The Chicago Bears suffered another agonizing loss on Sunday. Once again, they held a big 4th quarter lead. Once again, they let it slip through their fingers. This time, they led the Cleveland Browns 17-7, only to see Joe Flacco throw for 212 yards in less than 15 minutes to spur a comeback. Matt Eberflus' defense buckled under the onslaught while Justin Fields and the offense failed to muster any response against the Browns' swarming defense. This led to lots of finger-pointing. Fans blamed Fields for not making enough plays and the coaches for once again refusing to be aggressive.
Debates continue to rage on whether this loss might've been the death blow for everybody involved. In these situations, getting the opinion of players in the locker room offers a unique perspective. One thing became apparent as the questions were asked: they don't think Fields is anywhere close to the problem.
Darnel Mooney:
"Justin is the quarterback of the future. He's the franchise quarterback. He's been balling. I don't understand why it's anymore questions. Obviously, we have the [projected No. 1 pick] because of Carolina right now, but Justin is a dog. If he's not here, he'll be somewhere else balling. I'm not the guy that makes those decisions, but Justin is dog. Wherever he may be, if it's not here, he's still going to ball."
D.J. Moore:
Jaylon Johnson:
Keep in mind, this isn't exclusively guys backing Fields. Some words were shared that indicate people aren't happy with the coaching staff. Mooney stated his disgust at how the Bears got lackadaisical and conservative in the 3rd quarter, content to sit on their lead. Johnson admitted his frustration with Eberflus' play calling in the 4th quarter, feeling some of his decisions left the defense unnecessarily exposed. Guys are getting bolder with their criticisms lately. That is always an indication of discontent with the coaching staff.
Justin Fields might be landing in a Jay Cutler situation.
Everybody remembers how coaching issues bedeviled the former Bears quarterback during his career in Chicago. First, it was Lovie Smith, then Marc Trestman, and then John Fox. The organization kept trying to find the right guy to help elevate the quarterback to his full potential. It never happened. If the Bears decide to stick with Fields, that is the same scenario they risk repeating. There is no guarantee the next coaching staff will be able to do any better. Yet it is impossible to ignore how much his teammates love him. That isn't something even Cutler could boast.
GM Ryan Poles has a tough decision ahead of him. He has three roads to take. He keeps Justin Fields and the coaches for another year. He keeps Fields and replaces the coaching staff. Or he trades Fields, fires the coaches, and starts over at both. Nobody knows what awaits the Bears in three weeks. Much of it will hinge on how the team finishes. They still have a chance to win two of the last three games, which would result in a 7-10 record. Fields had to put together a string of consistent performances after his underwhelming dud in Cleveland.
For all the support he's getting from teammates, the ultimate decision rests with the GM who didn't draft him.
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