Backyard Football, Fields of Excitement, Fantasy Impact, Defensive Star-power Shining, and Other Bears Bullets

How are the Panthers so good at this social media thing?

pic.twitter.com/NRSjTXD7Dz

— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) September 23, 2021

Much respect. I’m now a little more inspired today to step my game up.

•   In Week 3 of the 2001 season, Tom Brady replaced an injured Drew Bledsoe — a three-time Pro Bowl quarterback injured the previous week — and became the Patriots’ full-time starter at QB. As the folks at SportsCenter’s Twitter page said, the rest is history. In Week 3 of the 2021 season, Justin Fields will replace Andy Dalton — a three-time Pro Bowl quarterback injured the previous week — and become the Bears’ full-time starter at QB. Maybe? I guess only time will tell.

•   The fantasy football community is already heart-eyes over Fields starting:

Justin Fields QB1 pic.twitter.com/eIAEqkPzrx

— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) September 22, 2021

Quarterbacks I'd start over Justin Fields in fantasy football land:

Kyler Murray
Patrick Mahomes
Lamar Jackson
Jalen Hurts
Russell Wilson
Josh Allen
Dak Prescott
Tom Brady
Justin Herbert
Aaron Rodgers

Andddd that's all folks.

— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) September 22, 2021

•   As a reminder, fantasy and reality don’t necessarily go hand-in-hand. However, I can understand why there is love for Fields from a fantasy perspective. Because in addition to arm talent and the potential to throw a ton based on (1) Matt Nagy’s throw-happy tendencies, (2) the potential for game score situations to dictate the Bears’ need to throw a ton, and (3) Fields’ mobility bringing potential ground yardage and scores is enough to give fantasy owners hope. I was able to draft Fields in one league, but it is one in which I own Kyler Murray. So much conflict. What should I do?

•   A worthwhile thread to peruse:

Justin Fields will finally be starting!

When we adjust for surroundings, Justin Fields has the highest CFB Passing grade of all rookie starters and is projected to have the strongest season of his class in WAR/Snap

Read about it here: https://t.co/hT5xAqwSZY pic.twitter.com/6B8QwPJbia

— Conor "TLaw Good" McAnalytics (@ConorMcQ5) September 22, 2021

I feel obligated to point out the projections for rookie year success (as measured by WAR/Snap) is very, very poorly calibrated and the actual number here doesn't mean much. But we very roughly expect Justin Fields to edge out Jones/Wilson/Lawrencehttps://t.co/OSUwb69eaJ pic.twitter.com/G4K3BXadUs

— Conor "TLaw Good" McAnalytics (@ConorMcQ5) September 22, 2021

 

•   The online reactions to news Fields was getting the starting role were elite across the board:

QB1 pic.twitter.com/gRjYAWM164

— Russell Dorsey (@Russ_Dorsey1) September 22, 2021

#Bears fans reaction when they found out Justin Fields is making his 1st #NFL start on Sunday in The Land… 🐻⬇️ pic.twitter.com/VRr6V3srpm

— Jarrett Payton (@paytonsun) September 22, 2021

let's goooOOOOOOooOOOOOoo https://t.co/6CyjkOZUtY

— Jeremy Layton (@JeremyLayt0n) September 22, 2021

All of Chicago

pic.twitter.com/j3VdEvJpjG https://t.co/blRPEAOxvI

— MyBookie NFL (@MyBookie_NFL) September 22, 2021

https://t.co/GPLShakWFL pic.twitter.com/z8vlhPEBMg

— John O’Dooley (@GrayFedoraSport) September 22, 2021

https://twitter.com/BrenaMonae/status/1440722952048168964

ITS UP FROM HERE💯🤙🏾🐻 https://t.co/jGctlkUXwl

— Jayy Macc (@_Chicago_Native) September 22, 2021

I am ready to be hurt again https://t.co/MXvqYOfJp3

— Cody (@CodyOnTap) September 22, 2021

•   It’ll never get old that there really is a Star Wars meme for EVERYTHING:

Go time @justnfields pic.twitter.com/WGDvQHf0r1

— bunkyartbunk (@captainclutch_3) September 22, 2021

•   You know who else will be watching Fields’ career with great interest? Cole Kmet. The second-year tight end could possibly flourish with Fields tossing him the pigskin. Especially if this comes to fruition:

Bears TE Cole Kmet: "With Justin, there's the play that's called and then there's the second play, which turns into backyard football. I'll definitely be getting some extra sprints in this week.

