Bears cite 'experience' for keeping Justin Fields in lopsided loss

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Matt Eberflus cited in-game experience as the reason he kept quarterback Justin Fields under center for the entire game.

Fields passed the ball for 30 net passing yards. The Bears did not score on their last 10 drives and were outgained by a wide margin. Eberflus maintained that the only way for Fields and the offense to get going is to play in games.

Eberflus said that it was important for them to be able to do that. We wanted to get that live experience, so we kept him in there. He said he wanted to be in there, so we decided as a staff to work with him. He was a credit to him. I would like to be able to do my job. He wanted to compete and that's what he did.

In the first quarter, Fields ran for 105 yards, the most by a quarterback in a quarter since play-by-play tracking began. More than half of Chicago's total yards were accounted for by him.

The Bears couldn't move the ball outside of Fields. The team averaged 2.5 yards on 40 additional plays.

The offense struggled due to injuries along the line. Right guard Michael Schofield was ruled out after he injured his knee while filling in for Teven in the first quarter. The Bears rode out the rest of the game.

Pass protection was a problem during the loss. The Lions recorded seven sacks in a game for the first time in four years. Eberflus said the Bears considered the number of hits Fields took when deciding whether to keep him in the game.

Eberflus said, "You can certainly look at it that way, but like we said, he's got to be back there and operating." "He's got to be able to operate, get rid of the ball when it's not there and do a good job of having composure in the pocket."

Fields said after the game that his hip got twisted up on a play in the first half and he was treated on the sideline. The quarterback did not miss a game after visiting the medical tent.

Fields said that he doesn't take it for granted whenever he gets to play. I want to be out there, no matter who it's with, and I know that my guys are fighting for me, that's all the motivation I need, so to be." If I get the chance to play, I would do it every time, and I would play my hardest, so there was full desire to play.

The Chicago lost their ninth game in a row. Eberflus said Fields will play in the season finale if he is healthy.

Eberflus said that there was nothing like in-game experience. We won't get that anywhere else. I thought it was great to experience that pass-rushing group. It was either the way he wanted it to or the way we wanted it to. It didn't, but you have to deal with it. You need to figure it out as a coach and as a player. We need to do better.