People have been quick to jump on bashing Justin Fields for not winning enough games last season. After all, wins are the biggest QB stat there is, right? Sarcasm aside, people can’t look past the fact that Fields threw for so few yards last season. Quarterbacks are judged by what they do through the air, not overall. It’s an unfortunate reality. Never mind that he had the second-most rushing yards in a season in NFL history despite missing two games and accounted for almost 3400 total yards with 25 touchdowns.
Almost every QB in Bears history hasn’t reached that level of achievement, and Fields did it in a brand-new scheme with minimal help around him. It is reasonable to assume that an off-season spent upgrading the supporting cast and getting more comfortable with the system will help him improve. Conor Orr of Sports Illustrated has the highest expectations for Fields going into this season. In fact, he has the quarterback setting a Bears team record for touchdowns in a season.
“26. Justin Fields will have more than 40 total touchdowns
I don’t think this is a brave prediction by any stretch, even if Fields scored only 25 total touchdowns last year (17 passing and eight rushing) in 15 games. The Bears got better everywhere offensively, and, at the very minimum, it’s going to further stress a defense that still has to account for Fields leaving the pocket. Luke Getsy, who will get a head coaching job after this year, gets to keep a supported Fields with a year of the scheme under his belt.”
Justin Fields would enter uncharted territory.
Here is a reminder of where the Bears organization is at. In over a century of existence, no player on their roster has eclipsed 30 touchdowns in a season. Erik Kramer came the closest in 1995, throwing 29 touchdown passes. Orr believes Fields will not only crack the 30-TD mark this season but rocket past it to break the 40-TD barrier as well. Very few quarterbacks manage such a feat. Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, and Joe Burrow were the only ones to accomplish it last season. That would put Fields in elite company.
He would need 15 more touchdowns to accomplish such a feat. Having thrown 17 touchdowns last year, one could say he goes for 28 this time courtesy of his new arsenal of weapons and better blocking. That means he’d need four more rushing touchdowns on top of the right he had last year. It is definitely not impossible. Still, Justin Fields is a Bears quarterback. Nothing ever comes easy for Bears quarterbacks. If he does accomplish this feat, it would be undeniable proof that he is their franchise guy.
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To quote Logan Roy in Succession, congratulations on saying the biggest number.
Apologies in advance for encouraging Gremlin’s kink. Only 40? Cool Hand Luke ate 50 eggs… in an hour.
Being able to average not even 2 passing TDs a game next year shouldn’t be a question. He could still average less and break 30 total passing TDs. That’s my over/ under. If he stays healthy that shouldn’t be a problem. Then add another 10 rushing? There’s your 40.
p.s. someone call Gremlin’ a doctor! (psychologist or general practitioner… I think he has a deficiency.
From his presser…. I KNOW that he’s say he ONLY cares about “W’s”. He’s a GREAT “it’s all about the team” kind of person.
Stats are NICE to talk about…but at the end of the season the ONLY ‘stat’ that counts are Dubwa’s.
So I’d be happy with 9+ W’s
1 TD or 34 TDs it truly doesn’t matter. I have a feeling we’ll WIN more games because of JF than lose because of him.
THAT is a franchise QB…and a difference maker.