Justin Fields’ growth continues, even in Week 13 loss to Packers

The Chicago Bears lost to the Green Bay Packers, 28-19, in Week 13, but the best quarterback on the field wasn’t a Packer for the first time in the modern era of the NFL’s most historic rivalry. Instead, it was Justin Fields.

Sure, Aaron Rodgers was fine. But at 39 years old and without an established WR1 to throw to, he played a beatable brand of football Sunday. Unfortunately for Chicago, their depleted secondary (they were without four starting-level players) couldn’t hold up for 60 minutes. The final result was another Rodgers win.

So, why do Bears fans feel so good after a Packers loss? Again, Justin Fields.

Fields’ enjoyed the best day of his young career as a passer against Green Bay’s defense. He completed 20-of-25 passes for 254 yards. And while he did throw two late-game interceptions and failed to put the ball in the paint with his arm, there was a level of composure that we haven’t seen since he was selected as the 11th overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft.

“I think this was one of my best games passing-wise,” Fields said Sunday. “Of course, the stats aren’t going to show that. I felt really comfortable out there in the passing game and just have to keep improving and keep getting better.”

Justin Fields’ INTs weren’t all that bad

About those interceptions. Sure, they were late in the game and cost the Bears a chance to take the lead and possibly upend Rodgers in what may have been his final game in the Bears-Packers rivalry. But coach Matt Eberflus described Fields’ first interception as a “trust throw,” the kind of rep a quarterback with Fields’ pedigree is used to making to wideouts with a similar football skill set. With all due respect to Equanimeous St. Brown, he isn’t a wide receiver that will win many contested catch situations against top-notch defensive backs. There’s a good chance he won’t even be on the Bears’ roster next year.

The result of the throw was bad. It was an interception. But not all interceptions are created equal, and the Bears should be encouraged by Fields ripping a trust throw like that to his pass-catchers. It’s up to GM Ryan Poles to make sure those pass-catchers improve this offseason.

Fields’ second interception wasn’t as excusable.

.@keiseannixon puts the game on ice with an INT! #GBvsCHI | #ProBowlVote | #GoPackGo

FOX pic.twitter.com/y3OVdB5eyq

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) December 4, 2022

Chalk it up to a young player trying to make a play down two scores with less than one minute left in the game. It didn’t have much, if any, impact on the outcome.

Justin Fields proved again that he’s the NFL’s most explosive playmaker

JUSTIN FIELDS DID IT AGAIN. @justnfields

: #GBvsCHI on FOX
: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/P31SxnTZpJ pic.twitter.com/5GBswuEvui

— NFL (@NFL) December 4, 2022

On Sunday, Fields became the first quarterback in the last 70 years to have three touchdown runs of over 50 yards in a career. He’s had all three of them this season. But more impressive than his 55-yard touchdown dash were the plays he didn’t take off and run, like his 24-yard pass to Cole Kmet on third down. It was a play Eberflus singled out after the game as evidence of Fields’ growth as an NFL quarterback, and it’s a play that should have Bears fans giddy about how dominant Fields can be on the NFL level. His ceiling is undefined at this point.

The Bears are now 3-10 on the season. Their loss in Week 13 keeps them in the driver’s seat for the No. 2 overall pick. In most years, both of those statements would be depressing. But with Fields emerging as a superstar quarterback and the offseason opportunities that the Bears will have at upgrading the roster, the future has never been brighter.

Despite losing to the Packers, hope and optimism grew larger in Chicago.