CHICAGO — He stood on the podium after the game, still partially in uniform with grass stains on his white pants — a sign of how many hits he scored in a 12-7 loss to the Washington Commanders on Thursday night — Bears commented- Quarterback Justin Fields frustration over what has resulted in Chicago dropping three straight games while stumbling to a 2-4 start.
“We’re always told we’re almost there, we’re almost there,” Fields said. “Personally, I’m tired of almost being there. I’m tired of just being this close. I feel like I’ve heard it for so long now. At the end of the day, all you can do is get back to work. That’s the only reaction you have. you live and you learn Just come back next week and keep going, just keep getting better.”
The catalyst for the loss to the Commanders was Chicago’s inability to score on three trips inside the red zone, the second time that has happened in the last three games. The Bears also went 3-0 into the red zone during a 20-12 loss at the New York Giants in Week 4.
| NFL rank | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compt | 54.8% | Worst | ||
| CPÖ | -10.7% | second worst | ||
| international pt | 4.3% | second worst | ||
| Off target pct | 24.4% | Worst | ||
| sack pct | 13.5% | Worst | ||
| pressure pt | 46.2% | Worst | ||
| >>Comp Pct above expectations (next gen) | ||||
Fields threw an interception at Washington’s 5 on Chicago’s second drive of the game, which was the first red-zone pick of his career. On their next drive, the Bears reached the Commanders’ 1-yard line, thanks in part to a 64-yard run by Khalil Herbert on the first pull from scrimmage. Herbert failed to pocket the ball on a fourth down run.
Chicago’s last trip to the red zone came on its final drive after Fields climbed 39 yards, the longest run of his career. Facing fourth and fourth from within the 5-yard line, Fields threw a pass to Darnell Mooney, which hit the receiver in the chest as his body crossed the goal-line plane. Mooney bounced the ball and didn’t save it until it came down just short of the end zone.
The repeated red zone issues prompted a blunt response from the quarterback.
“When the game is there, go for it,” Fields said. “Plain and simple. There are no logistics. It’s not complicated. If you have the opportunity, finish it. It’s that simple. We just didn’t do that tonight. You don’t have to make it harder than it is, bad luck and catch.”
But a game ate at Fields after the game. On the Bears’ second drive into the red zone, Fields and Ryan Griffin failed to connect on the second and third lines from the Washington 3-yard line when the veteran tight end 4, according to Next Gen Stats. 05 yards apart.
“The one that pisses me off is Griff in the end zone,” Fields said. “He could probably have walked a little bit more but he’s wide open. I have to meet this I’m an NFL quarterback. I have to meet that.”
According to ESPN Stats & Information, the Bears are the second team this season to have at least 390 yards of offense and fewer than 10 points in a game. Fields completed 14 of 27 for 190 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
Mooney led the Bears in goals (12) and receptions (7) and finished second with 68 yards.
Fields and the offense failed to build on a strong second-half performance after a Week 5 loss at the Minnesota Vikings, where the quarterback put the Bears in position late after scoring 19 unanswered points.
Bears coach Matt Eberflus didn’t think Fields’ outing was a step backwards four days after losing to the Vikings.
“I think he’s made a step forward,” said Eberflus. “I really do.
“Because the toughness. For me, the ability to take the ball and knock it down at the very end to give us a chance to win it, that was the improvement for me. OK? Were there other moments that we need Clean up and offense needs to clean up? Sure. But we had the drives down there and when we put them in it’s a different game. That’s 21 points. For me, it was really inspiring to watch him do it at the very end, around us to fall to win it at the very end. And again we fell short. We have to do a better job next time.
Statistically, Fields remains the bottom performer in the NFL, ranking last in completion percentage (54.8%), off-target percentage (24.4%), sack percentage (13.5%) and Print Percentage (46.2%). His completion percentage above expectations (-10.7%) and his dropout percentage (4.3%) are ranked 31st.
Overall, the Bears have thrown 115 passes this season, the fewest by any team in six games since the Patriots in 1982.
Fields suffered several severe blows Thursday that left him slow to get up between games. The quarterback said after the game that he sustained an injury to his left shoulder, but didn’t specify whether the original injury happened against the Commanders or in a previous game.
Fields has been pressured by Washington 18 times, a career high. The Bears quarterback has been pressured on 46% of his dropbacks this season, which is the highest rate of pressure a quarterback has faced in the first six games of a season since ESPN began tracking pressure in 2009.
The Bears had to deal with injuries up front to left guard Lucas Patrick and right guard Teven Jenkins, both of whom missed time in the third quarter but later returned.
When asked if the bears would need to reevaluate the offensive line during their mini-bye week, Eberflus pointed to possible changes across the board.
“We will reevaluate everything,” said Eberflus. “Everything from the scheme to the players to everything. We’ll do fine here when it comes up. And we’re going to do a good job of really getting it to the players.
“Whether it could be a line-up change, or technique, fundamentals, all that, scheme, how we run certain games, who we get ball to, what we do well, what we need to improve on. “