It isn't a huge surprise the Chicago Bears didn't produce any Pro Bowlers in 2022. That comes with the territory of being a 3-11 team. There aren't many good players on such rosters. Still, it's not unreasonable to think at least one player got some consideration for the honor. Eddie Jackson has more interceptions than NFC selection Quandre Diggs despite playing fewer games. Teven Jenkins was playing excellent at right guard this year. Jaylon Johnson is quietly having another standout year at cornerback. However, none of them were listed on NFL.com's list of the biggest Pro Bowl snubs. That honor went to Justin Fields.
This might surprise some people. Bears quarterbacks don't go to the Pro Bowl. It's been that way for ages. Upon closer inspection, the truth is far different here. Fields has been a one-man show all season. Think about this. The Bears have scored 33 offensive touchdowns this season. Fields either threw or ran for 23 of them. He's combined for over 3,000 total yards, including 1,000 rushing and has a passer rating of 88.0 with three games left to play. That is a significant improvement from the 73.2 he had last year. Eric Edholm believes he deserved a Pro Bowl nod for what he's accomplished despite difficult circumstances.
He makes a fair case.
"Fields’ ultimate place in their hearts remains undetermined, but his breakout in 2022 has been nothing short of fantastic for the QB-starved franchise.
Some might argue that Fields has room to grow as a thrower, but he’s taken big leaps in that department, completing 68.1% of his passes with 10 TDs and four interceptions in his past six games. That included a strong showing in a loss to the Eagles. Considering his supporting cast, Fields’ passing growth has been admirable.
But we all know why Fields is here, first and foremost. He’s become one of the most dangerous runners at the quarterback position, recently joining Michael Vick and Lamar Jackson as the only NFL QBs to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. In fact, he’s currently on pace to break Jackson’s single-season rushing record (1,206 in 2019)."
Justin Fields has put the NFC on notice.
There's a new sheriff in town. He's put up numbers that shouldn't be possible with this roster. Try to imagine what will happen if the Bears can give him a star receiver and a competent offensive line. The rest of the NFL sees it too. They know something is building in Chicago. Fields is the caliber of talent that can take over the league for a decade. His mixture of size, speed, and arm talent is rare. Combine that with a constantly-underestimated brain, making somebody a nightmare to defend.
Remember, the Bears have the 19th-ranked scoring offense in the NFL. That is up from 27th last year. Allen Robinson is gone. James Daniels is gone. Khalil Herbert, Lucas Patrick, and Darnell Mooney have all missed time with injuries. The one constant through everything is Justin Fields. His improvement is the driving force behind their unexpected success. GM Ryan Poles understands the objective. Get the kid some help. Every dollar and draft pick available should be geared toward that.
