Justin Fields hasn't shown key trait necessary to be a franchise quarterback
The Chicago Bears had yet another heartbreaking loss in Week 15 against the Cleveland Browns. The Bears had a 10-point lead entering the fourth quarter but ultimately fell 20-17 to lose their ninth game of the 2023 season. While the blown lead hits hard for the Bears, it raises even more questions surrounding the future […]
The Chicago Bears had yet another heartbreaking loss in Week 15 against the Cleveland Browns.
The Bears had a 10-point lead entering the fourth quarter but ultimately fell 20-17 to lose their ninth game of the 2023 season.
While the blown lead hits hard for the Bears, it raises even more questions surrounding the future of their current starting quarterback.
Justin Fields finished the game with 166 passing yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in Week 15. Both of Fields' interceptions against the Browns came on the final play of the first-half and second-half respectively.
The final interception came on the Bears last ditch play in hopes for scoring a touchdown to win the game as time expired. The hail mary attempt bounced off multiple players and narrowly ended up in the hands of Bears wide receiver Darnell Mooney. Mooney however lost control of the ball leading to the interception.
The interception marked the second of the season by Fields while on the final drive of the game down one possession. Only Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love has more such interceptions in 2023. The other came against the Denver Broncos back in Week 4.
Chicago lead 28-7 against the Broncos before allowing 24 unanswered points. The Bears had over 1:30 remaining to lead a potential game winning drive, but the drive abruptly ended with an interception by Broncos safety Kareem Jackson.
When examining turnovers as a whole by Fields, you can also factor in the Bears Week 11 loss to the Detroit Lions. In that game, Chicago led by 12 points before allowing the Lions to take a 29-26 lead with 29 seconds remaining. On the first play of the following drive, Fields fumbled the ball on a strip sack leading to a safety to lose the game.
Since being drafted in 2021, Fields has recorded just three game winning drives as the Bears starting quarterback. It shouldn’t matter that many of those attempts the Bears failed to comeback from where a result of the defense's performance or the play of the players surrounding Fields. When it's time to make a play to win the game, all eyes are on the quarterback.
Fields unfortunately more often than not has struggled when it comes to closing out games for his team, which is a trait a franchise quarterback needs to showcase in the NFL. Fields will be the first to admit he's not playing at his best in those situations and needs to improve going forward, but time is starting to tick in Chicago.
The Bears have three games remaining to determine if Fields is capable of being the team's long-term solution at the quarterback position. A big way to prove that is by capitalizing on opportunities like he had in Week 15.
The more opportunities he continues to let slip through his hands, the easier the decision becomes for Bears general manager Ryan Poles and the rest of the team's front office while armed with the potential first overall pick.
