It was another embarrassing loss for the Chicago Bears as they lost their third game of the 2023 season and 13th consecutive game dating back to last October. In a 41-10 blowout, the Bear's entire team looked outcoached and out-talented by the defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs. On offense, quarterback Justin Fields' ongoing struggles continued as he failed to eclipse the 100-yard passing marker for the second time in his last five starts. With Fields' inability to develop as a passer, it is now evident that he is the main issue for Chicago's inept offense, despite other areas showing a capability to be successful.
There Is Too Much Talent On Offense For Fields Not To Perform
The main focus during the offseason for the Bears offense, the fanbase, and NFL analysts was to see Fields develop as a pocket passer as he displayed glimpses of elite talent last season. Although many believed the third-year quarterback would mature with another offseason in offensive coordinator Luke Getsy's scheme, the former Ohio State star has unfortunately regressed immensely. Fields isn't reading opposing defenses and isn't able to throw the ball despite having open targets in front of him.
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In each game this season, there have been multiple instances of Fields not throwing to a wide-open target downfield despite having time in the pocket, resulting in a sack. Against the Chiefs on Sunday, Chicago's quarterback tried to play more to himself and scramble when free. Despite rushing for more yards than in his previous two games, Fields only threw for 99 yards in a game where the Bears trailed by 34 points at halftime. Opposing defenses are having linebackers spy Chicago's quarterback and forcing him to pass the ball instead of running with it.
What is most troubling about his failure to mature as a passer is that Fields has the weapons around him to make him just an average passing quarterback, let alone an elite one. Chicago's offense features too many talented players who have previously demonstrated high production levels to make one believe that they are responsible for holding their quarterback back. The Bears feature two starting wide receivers, D.J. Moore and Darnell Mooney, who have recorded 1,000-yard receiving seasons in their careers. Moore has posted a 1,000-yard receiving season in four of the last five years with Carolina.
Despite their success at the receiver position, Moore and Mooney have struggled to make an impact because of Fields this season. Although each player has a receiving touchdown through the team's first three games, Chicago's two starting wide receivers have had a contest this year in which their quarterback hasn't targeted them more than twice. Since catching four passes and a touchdown in the season-opening game against the Packers two weeks ago, Mooney hasn't even been targeted by Fields in Chicago's last two games.
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There is talent at the tight end position going to waste for Chicago, as Cole Kmet and Robert Tonyan have been used sparingly to start the season. Kmet is coming off back-to-back seasons with 50 receptions or more and caught seven touchdowns last season working with Fields. Tonyan, who served as the Green Bay Packers' starting tight end from 2018 to 2022 with All-Pro quarterback Aaron Rodgers, has only two targets this season and no receptions.
At the running back position, Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson have demonstrated an ability to be successful when given the opportunity. Herbert, through two seasons in the league, has recorded multiple 100-yard rushing games and numerous rushing attempts 25 yards or longer. If not for an injury that forced him to miss four games, Chicago's starting running back would have rushed for over 1,000 yards in 2022. Johnson, through his first three games in the NFL, has recorded at least one rushing attempt of ten yards or more.
Although there have been issues with continuity and injuries, Chicago's offensive line has even looked competent and given Fields ample time to find an open receiver. In the Bears' last two games, their quarterback has taken a sack after having four seconds or more in the pocket to throw. There have been too many instances where Fields moved around in the pocket despite his offensive line giving him time to pass, only for him to run into the arms of a defender.
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A Move To Tyson Bagent May Give Chicago's Offense A Chance
With the struggles on offense tied to Fields' inability to read opposing defense and throw to open targets, it may be in head coach Matt Eberflus' best interest to bench the struggling quarterback. Chicago has another young signal-caller on the roster in third-stringer Tyson Bagent, who was the team's most explosive player during the 2023 preseason. Bagent led the Bears offense on touchdown drives in each of the team's three preseason games and consistently moved the ball.
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What makes Bagent more likely to succeed if allowed to play is his ability to quickly get the ball out and find the open target in the defense. Although he doesn't have nearly as strong an arm as Fields', the former Shepherd quarterback appeared capable of diagnosing an opposing defense and finding a hole to throw to. Additionally, during the preseason, Bagent wasn't locking on to one target and was spreading the ball to different receivers.
The rest of Chicago's offense deserves a chance to prove that they are not the issue for Fields' ongoing struggles at the quarterback position and that it is likely his fault. Moore, Mooney, and Chase Claypool deserve a chance to be successful, as two of the three wide receivers will be free agents after this season. Herbert and Johnson have provided too many instances in which they have broken off significant gains on rushing attempts to be responsible for issues in the running game.
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With a quarterback who can adequately read the opposing defense and quickly get the ball out to an open target, Chicago's offense could become consistently productive with the support case they currently have. Unfortunately, with Fields mired in a regression at the quarterback position, the rest of the offense and their capabilities are significantly hindered.
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