Justin Fields still has his doubters. They continue to believe he isn’t a polished enough passer and has no ability in the clutch. They can say what they want. The reality is the Chicago Bears are lucky to have him. Try to imagine how bad this offense would look without his singular ability to create something out of nothing. He is the reason they have a league-leading rushing attack. He is why their passing game isn’t the worst in the NFL despite the low yardage totals. The 23-year-old has been making a five-star meal out of Walmart ingredients all year.
While the Bears are out of the playoff picture with nothing left to play for, the focus has turned to NFL draft positioning and individual achievements. Jack Sanborn could reach 100 tackles despite not starting until Week 9. Jaquan Brisker could finish leading the team in sacks as a rookie (and a safety). However, Fields is the one everybody needs to watch. Four games remain in the season. That is enough time for him to eclipse not one but two major franchise records. Something several people didn’t think was possible three months ago.
Justin Fields is on the cusp of something special.
Most rushing yards in a season by a quarterback: 968 held by Bobby Douglass
This is the one everybody anticipates. Douglass was one of the first quarterbacks in NFL history to truly weaponize his legs in the NFL. He was far ahead of his time. That 968 yards were a league record set in 1972. Michael Vick didn’t break it until 2006. Fields stands at 905 yards, only 64 away from claiming the Bears record outright for himself. If he does against Philadelphia on Sunday, he’ll have done it in one fewer game (13) compared to Douglass. That would leave zero doubts about the legitimacy of the honor. Even better, Fields is a far better passer. Douglass had a 49.8 passer rating that ’72 season.
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
Most total yards in a season: 4,003 held by Jay Cutler
This mark is a bigger challenge. Cutler threw for 3,812 yards and rushed for 191 in 2014. Those 4,003 yards remain a record that still stands. Justin Fields sits at 2,801 with four games to play. That means he needs 1,203 more yards to break the record. He must produce 301 total yards in each of the next four games to claim the mantle. It is a challenge. He’s only done it three times this year, but those three times came over the past four games. The big issue is whether he can do it without his top wide receivers. Darnell Mooney is done for the season with an ankle injury. Chase Claypool is out with a knee. Fields has worked miracles before, but this might be pushing it.
