Justin Fields Absorbs Punishment in Loss

Not a word from Justin Fields about usage or robotics in this one.

It was a moot point, as all the Bears looked robotic compared to the Kansas City Chiefs in a predictable 41-10 loss.

Fields, instead, was worrying about several specifics, including one pass interception at the end. At least it showed he hasn't forgotten the goal is improvement.

"Tippped balls are never good over the middle," Fields said. "You never want that."

Fields did get to run in this as he had wanted to do, but gained only 47 yards on his 11 rushes. He threw for only 99 yards in another disappointing game as the Bears were thoroughly trashed from the start.

At least Fields got through it healthy. This seemed uncertain in the fourth quarter as the Bears were trying to score their first points, down 41-0. He took a hit to the head from Willie Gay Jr. and came down hard, got checked out after being on the turf for a while but was cleared to return.

As a result, he was able to throw a 9-yard TD pass later to DJ Moore, who was injured on the play.

"We've just got to focus on what we need to get better at," Fields said. "I think that's it, just focus on the detail, just trying to get that full identity and then once we do we'll be rolling, we'll be good."

That identity for now is just a struggling, inconsistent offense and a defense open to being shred.

Fields' 7 of 12 for 59 yards in the second half looks terrible on paper until compared to his 4 of 10 for 40 yards in the first half. A 58.7 passer rating on the day was even worse than in his first two efforts. He found Moore three times for 41 yards, Chase Claypool once for 15 and never found the player who had once been his top receiver, Darnell Mooney.

The Bears had eight possessions before they scored a point, the first three coming on Cairo Santos' 21-yard field goal. By the time they got on the scoreboard, the Chiefs had put up 41 on eight possessions.

"All we need is one to get this this going," Fields said. "I don't know if I told you all this but the Lions started 1-6 and almost made the playoffs."

He hadn't, but they aren't the Lions of 2022.

"So just keep that faith, keep going, the big picture is it's the third game of the season," Fields said. "We've got 14 left at least. So keep working, keep going."

Now with a 5-23 career record as starter, the best thing for Fields on the offense might be to get back on the field right away and try again.

They'll do it against Denver Sunday at Soldier Field, and then at Washington on the following Thursday.

The Broncos defense allowed 70 points Sunday against Miami in your standard 70-20 loss. Washington's defense allowed 30 in a 37-3 loss to Buffalo. It would appear to be a chance to build the momentum the Bears offense needs—of course, the Broncos and Commanders are saying the same thing about the Bears.

"We've got two games in 11 days so we're going to focus on that and focus on being the best versions of ourself every single day as we go through practice this week," coach Matt Eberflus said.

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