The Chicago Bears have reached their bye week following the team's 12-10 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night this past week. The last-second victory was significant as it marked the first game-winning drive by quarterback Justin Fields of his young career. Although Fields has performed adequately since returning from his thumb injury, there is growing concern about his play moving forward, given his lack of targets for wide receiver Darnell Mooney.
Fields Over Reliance On DJ Moore Can Set Him Up For Potential Danger Before The End Of The 2023 Season
Heading into the 2023 season, many fans and analysts who followed the Bears believed that the most vital aspect of this year was to see if Fields could develop as a quarterback. There was a strong belief that Chicago's third-year quarterback couldn't fully develop as a passer in 2022 because he didn't have a talented offensive line or skilled pass-catchers outside other than Mooney and tight end Cole Kmet. During the offseason, general manager Ryan Poles added several vital pieces to the offense, including top wide receiver DJ Moore and rookie offensive tackle Darnell Wright, to ensure Fields could develop as a quarterback.
Moore's presence in the offense has made a difference for Fields, as the quarterback has seen an increase in passing yards and completions through his eight starts. The elite-level pass-catcher has accounted for nearly a third of his quarterback's completions this season. Additionally, Fields has recorded his first four passing-touchdown game and 300-yard game due to Moore's presence in the Bears' offense.
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Through 12 games, Moore has already eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards and has recorded four 100-yard receiving contests. These numbers are significant because it shows how overreliant Chicago's quarterback has been in throwing to his top pass-catcher, resulting in a lower amount of targets and receptions for other wide receivers on the offense. There is a stark difference in the production being seen by Moore compared to Mooney when Fields is under center.
Mooney has been with the Bears since 2020 and recorded his only 1,000-yard receiving season in 2021, which was also Fields' rookie season. Through 12 games so far this season, Chicago's number two wide receiver only has 25 receptions and has only been targeted 42 times. The production amount is troubling, as Mooney only played in 12 games last season and was targeted 61 times while hauling 40 passes.
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The noticeable gap between the level of production generated by Moore compared to Mooney shows how Fields is targeting the top receiver much more than his second receiver, despite both pass-catchers being talented. Although it hasn't hurt Chicago's top quarterback yet, it is something opposing defenses in the team's final five games could look to take advantage of. Fields wanting to throw to the same target over and over again could lead to opposing defenses baiting the Bears' quarterback, leading to a higher amount of incompletions or costly interceptions.
The over-targeting of Moore wouldn't be as much of a concern if it wasn't a Fields' issue and more than an offensive game plan issue, but the Bears have another quarterback, Tyson Bagent, play under center this season. In Bagent's four starts, Mooney was targeted nearly 20 times and caught 12 passes for 169, with his best game of the season taking place against the New Orleans Saints on November 5th. In the eight games Fields started this year, Chicago's number two wide receiver has recorded three games with no catches and two contests without a target.
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Fields Needs Find More Balance In Distribution Of The Football
Fields' overreliance on targeting Moore could be an issue as soon as Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions, as it will be the divisional rivals' second game within the last three weeks. In the first game against the Lions back on November 19th, Chicago's quarterback targeted Moore nine times, which led to seven catches for 96 yards and a touchdown. No other Bears' pass catcher in the game was targeted more than four times by Fields, with Kmet being the only one in the group with more than two receptions.
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Two of the Bears' final five games will come against divisional opponents who have already played Chicago once already this year. Although Fields targeted Moore only twice against the Green Bay Packers in the first game of the year, the Packers will likely look to force the third-year quarterback to throw elsewhere by taking away his best pass-catcher. Mooney had a terrific game against Green Bay, catching a 20-yard touchdown pass in the second half of the game, and should be a key target in both upcoming games.
With more fans and analysts wanting to see growth and development from Fields, the quarterback could take another step by taking advantage of what opposing defenses may take away. If defenses try to double-team and deploy blanket coverage on Moore in the hope of baiting Chicago's quarterback, he could take advantage of more one-on-one situations given to Mooney.
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Many view Chicago's final five games of the 2023 season as a make-or-break stretch for Fields and his career with the team. If opposing defenses look to exploit his weakness of targeting Moore too much, it could lead to disastrous results for both the quarterback and the offense. Fields can prove he deserves to stay by spreading the ball around and taking advantage of what the opposing defenses are giving him, especially if Mooney is open.
