The Chicago Bears will look to pick up their second win of the 2022 season on Sunday when they host the Houston Texans at Soldier Field. Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and Justin Fields will look to have individual bounce-back performances following Chicago’s 27-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Although the Bears’ passing offense is the worst in the NFL, Getsy and Fields will have a chance to improve, given the defensive capabilities of the team’s next four opponents.

Easier Defenses Will Allow Fields and Getsy To Perform Better

Through two games in 2022, Fields has only thrown for 191 yards and has only completed 15 passes on 28 pass attempts. Additionally, there has been a lack of pass-play designs featured in the preseason by Getsy. Chicago’s offensive scheme is built to highlight the strengths of their second-year quarterback, which includes deep ball accuracy and his mobility. Getsy’s passing offense relies heavily on play-action and bootleg passing plays that give Fields a quick open target to throw to or run with the ball if no one is open.

At some point, Luke Getsy is going to have to allow Justin Fields to actually play QB. With 2 minutes left in the first half, he has 5 pass attempts. That’s not going to cut it. #Bears

— Aaron Leming (@AaronLemingNFL) September 19, 2022

Against the San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers, Chicago’s offense has featured few play-action and bootleg designs, as shotgun passing formations were seen consistently against Green Bay. The Bears have also failed to get their most prominent pass-catchers involved in the offense, as wide receiver Darnell Mooney and tight end Cole Kmet have combined for only two receptions and eight yards in the first few games of 2022.

During the 2022 preseason, Getsy received high praise for having a creative offensive game plan as there were several passing plays featuring rollouts for Fields, allowing him to throw to an open receiver. In each of the Bears’ three preseason games, their starting quarterback completed a pass for 20 yards or more. Against the Cleveland Browns, Fields had three touchdowns in the first half, with two being longer than 20 yards.

Great showing tonight for Justin Fields, who completed 14 of 16 passes for 156 yards and three touchdowns in the Chicago Bears’ preseason finale against the Cleveland Browns. https://t.co/tSkLnD2fNp

— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) August 28, 2022

Although Getsy is a first-time offensive play-caller and Fields is learning a new system, Chicago’s passing offense has been limited by external circumstances. In the first two weeks of the season, the Bears offense has faced off against two top ten defenses in the 49ers and Packers. The Bears offense also had to play against the 49ers in torrential rain, which limited passing opportunities. Getsy and Fields will have more favorable passing opportunities over the next four weeks playing against the Houston Texans, New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings, and Washington Commanders.

Two of the four defenses Chicago’s offense will face next have already given up 300 passing yards to an opponent. The Texans allowed Matt Ryan to pass for 340 yards in Week 1 and could be susceptible to freezing on play-action pass plays as opponents are averaging over 163 rushing yards against Houston’s defense. Although the Bears play the Giants next week and the Giants’ pass defense is good, New York could be without defensive tackle Leonard Williams and cornerback Aaron Robinson due to injuries.

Following the Texans and Giants in Weeks 3 and 4, The Bears will play the Vikings and Commanders in four days. Fields could have success throwing deep to Mooney or rookie wide receiver Velus Jones Jr when playing the Vikings, as Minnesota’s pass defense has struggled significantly when opposing offenses have attempted deep passes. If not for a dropped 75-yard touchdown pass by Packers’ rookie wide receiver Christian Watson, the Vikings defense would have given up over 300 yards passing in back-to-back games. The Commanders have already given up five passing touchdowns and 58 total points in the first two weeks of the season.

Eagles have 347 yards at the half🔥🔥
Vikings… 93 yards

Jalen Hurts had a career high 256 total yards in the first half in season opener

How about 301 total yards in first half tonight 😮
pic.twitter.com/tVPvE45mGL

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) September 20, 2022

Chicago’s Rushing Offense Is Setting Up the Passing Offense For Success

For Fields and Getsy to have success throwing the football, Chicago’s rushing offense will need to help create more favorable passing opportunities. Last week against Green Bay, running backs David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert combined for 160 rushing yards on 19 carries. Both running backs recorded a rushing attempt of 27 yards or more, despite the Bears trailing by more than 14 points.

David Montgomery & Khalil Herbert have 17 car for 156 yds (9.1 ypc)

Texans head to Chicago next week

Houston has give up 236 rush yds on 46 carries (5.1 ypc) to Jonathan Taylor & Javonte Williams

— Jayson Braddock (@JaysonBraddock) September 19, 2022

Montgomery and Herbert’s ability to run the ball will help Chicago’s passing offense, as opposing defenses will fall for play-action passing plays. The plays will give Fields more time to throw, allowing his receivers to gain separation from defenders more easily. Especially for bootleg play-action pass plays, if an opposing linebackers come up to stop the run, it will allow the Bears’ quarterback to either run with the ball or throw it to Kmet on a short to mid-range pass completion.

If the Bears can be successful running the football against the Houston Texans on Sunday, it will force the Giants, Vikings, and Commanders to focus their defensive game plans on stopping the run. The focus by opposing defenses will give Getsy more opportunities to design passing plays that are set up as run formations only to fool the opposition. The play designs will keep Fields safe from pressure and give him more open targets to throw to faster.

Credit where credit is due: Luke Getsy has made some very good adjustments in the second half.

This #Bears offensive approach is a lot more in line with what I expected them to use this year. Play action, stretching the field horizontally. Definitely a shift in momentum now.

— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) September 11, 2022

Although Fields has struggled in his first two games of the season, he will have a chance to better himself as a passer over the Bears’ next four games. Chicago’s quarterback won’t be playing elite defenses, and his running backs are creating production that benefits the team’s passing offense. Getsy will lean heavily on Montgomery and Herbert over the next two games but will look to create passing opportunities off the running backs, as the Bears’ offense could improve over the next several games.