collapsed and simultaneously, the play calling on offense turned too conservative, and the Bears lost their 14th straing game. This was the longest losing streak in franchise history.
Last night, Justin threw four more TDs. His stat line over the last two games is 43/64, 617 yards, 8 TDs and one INT. His passer rating a lofty 131.32.
Over a full season that would be 366 completions, 544 attempts, 68 TDs, 9 INTs.
Even when you take 2023 as a whole his numbers are now quite impressive. 320/516, 3,890 yards, 37 TDs, 17 INTs. The single season record for yards and TDs were set in 1995 by Erik Kramer with 3,838 yards and 29 TDs.
It’s time to get behind Fields as the Bears QB moving forward. Ryan Poles has provided the weapons for him. The OL appears as though it’s gelling in front of him and we still haven’t seen the line at full strength.