The Chicago Bears will host the Detroit Lions on Sunday at Soldier Field as the team will look to win their first game since October 24th. Chicago’s current record matters very little in the grand scheme of things, as the play of quarterback Justin Fields has been the primary focus of fans and NFL analysts over the last several weeks. Although Fields has played terrific over the previous three games, he now needs to demonstrate an ability to lead his team to victory when given the opportunity late in games.

Justin Fields Needs To Lead the Bears On Game-Winning Drive When The Opportunity Arises

In Fields’ last three games, he has both thrown and ran for touchdowns in each start, with Chicago’s offense averaging over 31 points over the previous three weeks. In the Bears’ most recent game against the Miami Dolphins, Chicago’s second-year quarterback set several NFL records with his performance, as his 178 rushing yards were the most by a quarterback in a game in league history. Fields also became the first quarterback to ever pass for three touchdowns while rushing for over 140 yards. Fields’ four-touchdown performance against the Dolphins led to him being named NFL Offensive Player of The Week.

Although Fields’ had a historic performance against the Dolphins, the Bears failed to win the game due to their defense allowing four touchdowns to Miami’s offense, including 302 passing yards to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Despite Chicago losing by a final score of 35-32, Fields and the offense had a chance to tie the game or score a potential game-winning touchdown with less than three minutes to go. The Bears’ offense failed to do either as a missed defensive pass inference call and a drop by wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown led to a turnover on downs resulting in the Dolphins winning.

Chicago’s loss was heartbreaking because Fields deserved to win the game based on the historic performance he had. With the Bears’ young quarterback growing into an elite-level talent, the next step in his growth process needs to involve an ability to win games late for the team. The 2022 season is a rebuilding season for the Bears, as they will likely not win many more games the rest of the season, but if a situation arises where the team has a chance to win a game late, Fields needs to prove to be the difference-maker.

The Bears’ next four games are against favorable opponents that have struggled significantly on either offense or defense. Chicago’s next four games are against the Lions, Atlanta Falcons, New York Jets, and Green Bay Packers. If Fields and the offense are in a situation where a late touchdown or field goal wins the game for the Bears, the offense needs to generate that score. Chicago’s young quarterback has recently proven that he can lead the offense to score touchdowns consistently through most of the game, but now needs to demonstrate an ability to create points in high leverage situations when an outcome is on the line.

Being able to lead an offense on a game-winning touchdown drive late in a game is a trait that all elite-level quarterbacks possess. Fields has yet to demonstrate that trait but can do so because of his superb talent. Although any victory the remainder of the season hurts Chicago’s positioning in the 2023 NFL Draft, it is a price that reluctantly must be paid if their second-year quarterback leads the team to victory late in a game. It is best for Fields to have and be in those late-game situations now when the season doesn’t matter, compared to learning from those situations next year when Chicago could be vying for a playoff spot.

Jay Cutler Was Terrific As A Quarterback That Could Win Games Late For The Bears

The Bears had a quarterback before who was talented enough to be a difference maker with an ability to win games late for them. Former quarterback Jay Cutler excelled in situations where Chicago either needed a score late in the fourth quarter to win a game or force overtime. In Cutler’s eight seasons with the Bears, he had at least one moment each year in which he led the offense on a game-tying or game-winning drive on the team’s final possession of the game.

Cutler’s best season with the Bears came in 2015 when Chicago was embarking on a rebuild. Similar to the 2022 season, the 2015 team wasn’t very good, as they had a defense that lacked quality talent while their offense was in transition. Despite low expectations, Cutler proved to be a difference maker for Chicago’s offense, as seven of the team’s ten losses were by eight points or less. In those seven losses, five of those games were decided by four points or less, with the Bears’ offense either having a chance to tie or win the game in the final minutes.

Chicago was able to be competitive because of Cutler’s ability to lead the offense on late-game drives in high-leverage situations. In 2015, against the Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers, the Bears’ quarterback led the offense on a game-winning touchdown drive with three minutes or less left in those games. Against the eventual Super Bowl champions, the Denver Broncos, Cutler led the offense on a last-second touchdown drive that would have led to overtime if Chicago could have converted the two-point attempt.

Fields doesn’t need to every game for the Bears the rest of the season, but if there are one or two situations in which Chicago has a chance to win, he needs to lead the team to victory. Although the 2022 season is about the quarterback’s growth, he needs to capitalize on potential game-winning situations, as it will assist in accelerating his growth heading into 2023. Fields has demonstrated an ability to be an explosive quarterback over the past three weeks, but needs to take his development one step further now and be able to win a game late if the opportunity presents itself.