Justin Fields is just not as good as everyone thinks

Justin Fields: The “famous” 49ers game

The game that media personalities and fans prefer to reference when Fields is discussed as a “top tier quarterback” is their Week 1 win against the San Francisco 49ers. There are several factors to take into account if this is the game you want to hang your hat on for the “Justin Fields is elite” debate.

1.) Week 1 is normally an odd week of football as far as results go. As it stands the 49ers are currently 5-4 and 2nd in their division despite losing to the Bears that week.

2.) The win was more a testament to the poor play of 49ers quarterback Trey Lance than it was the strong play of Justin Fields.

3.) Fields finished that game completing 8 of his 17 pass attempts for 121 yards throwing for 2 touchdowns with 1 interception. Fields rushed for 28 yards on 11 carries for an average of 2.5 yards per rush. I’ll say that again; 2.5 yards per rush.

Justin Fields: Does he have potential?

To end this discussion Justin Fields is definitely improving as a quarterback and is an efficient runner. But part of being a quarterback is also throwing the ball and the NFL has a way of figuring out running quarterbacks sooner rather than later.

If teams can force Fields to throw the ball more than 25 times (which he has only done twice) he will have to be more accurate and throw for more than 200 yards (which he has only done once). Can Fields refine his throwing technique and work in the offseason to become a more effective passer like Jackson and Josh Allen did in their early seasons? Absolutely.

But the MVP talk is premature and on some level ridiculous. Running alone will not save the Bears and it clearly is not doing wonders for their season thus far as they face another season of missing the playoffs and finishing at the bottom of the NFC North. Justin Fields is being overhyped and for his sake and the expectations of his fan base; dial it down.