— Jason Lieser (@JasonLieser) September 22, 2021

•   The Bears’ offense playing backyard football might be an upgrade from what we have seen in recent years. There hasn’t been enough creativity from Matt Nagy’s offense. We can cast blame in so many different directions, but there is no point in doing that at this stage of the game. Moving forward, it would be nice to see Nagy’s offense excel with his hand-picked QB. Don’t get me wrong. This will be one of those “Rome wasn’t built in a day” situations. But if the Bears show a hint of progress offensively because of what Fields brings to the table, I’ll feel better about this group on Monday than I did coming into the week.

•   Other things we’ll watch with great interest — OBJ’s status on the injury report after being a full-go:

Obj full go #browns pic.twitter.com/RFh1FDOkyD

— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) September 22, 2021

•   Bears-Browns is an intriguing matchup beyond the obvious reasons. If a Bengals offense fueled by the upside of Joe Burrow, Joe Mixon, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd was a litmus test for the Bears’ defense, then facing a Browns squad led by Baker Mayfield, Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, and Odell Beckham Jr. will be a full-blown exam. Because in addition to firepower at skill positions, the Browns are a more well-rounded squad with a better line and set of defenders that really brings this group together. PFF ranks Cleveland’s offense as the third-best in football, writing glowingly about the group:

Quarterback Baker Mayfield has been on the verge of spectacular, averaging 10.9 yards per attempt, but three turnover-worthy plays have undermined a lot of that good. Mayfield has an 85.4% adjusted completion rate, the second-best mark in the NFL, and the Browns are one of the few NFL teams with a genuinely efficient run game, ranking first in expected points added per play on the ground.

•   Teaming an accurate passing game with an efficient ground attack seems like a good blueprint to follow.

•   Water covers 70 percent of planet earth. Jaylon Johnson and Roquan Smith cover the rest.

Chicago is the only team to have 2 players with a 90+ coverage grade in Week 2

🔹Jaylon Johnson – 92.3
🔸Roquan Smith – 91.9 pic.twitter.com/V7sW5UyWrq

— PFF CHI Bears (@PFF_Bears) September 22, 2021

•   As for the rest of the defense, I’ll say this: Put forth a healthy Robert Quinn — who already has more sacks in 2021 than he did in all of 2020, creatively use Khalil Mack, allow Akiem Hicks and Bilal Nichols to wreck stuff up front, let Roquan Smith roam the middle of the field, watch Jaylon Johnson and Eddie Jackson rock the secondary, and see where the chips fall at the end of this day. Realistically, we know this “D” has issues. But if the stars play like stars, it will help counter some unpleasantries elsewhere in the lineup.

•   In an alternate universe, maybe we’re discussing a Colts-Bears trade involving Nick Foles. But with no other quarterbacks on the roster, Foles will serve as QB2 behind Fields and not as Carson Wentz’s possible replacement if his ankles don’t give him a chance to be a full go. So instead, we’re looking at practice squad QB Brett Hundley taking starter reps via NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero.

•   City love:

🐐 energy.

Good luck in the WNBA playoffs, @chicagosky! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/9q2J6RiekP

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 23, 2021

•   Meet the Blackhawks:

Blackhawks Announce The 2021-22 Training Camp Roster https://t.co/4ugqfl2d8W

— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) September 23, 2021

•   The arrow is pointing 🆙 for the Bulls:

Four Bulls Players Land in the Newest Top-100 Chartshttps://t.co/zxYLHhitBj

— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) September 22, 2021

•   The hits keep coming, and they don’t stop coming:

Brennen Davis Just Keeps Going Deep – He Did It Again Tonight (VIDEO) – https://t.co/sa1Dpdgjqn pic.twitter.com/UU4vohBcPv

— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) September 23, 2021