Expectations are higher for the Chicago Bears this season. That should be no surprise. GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus worked hard to overhaul the roster, infusing it with more speed, athleticism, and depth. They appear to have accomplished that goal. Now, it's on the players to make it work. Nobody is under the microscope more than Justin Fields. He's the quarterback, and it will be his third NFL season. This is typically when a player should show whether he's capable of playing at a high level or not.
Poles did everything in his power to help. Chase Claypool and D.J. Moore arrived via trades to bolster the receiving room. Nate Davis and Darnell Wright were big additions to the offensive line. Robert Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis bring a great blend of blocking and receiving ability to the tight end room. While it may not be a star-studded group, it's a far more respectable-looking offense than last season. It certainly explains why Fields sounded so confident when asked about his prediction for what happens this season by Dan Weiderer of the Chicago Tribune.
"I think we’ve improved in a lot of areas. Of course, on the offensive line with Nate (Davis) and Darnell (Wright). With DJ (Moore), my receiver. I just think (we’ll have) more explosive pass plays and just more explosive plays, to be honest. More points up on the board.
Of course that’s what we want to see. But I do think it is realistic we can do that, especially once we get things clicking. You’ve got Chase (Claypool), you’ve got (Darnell) Mooney. We have three legitimate receivers who can make things happen. Once everything is clicking, it’s an offense that produces points."
Justin Fields isn't wrong to feel this way.
The Bears offense got a taste of what they could be last year. From week seven through week 11, they scored at least 24 points in every game. That included 33, 32, and 30. If they could do that with subpar talent, it's hard not to think more is possible with legitimate names at every position. Fields will be the engine that drives the ship. His outstanding ability as a runner was the catalyst for those performances last year. The Bears hope he can do it more with his arm this season.
More than anything, Justin Fields knows the stat line that matters most. Wins. Poles himself made it clear when asked about the expectation for his young QB this year: "Win more games." Fields is 5-20 as a starter in two seasons with the Bears. Not all of that is his fault. He arrived when the team was clearly on the downswing and desperately needed a reboot. Still, he's already earning the label in some circles as a quarterback who can't close out winnable games. This must be the time to start changing that narrative.
