Justin Fields had the worst game of his young NFL career last week in Tampa Bay. Five turnovers and four sacks. He was clearly overwhelmed. People started to wonder if the rookie would ever have what it takes to become a viable starting quarterback. Sure enough, the kid answer the next week with his best game of the year by a comfortable margin. Not only did he throw for 175 yards and a touchdown, but he also added 103 yards on the ground with another touchdown.
Both scores were two of the best plays you’ll see all year. The TD pass game in the 2nd quarter. Chicago was at the 49ers’ 8-yard line. Fields ran a bootleg fake off play action and threw a dart across his body to Jesse James beyond the outstretched fingertips of a defender. The ball was in the only place it could’ve possibly gone. Yet somehow the rookie managed to outdo himself in the 4th quarter with an electric scramble for a touchdown off a broken play.
He was the best player on the field for Chicago and it wasn’t close.
His only interception came in the final minutes on a ball that went off his receiver’s hands. It was further proof that the problems with the Bears’ offense run way deeper than their young quarterback. He has the capability they saw in him and showed it. The problem is the rest of the roster around him is getting worse. One person that came away convinced Fields is the real deal from that game? Veteran defensive end Akiem Hicks. He had glowing words to say about the rookie after the 33-22 loss.
That is high praise from Hicks. Remember his history. This guy played with Drew Brees and Tom Brady. Then he endured some rough QB years in Chicago. So he has seen what great ones and bad ones look like. For him to call Fields “elite” is the highest of praise. Confirmation that the kid is trending in the right direction.
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Justin Fields will be the focal point moving forward
It was easy to see Hicks was visibly frustrated after the game. Not at Fields but at the performance of the defense. In a game the Bears absolutely had to have, his unit no-showed. San Francisco scored 33 points and didn’t punt a single time the entire afternoon. Their run defense was shredded and Jimmy Garoppolo wasn’t touched by the pass rush. Just an ugly, ugly performance that wasted a great effort by the young QB.
This was just further confirmation the Bears aren’t a good football team anymore. They’ve gotten old in too many places and thin in others. This roster needs significant retooling. The good news is it likely won’t be like 2015 though. That is because Justin Fields is on the roster. If he is the real deal, and it’s looking more and more like that might be the case, then this rebuild should go much faster.
Especially if some of their young offensive linemen pan out.
Rookie 5th round pick Larry Borom had a decent outing in his first start at right tackle. Teven Jenkins might return in the near future as well. If they both turn out to be genuine players? Then life becomes much easier for Fields moving forward.