It would have been justified a few weeks ago to give up on Fields as a starter. Who could blame the Chicago Bears for developing a wandering eye because he was abysmal and with a draft filled with talent at the QB position? Fields was barely reaching double-digit attempts or completions per game in the first six games of the season. The Bears have been reborn since they were soundly beaten by Washington in a Thursday Night Football game in Week 6.
Fields came back in Sunday's 35-32 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Fields ran 61 yards to the endzone early in the third quarter, and a sonic boom could be heard as he sped past the Miami Dolphins defense. Fields broke the record for most yards in a game by a Dolphins player.
It has been 20 years since Michael Vick ran for 173 yards against the Vikings. Fields was barely able to keep his head above water on Dec. 1, 2002, when the Vikings were destroyed by Michael Vick and his record-setting running game.
Fields accelerated a trend that began in Week 6 when Getsy began to design runs for Fields at a growing rate. The results have been positive since then. After scoring 93 points in the first six games of the season, the Bears have scored 94 points in the last three weeks.
Thanks to his 178 yards on the ground, his modest 123 yards on 17-of-28 passing, and a rating over 100 for the second week in a row is a revelation for a franchise that has been without quarterback stability since the 1940s. Fields will frustrate with an off-target throw, but the Bears are a must-see.
Fields should have been able to contribute to a potent ground game early on because of his lack of receiving options. Fields had a 61-yard run, but he had eight runs for 68 yards on designated runs.
Cole Kmet was able to create separation and score the first touchdown after Fields rolled out and used his foot speed to stay out of the way of the other team. Fields first touchdown throw was to Kmet off of play-action, and his third was a result of him throwing a back-shoulder dime into the end zone.
Their receiving corps let them down when they needed it the most. Fields escaped pressure and threw a perfect pass to St. Brown on a fourth-and- 10 to keep the drive going. The receiver held onto the pass. Fields is at a disadvantage because of the revision of NFL record books done by Hill and Waddle.
The Falcons had a similar defect that went unaddressed, which made them lean even more on the top rushing team. The Falcons and Bears have a lot in common, so it makes sense that the Falcons and Bears have more in common. The Chicago ground game is second in yards per carry and first in first downs.
The acquisition of Chase Claypool is a way for Chicago to address their receiver problem. In Week 9, he only recorded two receptions while getting in sync with a new team and scheme, but nearly made a game-changing play on a jump ball, were it not for a missed defensive pass interference on the Dolphins. The Bears finally seem to have the gears moving, even though Fields is a long way from piloting a high- octane, must-see passing attack.
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