The Chicago Bears’ 33-22 loss to the Arizona Cardinals didn’t provide many new takeaways about the team.
Running back David Montgomery did all he could to keep the Bears’ offense on the field, totaling a season-high 141 yards from scrimmage on 28 touches and scoring a rushing touchdown. Linebacker Roquan Smith led the team with eight total tackles and did so on one good hamstring.
Chicago’s offense had four turnovers, all Andy Dalton interceptions. The defense forced none and gave up four touchdowns. Sunday’s game in the windy and rainy conditions just validated who the Bears are: a 4-8 football team.
And next up for Chicago, a road trip to Green Bay to face the Packers in a primetime game at Lambeau Field on Sunday night.
Since the inevitable is bound to happen, Bears coach Matt Nagy should focus on developing the 2021 draft class in these final five games of the season.
The Chicago Bears must get Justin Fields on the move
The last time Justin Fields played was against the Baltimore Ravens at Soldier Field. In that 16-14 loss, Fields had just 30 snaps before leaving the game with the ribs injury he is still trying to overcome. In those 30 snaps, though, Fields threw just one pass outside of the pocket.
Justin Fields played 30 snaps against the #Ravens. Here is the one pass that he threw outside the pocket -- a 29-yard completion to Darnell Mooney down the right sideline.
— Nicholas Moreano (@NicholasMoreano) November 23, 2021
The #Bears didn't incorporate the bootlegs and designed rollouts that had success vs. Pittsburgh on MNF. pic.twitter.com/iEvOr2KENs
Whenever Fields returns, the emphasis should be to play to the quarterback’s strengths. Something the coaching staff has been reluctant to do this season.
Getting Fields on the move using designed rollouts should benefit the offensive line but also put the 22-year-old quarterback in situations where he can use different arm angles and his baseball background to deliver off-platform throws.
Of course, simply rolling out and using bootlegs doesn’t guarantee Fields will be out of harm’s way but it will help.
The main goal for these final weeks is to get Fields as many meaningful game reps as possible. But the Bears need to accomplish this while also mitigating the overall hits he will take. He already has broken ribs. There is no need for him to take any more punishment in a lost season.