Generally speaking, losing stinks. Scoring just two offensive touchdowns and only 22 total points isn’t great either. And collecting 324 yards of total offense on 4.8 yards per play isn’t going to re-write the record books (not even ones written by a franchise with a woeful offensive history, such as the Chicago Bears).
But Justin Fields flashed in a big way on Sunday. And for his efforts, the folks at Pro Football Focus bestowed the following honor upon Chicago’s rookie quarterback:
PFF’s Rookie of Week 8… 👀
🐻 Justin Fields 🐻 pic.twitter.com/BNdfHSRZv5
— PFF (@PFF) November 1, 2021
Fields was PFF’s Rookie of the Week in Week 8, because of course! His 76.7 grade was the second best among Bears offensive players, trailing only Jesse James — the tight end who was on the receiving end of the game’s first touchdown. That touchdown toss was the first moment in an afternoon full of them at Soldier Field.
It’s important that we don’t lose perspective here. The Bears lost. That’s not ideal. You play to win the game, right? But Fields’ performance was good enough to soften the blow of losing to a sub-.500 49ers team that gave the Bears ample opportunities to win the game on their own. That the defense allowed scores on all but San Francisco’s first (missed field goal) and last (game-ending kneel-downs) possessions shouldn’t take away from Fields’ excellence. The rookie had his hand in both of the offense’s touchdowns, put up his first 100-yard rushing performance, and was the owner of a 103.8 passer rating before an interception off Darnell Mooney’s hands sunk the number to 84.7.
And, in the end, Fields putting together a game that could be a springboard to bigger and better things down the line is far more important (not to mention valuable) than had the Bears won despite the QB’s efforts. To be clear, I’m not glorifying the idea of a team without a first-round pick in 2022 tanking. We all know there isn’t much value in bottoming out without that first-rounder. But I think we can largely agree that Fields’ development should be taking precedence over win-loss totals moving forward.
Besides … who else was going to get this award?
Yeah … I’d have chosen this guy, too:
.@ChicagoBears fans got just a taste of what @JustnFields can do with his legs. 💨 pic.twitter.com/qjtsFxBADP
— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) November 1, 2021
What a move!!! Justin Fields with the Spin cycle! 🔁 pic.twitter.com/m1KxTTdEuQ
— Braggs In The Stands (@BraggsInStands) October 31, 2021
This angle of the Justin Fields TD pass pic.twitter.com/qFon1ySJdL
— Computer Cowboy (@benbbaldwin) October 31, 2021