{"id":124944,"date":"2021-11-18T13:39:25","date_gmt":"2021-11-18T18:39:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=124944"},"modified":"2021-11-18T13:46:00","modified_gmt":"2021-11-18T18:46:00","slug":"the-chicago-bears-are-trying-to-navigate-the-present-and-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2021\/11\/18\/the-chicago-bears-are-trying-to-navigate-the-present-and-future\/","title":{"rendered":"The Chicago Bears are Trying to Navigate the Present and Future"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the Chicago Bears prepare to host the Baltimore Ravens, they are focused as much on the future as they are on their present. A win would be nice, sure. But, as has been the case since Week 3, the most important part of the next eight weeks is the development of quarterback Justin Fields<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

That was the gist of the message before they hit their bye<\/a> week. It’s also why Matt Nagy<\/a>\u2019s future may not be as decided or cut-and-dry as many would think or like.<\/span><\/p>\n

If Fields continues to progress as he has, those on the \u201cfire Nagy\u201d train might be hoping that ownership still thinks there is more meat on the bone. So far, they haven\u2019t shown a propensity to function that way.<\/span><\/p>\n

Perhaps their plans for a new stadium will affect that.<\/span><\/p>\n

Justin Fields\u2019 Development is Paramount to Wins for the Chicago Bears Future<\/span><\/h2>\n

Right Place, Wrong Time<\/span><\/h3>\n

Fortunately for the Bears, the Ravens haven\u2019t been as good offensively on the road as they have at home. The 11th-ranked team in DVOA, Baltimore is 2-2 on the road compared to 4-1 at home. They\u2019re scoring about 10 points fewer per contest away from their friendly confines. Their yards per pass drop by .3 their rushing yards per attempt fall by .5 when they are on the road.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has 10 of his 14 passing touchdowns at home. He is completing his passes at a clip that is more than 10 percent worse when traveling.<\/span><\/p>\n

It should be Roquan Smith\u2019s responsibility to spy Jackson (the league\u2019s seventh-leading rusher). He’ll try keeping him from getting out in space where few are as dangerous; none of whom are quarterbacks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, the Bears are largely the same team regardless of where they play.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ranked 26th in DVOA, Chicago is 1-4 on the road but a more respectable 2-2 at home. They do, however, average 20 points per game at home as opposed to 14 points per game on the road. Neither is an acceptable mark in today\u2019s NFL.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s the Ravens defense that could be at an advantage. Not only are the Bears dealing with myriad injuries<\/a>, but the Baltimore defense is .5 yards per play stingier against the run and 1.8 yards per play stingier against the pass while suppressing opposing passers\u2019 completions percentages by 6.1 percent when they are away from M&T Bank Stadium.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is also a team that lost to the Miami Dolphins in primetime and has dropped two of its last three. The Bears, meanwhile, are mired in a four-game skid themselves.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.@justnfields<\/a> is live at the podium.@Hyundai<\/a> | #DaBears<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/BJ4Y6D8WQB<\/a><\/p>\n

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) November 17, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n