Nobody on the field was better for three quarters on Sunday than Justin Fields. He’d thrown four touchdowns and made things look easy through the air. The Chicago Bears were up 28-7. All he had to do was put together one more scoring drive, and the game was likely over. Instead, Chicago surrendered 24 unanswered points to lose a heartbreaker 31-28. Most of the blame will go to another awful finish by the Bears’ defense and some highly questionable decisions by Matt Eberflus. However, it’s time to address the elephant in the room.
Once again, Fields couldn’t get it done in the clutch. After playing so well, he saved his absolute worst moments for the 4th quarter. It started with seven minutes left. Chicago had 1st and 10 inside Denver territory. They were driving. The Broncos called a blitz and caught Fields in a bootleg. Rather than eat the sack as he should’ve, the quarterback tried to throw it. The ball was knocked loose and scooped for a touchdown.
That mistake was bad but could be partially excused. The next one was not. Fields still had a chance to tie the game with 38 seconds left. Chicago had the ball at their own 41. In four-down territory on 3rd and 13, there was no need to get everything at one. Yet Fields tried to anyway, tossing a game-ending interception to Kareem Jackson.
Ready for some numbers? Fields has now thrown five interceptions this season. Four of them have come in the 4th quarter. Add the fumble return, and that is five turnovers in four games during the most crucial part of every game. This isn’t something that started in 2023, either. Of his 26 career interceptions, 14 of them have come in the 4th quarter. There is no getting around the facts. When the pressure to perform in the final minutes is on, Fields crumbles. The guy finds a way to make a catastrophic mistake when the chips are down.
People can talk about his lack of a supporting cast, the iffy coaching, and everything else. His inability to play his best football in big moments is the defining characteristic of his career. Justin Fields is such a talented young man, but something is missing. People mention the “it” factor way too often, but it’s applicable here. Top quarterbacks bring their best when their team has to have it. Fields was brilliant against the Broncos. Until it mattered. Nobody can say he had no shot in that game. He had every shot and blew it.
