The Chicago Bears have officially named rookie quarterback Justin Fields as the starter for their Week 3 matchup against the Cleveland Browns. Making the announcement to reporters on Wednesday, Bears Head Coach Matt Nagy said that Andy Dalton was week-to-week with a bone bruise in his knee but that he would be the starter again once healthy.
That last part might have made some fans and media bristle. Conventional wisdom would suggest once the quarterback of the future is inserted into the starting lineup, the ‘future’ becomes ‘now’.
The Chicago Bears Will Have a Hard Time Putting Justin Fields Back Under Wraps
Plans Change
Two games were all that it took for Nagy’s well-documented plan to fall by the wayside, for one week at least. And, surely if you let him tell it, had Dalton not suffered the injury, there would be nothing to discuss in regards to who will be under center. We had already seen him soften his stance on the matter.
This kicks things into overdrive.
After being staunch in his assertion that Fields would sit the entire year, Nagy began to admit that Dalton’s play would impact things on a week-to-week basis (kind of ironic, no?) as camp wore on.
Not long before the start of the season, the rhetoric changed to the team “hoping” Fields wouldn’t have to see the field before Week 4.
It sure sounded like they had a plan, either primary or fallback, to turn the rookie loose on their wayward divisional opponent. It honestly made sense with the Bears facing one of the toughest schedules in the NFL this season. Of course, most included the Browns as one of the matchups on the tougher side of things.
For what it’s worth, Fields sounded just as even-keeled as he always does in his presser. And Nagy described the 11th-overall pick in this past April’s NFL Draft as “stoic”.
.@justnfields is meeting with the media.@Hyundai | #DaBears https://t.co/qg7FwTB0Bl
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 22, 2021
That’s good because he will be facing a defense featuring pass rushers Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney. The duo has just two sacks combined and the Browns have just three as a team. But the Browns are fifth in Pass Rush Win Rate. Luckily for Fields and the Bears, the offensive line has played better than expected so far.
As for Nagy saying Dalton is still the starter when healthy, there aren’t many who would take that as fact. Barring Fields looking completely lost on Sunday there is no reason to go back.
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Strength vs Strength
Chicago’s defense put on a bounce-back performance in Week 2, sacking Joe Burrow four times and picking off three of his passes. More than that, they played tight coverage on one of the most talented young receiving corps in the NFL. Second-year corner Jaylon Johnson even got his first career pick while linebacker Roquan Smith got his first pick-six.
The defense also held Joe Mixon to 69 yards on 20 carries and just two yards on a single catch.
Put simply, the defense held up their end of the bargain after an extremely uncharacteristic showing in Week 1 versus the Los Angeles Rams.
They catch the Browns at a good time too. Jarvis Landry is out, placed on injured reserve with an MCL sprain. Odell Beckham Jr was reportedly a full-go at practice on Wednesday. But he has yet to play since having ACL surgery last November.
Cleveland still has talent at the position with exciting rookie Anthony Schwartz, Rishard Higgins, and Donovan Peoples-Jones.
Baker Mayfield is also dealing with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder but also practiced in full. Still, we could see the Browns lean on their potent ground attack to take some pressure off of Mayfield’s shoulder. That means a healthy dose of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. The duo spearheads an attack that ranks third in rushing yards and first in touchdowns with seven.
Akiem Hicks could use Eddie Goldman (who was limited in practice on Wednesday to return to action this week. But Bilal Nichols and Angelo Blackson have played well and they get Mario Edwards back from suspension.
They’ll face a Cleveland offensive line that might feature the best center in football in JC Tretter who holds the top spot in both Pass Block and Run Block Win Rate.
Justin Fields is Bears QB1
The best battle on Sunday will be the Bears defensive front versus the Browns offensive line. Cleveland’s defensive front versus Chicago’s offensive line will be the most critical. And that is because it will directly affect Fields, who is the only storyline most people will be paying attention to. Good luck trying to take that away.
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