Fields Throws and Grows, Needs to Slide and Survive, Refs Get Wrecked, and Other Bears Bullets

Eat, toss, or share (Pop Tarts edition): Strawberry, S’mores, Chocolate Fudge.

•   Here is the overwhelming sentiment that must be the main takeaway from Monday’s Bears loss to the Steelers:

•   To be clear, I’m not discounting winning. And I’m not turning a blind eye to the value of victory. Instead, I am underscoring the prioritization of what matters most. In a year in which the Bears currently sit with a 3-6 record, the thing that matters most moving forward is that Justin Fields looks the part of QB1. We obviously want to see numbers that back it up. And, ideally, we’d like to see thee two paths meet where development leads to winning games. But before we get to that point, we need to see growth and development. And after last night’s game, I would confidently say that we’re seeing both.

•   Just in case you were curious as to how Fields would rebound after the clunker in Tampa, he has bounced back with 614 yards of total offense the last two games. That seems good. Sure, I’d like to see more than 3 touchdown. And it would be nice to see that interception rate tick down. But sometimes, it’s OK to admit you’ve gotta crawl a little before you start walking.

•   In addition to seemingly turning the corner the last two games with his play on the field, it seems as if Fields is taking more ownership of this team in other aspects. For instance, it was nice to hear Fields speak up in defense of his guys:

•   Firstly, I hope Fields doesn’t take a fine for speaking candidly after a defeat. Secondly, if Fields does get a letter from league offices, I hope his teammates pass the hat around and split the bill. Thirdly, I hope folks continue to put the screws to officiating. Because Fields is correct. Other quarterbacks get those calls in their favor all the time. Does the NFL want to protect the quarterback or just some quarterbacks? All Fields (or anyone with multiple working brain cells) is asking for is fairness. If that’s too much to ask from these officials, then get new ones.

•   For what it’s worth, Bengals QB Joe Burrow was recently pointing out how older QBs get those calls. I suppose that you have to earn them along the way. But how can one earn them if they’re laid up in the medical tent because defenders know they can push the envelope on a younger QB?

•   Speaking of old-head QBs, Fields caught one’s eye last night:

•   And, yeah, it was this throw:

•   You really can’t get enough angles, can you?

•   A point worth making — it wasn’t just Bears fans highlighting officiating inequalities:

•   That last one made me laugh.

•   With that being said, this is a teachable moment for the rookie QB:

•   Tell me you wanted to take a shot at a Hail Mary TD, without saying it:

•   Whether it was the chuck-and-pray or 65-yard field goal, neither was providing a high-percentage scoring chance. Although, it would’ve been fun to see the Bears put a basketball team out there to see who could box out in a given moment. It’s not as if this team isn’t equipped with size. Chicago could’ve conceivably put out Jesse James (6-7), Jimmy Graham (6-7), Cole Kmet (6-6), and Allen Robinson II (6-2) out there and let the best man come down with a jump ball.

•   It didn’t hit me until the wee hours of the morning, but losing your streak of 40 consecutive made field goals on a 65-yarder is a tough way to go out. But kudos to him for giving it the ol’ college try.

•   I love when players who are out of the game give us this type of inside football knowledge:

•   Robert Quinn had some stupid penalties, but he is showing he can still get it done when he isn’t lining up offsides:

•   Bed stuff, pet stuff, watch stuff, and more are your Early Black Friday Deals at Amazon. #ad

•   Kris Bryant on the Mets would be a hilarious non-fit. He deserves better:

•   Get healthy, gang:

•   Been a while since we’ve seen a good basketbrawl:

written by

Luis C. Medina, who you can find on Twitter at lcm1986, has been covering the Chicago Bears at Bleacher Nation since 2017. Since then, he has written about 3 head coaches, 5 play-callers, and 11 starting quarterbacks. Previously, Luis wrote about the Cubs and MLB at BN (2015-16) and worked in the Chicago Tribune sports department (2011-16). He also co-hosted a Cubs postgame show, Outside the Ivy, in 2019.

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