Chicago Bears quarterback Andy Dalton has plenty to lose against the Titans
Lastly, and most importantly, Andy Dalton has a lot to lose against Tennessee.
“But wait, he’s not even playing!”
It’s not about Dalton. He doesn’t even need to play to lose on Saturday. Justin Fields will be playing most of the first half, and once again, the pressure will mount on head coach Matt Nagy if Fields plays well.
Dalton, the person, kind of got a raw deal this year. He might have been told he would start the season, but when the Bears drafted Fields, the timer started ticking. If Fields puts on a show against Tennessee, Dalton will continue to lose faith from everyone — even Nagy, behind the scenes.
Again, it’s not about Dalton at all. It’s about the future of the Bears, Fields, playing on Saturday. Fields could cement himself even further on Saturday, putting the utmost pressure on Nagy.
Already this week, Nagy has been questioned thoroughly by national media. The criticism is coming hard and fast. Fields has not been allowed to do the things other rookie quarterbacks have gotten to do around the league, and Nagy has to be feeling the pressure.
Fields plays well, and Dalton’s stock takes another hit. It’s just that simple.