The Chicago Bears accomplished on Sunday afternoon what many fans hoped: A win against the Detroit Lions at home. In the Bears’ first divisional game of the season, Chicago closed out the Lions 24-14, with rookie quarterback Justin Fields going 11-for-17 and 209 passing yards.
The Bears’ win over the Lions is significant for two reasons. First, Chicago is back to .500 and trying to keep pace in the division with the Green Bay Packers. Second, Fields and the entire Bears offense rebounded, proving that poor playcalling and bad execution was holding the Bears offense back.
While head coach Matt Nagy acknowledged after the game that offensive coordinator Bill Lazor was calling plays, Chicago proved in week 4 that the offensive coaching staff could cater the game plan to Fields strengths. Sunday afternoon also showcased what the Bears’ philosophy on offense needs to be: A balanced offense with running back David Montgomery being fed early, setting the tone for the course of the game.
“Scoring on the first drive, that definitely sets the tone for the rest of the game,” Fields said via the Bears official YouTube Channel. “I’m just proud of everybody on offense from the o-line to the receivers to the running backs.”
What we saw on Sunday wasn’t just flashes of what Fields could become. We saw the Bears’ offense clicking at a high level, playing complementary football, keeping the defense off the field for extended periods of time. The Bears’ game plan moving forward needs to continue featuring a heavy dose of play-action and Lazor’s playcalling.
What we have to acknowledge is this: The Bears under Nagy want to develop into a pass-first offense. That won’t happen overnight but each week, the Bears can insert just a bit more passing concepts onto Fields plate. For now, however, a balanced approach is what Chicago needs, especially with a shaky offensive line that did look more than solid on Sunday afternoon.