The Chicago Bears were ripped apart on Sunday Night Football, but Bears fans did get to see glimpses of Justin Fields.
Despite losing in Week 1, 34-14 to the Los Angeles Rams in SoFi Stadium, the Chicago Bears had one shining light as they used Justin Fields in a package that resulted in one rushing touchdown.
The Bears made it very clear following preseason that veteran quarterback Andy Dalton would be he teams starter going into the season. There was always questions about the decision, and there will no doubt be more now as Dalton failed to capitalise with the ball.
The former Cincinnati Bengals player threw 206 yards, going for 27-of-38 with one interception. It could even be argued that Dalton didn’t even play that badly, but the scoreboard, and many Bears fans would beg to differ.
A bonus for those in Chicago is that they’re first round pick, Fields managed to get onto the field for a couple of plays. The former Ohio State Buckeye threw two passes for 10 yards and rushed in a three-yard touchdown, his first in the NFL.
First NFL TD for the rook. 🙌@justnfields | #CHIvsLAR pic.twitter.com/QSZyvXrezm
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 13, 2021
How long before the Chicago Bears turn to Justin Fields full time?
The Rams have been billed as a possible Super Bowl contender so it’s no surprise they can beat the Bears, the surprise was the magnitude of it. On defence, they were ripped apart, particularly in deep coverage.
On offence, the Bears found gaps, and occasionally got the running game going through David Montgomery, who ran for 108 yards and a touchdown. But the teams lack of conviction appears to be the same as it has been for years.
When Fields made his short appearances on the field, it appeared to galvanise the team. Upon running into the end zone for his touchdown, the players surrounded him, a couple even picking him up. It’s clear the team has a leader, and it doesn’t look like it’s Dalton.
Not only does Fields look like a leader, he also provides a dual-threat. As a big bodied QB, the player has the pace and strength to break tackles and lift the team, especially on the goal line, just like he did on Sunday night.
Fields simply gives the Bears a different dimension, one they’ve not had in a long time. He looks like a leader, and has proven he has something to show on this stage.
It’s understandable that the Bears could be trying to redshirt the quarterback just like Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City. But Fields isn’t behind Alex Smith, and head coach Matt Nagy doesn’t have the time Andy Reid does.
It looks like it will only be a matter of weeks before Fields takes over, especially if Dalton can’t get some sort of consistency. The Bears face the Bengals in Week 2, who beat the Minnesota Vikings and then face the Cleveland Browns, who nearly made it past the Kansas City Chiefs.
Looking at the schedule, we could see Fields starting by Week 4