Sunday’s loss to the Packers moved the Panthers closer to clinching the NFL’s worst record for the 2023 season and moved the Bears closer to acquiring the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft.
The Panthers have options, as they traded last year’s No. 1 overall pick to Carolina and stuck with Justin Fields rather than select another quarterback. If the Panthers remain in last place, the Bears will have to make the same choice this offseason.
Sunday’s win over the Cardinals was the latest data point the Bears will use as they move toward that decision. Fields was 15-of-27 for 170 yards, a touchdown and one interception, and ran nine times for 97 yards and a score. These are the kinds of numbers Fields often puts up, and the question is whether his passing will improve enough to allow him to take the next step as a starting QB.
Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said in his postgame press conference that Fields had “really dynamic scrambles and runs,” and that Fields was “looking down the field a lot of times and making passes as well.” He said it was great to see.
“I think this is progress,” Eberflus said. “Anytime you’re a winning quarterback on a winning team, that’s always a good thing, right? He was a part of that too. The last three of those four wins came within two minutes, and he contributed to that as well. Yes, we are seeing progress.”
Fields has two games left to make his case this season, after which the Bears will have to make a decision to set the stage for the next few seasons.