A lingering issue for the Chicago Bears since naming rookie quarterback Justin Fields the starter in week four was a lack of chemistry with wide receivers. After spending all of training camp as the Bears backup, Fields was forced to learn on the fly with starting wide receivers Allen Robinson and Darnell Mooney and tight end Cole Kmet.
Against the Pittsburgh Steelers in week nine on Monday Night Football, the Bears opted to run a more balanced gameplan, with Fields going 17-for-29 with 291 yards and one touchdown. The 11th overall pick also had a passer rating of 89.9 while rushing eight times for 45 yards, averaging 5.6 yards per attempt.
“As we’ve gotten more reps with Justin and you know kind of having had him at the helm and things and whatnot, things just naturally been getting better and kind of having a feel for each other,” Kmet said via the Bears official YouTube channel. “Not only me but I think the other receivers as well and you know we’re just kind of getting better in that so I think that’s going to keep progressing as the year goes on.”
Much of Fields’ early-season struggles was the result of poor ball placement and timing with receivers. Fields showed the ability to consistently hit the deep ball on Monday, including a 39-yard pass to Robinson on a third-and-two in the fourth quarter. Just one play later, Fields would connect with Mooney for a 16-yard touchdown pass.
“I felt so awesome Mooney made a great catch on that play, we were on the same page so was it was awesome,” Fields said.
For an offense that’s beginning to find its rhythm, Fields and the rest of the Bears playmakers have proven that everyone being on the same page can help the Bears passing game significantly improve. For head coach Matt Nagy, this is a positive step in the right direction as Nagy hopes to develop a pass-first offense.