Justin Fields implies Bears protection is the issue after brutal Lions loss
Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields appeared in charge his protection for letting the Detroit Lions squeak by with the win, however he’s not fallacious.
The 31-30 loss to the Detroit Lions was a tricky one for Chicago to bear for a mess of causes, not the least of which was that quarterback Justin Fields fought valiantly for a win. As Brett Kollman put it, the final sack on Fields was “the good distillation of the complete Bears season: one man standing in a area preventing off a pack of lions (actually) all by himself.”
Bears Twitter endorses this sentiment, and there are various memes illustrating how Fields single-handedly put the Bears in place to win time and time once more. It’s a irritating sample, particularly since Fields has had three straight ground-breaking performances, solely to lose all three video games.
Evidently Chicago followers aren’t the one ones aggravated by this apparent pattern. Within the post-game press convention, Fields was requested the next by a reporter:
“How are you going to reconcile proper now the manufacturing you’re having in yards and factors and never with the ability to get these drives late within the sport when the sport is there to be received? How do you match these two issues up?”
The clear implication right here is that the protection is falling by way of on the finish of video games, letting wins simply inside attain slip by way of Chicago’s fingers. Fields replied with the next:
“You mentioned how can I reconcile? Simply end. We’re placing up, what, 30 factors a sport. So simply end after we get these late-game drives.”
Justin Fields implies Bears protection might do a lot better on late-game drives
There’s a spectrum of what and the way a lot a quarterback ought to publicly say concerning the efficiency of his teammates, and it’s tough to argue that Fields’ feedback are unwarranted. The Bears offense, particularly Fields, is doing all the pieces inside its energy to complete the sport, but when the protection continues to permit factors, they’re not holding up their finish of the sector. It means the Bears can’t end winnable video games with a win, and if the crew had received the final three — during which Fields put up at the least 29 factors — their document can be 6-4 as a substitute of 3-7. And if the Bears have been 6-4 as a substitute of 3-7, they’d be second within the NFC North as a substitute of fourth. They might even be within the working for a Wild Card spot.
The Bears have lengthy been criticized for missing quarterback play, however Justin Fields has completed something and all the pieces to place the Bears in place to win. Asking the crew to “simply end” in late-game drives is trustworthy, and it’s correct. The query actually is the way it goes over within the locker room.
Aaron Rodgers technically hasn’t been fallacious when he’s referred to as out teammates for making errors, however the way in which during which he’s criticized them has reportedly left some Packers gamers uncomfortable with being his “scapegoats.” Fields isn’t fallacious both, however quarterbacks are at all times in a uniquely tough place with being pressured to restrain commentary about their teammates. It’s true that Justin Fields isn’t the issue, however listening to him say that the offense is doing their job and the protection wants to complete the job might frustrate defensive teammates.
The Bears and Justin Fields are having a heartbreaking 12 months, and it’s infuriating for everybody who’s been ready for a quarterback like Fields to lastly come to Chicago. It’s reached the purpose the place one thing should be mentioned — and whereas Twitter has been busy saying it, now Fields has too. Whether or not or not Fields wanted to say it to reporters is one other story.
