Upcoming Prominent Television Exposure Could Heighten Justin Fields’ Play
Following their bye week, the Chicago Bears will prepare this week to host the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday at Soldier Field. Sunday’s game against the Ravens will kick off a five-game stretch in which Chicago will either play in primetime or be a lead game for a network. After quarterback Justin Fields’ performance last Monday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the added exposure for the next five games could heighten Fields’ playing performance.
NFL ain't no dummy. #Bears national TV games are late in the season, better odds Justin Fields is playing.
Thanksgiving at #Lions
December 12th at #Packers (SNF)
December 20th vs #Vikings (MNF)— Bill Zimmerman (@ZimmermanSXM) May 12, 2021
Fields Appears To Be A Player That Performs Better In Primetime
Fields excited fans and analysts across the country with his performance against the Steelers in the Bears’ last game as he passed for 291 yards and a near game-winning touchdown. Chicago drafted their rookie quarterback from Ohio State, where a majority of his games were played in primetime or received national exposure from networks airing the games. In the Bears’ two primetime games in front of a national audience, Fields has scored a touchdown in both games and has made standout plays.
JUSTIN FIELDS RUSHING TOUCHDOWN ‼️ #DaBears
????: #CHIvsLAR on NBC
????: https://t.co/43poz14yhK pic.twitter.com/2WSAkucVDH— NFL (@NFL) September 13, 2021
Chicago’s next five games will be against the Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions, Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Vikings. The Lions game will be on Thanksgiving, with the Packers game on Sunday Night Football and the Vikings game airing on Monday Night Football. Sunday’s game against the Ravens will be the lead game for CBS, with Jim Nantz and Tony Romo calling the game. The December 5th game against the Arizona Cardinals will be on Fox with Joe Buck and Troy Aikman on the call.
The increased national exposure could heighten Fields’ play as he could find the attention similar to what he experienced when playing big games for Ohio State. During the quarterback’s two years at Ohio State, the Buckeyes played in two Big Ten Championship games, and three playoff games, including the National Championship game last year. Fields played against prominent programs including Alabama, Clemson, and Wisconsin in nationally televised games in primetime.
Justin Fields vs Clemson with broken ribs:
????92.9 PFF Grade
????6 TDs
????6 Incompletions pic.twitter.com/te0A1umhWF— PFF (@PFF) May 5, 2021
Each of the Bears’ next five games will be special for Fields, whether it’s the teams he is playing against or the amount of attention being paid to the games. In three of their next five games, Chicago’s quarterback will face off against three of the league’s best and most exciting quarterbacks in Lamar Jackson, Kyler Murray, and Aaron Rodgers. The Vikings game will be Fields’ first home game in primetime, while the Thanksgiving game against the Lions could be the first of many in the quarterback’s career.
The National Exposure Is Invaluable When It Comes To Fields’ Development
Despite heartbreakingly losing to the Steelers, many analysts believe that the hostile conditions Fields played in were massive to his growth as a quarterback. Chicago’s rookie quarterback led a late-game touchdown drive on the road, in a loud stadium, against one of the league’s best defenses and did not look overwhelmed at all. Fields could face almost the same hostile and intense conditions in the Bears’ next five games in front of the majority, if not the entire country.
Playing against Jackson and Murray could also inspire Fields to prove that he is not as far away from achieving the same level of success that they have. Chicago’s rookie quarterback could also have revenge on his mind when the Bears travel to Green Bay on December 12th to play Rodgers and the Packers. The Packers’ future Hall of Fame quarterback made many Bears’ players and fans angry with his ” I still own you” quote following a touchdown in their first matchup back in October.
Justin Fields on the Packers/Bears rivalry being tilted Green Bay's way for the last couple decades: "just know it'll be back on our side soon. sooner than later for sure."
— Danny Parkins (@DannyParkins) November 12, 2021
The Thanksgiving game against Detroit and Sunday Night game against Green Bay will be the first time that Fields will play a divisional opponent twice. Playing both teams again will enable fans and the media to gauge the rookie development within the season. Fields will likely want to have a better game in Green Bay than the game he had at home against the Packers as he made several critical mistakes.
Fields could have reached a new level in his development with his performance against the Steelers, and it could have been driven by the national audience that tuned in to watch the game. The Bears will have a significantly large audience watching their next five games, which could lead to an impressive showing from their rookie quarterback. Fields can make a name for himself nationally, with many of Chicago’s upcoming games taking place in primetime.