Bears NFL power rankings round-up going into Week 10

In a season that’s been defined in part by poor quarterback play in places you’d least suspect it, it’s refreshing to watch a young player like Justin Fields make the leap in such profound fashion. The second-year man out of Ohio State was historically dangerous on Sunday, setting a Super Bowl-era record for QBs with 178 rushing yards in a 35-32 lossto the Dolphins. Fields accounted for four touchdowns, and he might have been the talk of the league this week had game officials not missed an obvious pass interference call on a deep attempt to Chase Claypool with 1:35 to play. Chicago’s defense remains lost at sea without Robert Quinn and Roquan Smith, but Fields promises to keep this team compelling with a huge arrow up for 2023 and beyond.

There are no moral victories in the NFL, and allowing 35 points to the Miami Dolphins in a loss is hardly ideal.

But the Chicago Bears had no bigger goal in 2022 than developing second-year quarterback Justin Fields. And after throwing three touchdown passes and gouging the Dolphins for a regular-season record 178 rushing yards, Fields has strung together strong outings and looks to be a markedly improved player.

Bears safety Eddie Jackson lauded Fields’ performance after the game while allowing that he and the Bears defense has to play better.

“You just see what type of player he is,” Jackson said. “You just continue to see him grow week-in, week-out. And the offense as a whole, continuing to come out here and get us 30 points. That’s something that we’ve been asking for and we can’t continue to let teams come out and score 28 or 35 points on us as a defense.”

Moton was equally impressed by what Fields has accomplished of late.

“Even though the Bears have lost three of their last four games, Fields has blossomed in offensive coordinator Luke Getsy’s system over the past month,” he said. “The Bears have featured more of his running ability, which boosted their scoring since Week 7 to 31.3 points per game.

“The defense, however, has trended in the wrong direction, giving up 10 touchdowns over the past two games, but that’s to be expected after the team traded edge-rusher Robert Quinn and linebacker Roquan Smith. Nonetheless, new general manager Ryan Poles should feel good about building around Fields. He can add veteran talent on defense with more than $100 million of cap space in 2023.”

Justin Fields is on course to become the third different quarterback in league history to rush for 1,000 yards and has a shot at Lamar Jackson’s record (1,206) for the position. However Fields has also been sacked a league-worst 33 times, so the punishment could start to add up quickly.

The Bears kicker has made 19 consecutive field goals, a stretch that dates back to Week 15 of the 2021 season. Santos is a perfect 13-of-13 on field goals this season, including four from 50-plus yards, and 14-of-16 on extra points. His presence has provided a boost to Chicago’s growing offense and the comfort that it can keep pace even if drives end with field goals over touchdowns. “Every time we get in that field goal range, I’m always cognitive of, we got points,” quarterback Justin Fields said of Santos. “We most likely have points right here.”

The Bears have to be pleased with the progress that Justin Fields is making. It took too long but they’ve also figured out how to feature him. If they can keep seeing that improvement over the last eight games it will be a successful season for the Bears regardless of their final record.

Justin Fields has really come on in recent weeks. He can really run it, but he’s throwing it better as well.