When Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields arrived within the locker room after a snowy 37-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday at Soldier Area, he was shocked to seek out it clouded with cigar smoke.
Somebody had left the cigars on a desk for the group to partake in, both to have a good time New Yr’s Eve or the Bears’ fifth straight residence win or simply the overall resurgence of a group that has received 4 of its final 5 video games.
“I’m not going to be at residence lighting a cigar,” Fields mentioned. “However in fact I did it within the locker room to have a good time with the blokes.”
[ [Don’t miss] Week 17 recap: Chicago Bears blow out the Atlanta Falcons 37-17 behind huge days from Justin Fields, DJ Moore and Khalil Herbert ]
If it feels a bit a lot for a 7-9 group, the great vibes are comprehensible on condition that the Bears began 0-4 and have constructed momentum late within the yr regardless of a lot hypothesis about the way forward for the teaching employees and Fields during the last two months.
One piece of that future crystallized earlier than the Bears had completed simply disposing of the 7-9 Falcons behind an excellent day from Fields and 4 interceptions by the Bears protection.
With the Carolina Panthers’ loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, the Bears secured the No. 1 decide within the 2024 draft, which normal supervisor Ryan Poles obtained within the commerce of final yr’s No. 1 decide. It offers Poles a chief alternative to proceed constructing the group, whether or not that be buying and selling again to acquire extra picks as he did final yr or deciding on a brand new quarterback.
Fields is effectively conscious of the selection Poles has, and the quarterback did his half Sunday to make the choice more durable — a lot in order that he had followers at Soldier Area chanting, “We wish Fields!” as the sport wrapped up. He threw for 268 yards and a landing with no turnovers and rushed for 45 yards and a landing.
Fields heard the chants and mentioned it was a part of a memorable day, which included the Bears placing up their second-highest scoring whole of the season towards the group for which the Georgia native grew up cheering. He mentioned he tried to soak in what doubtlessly may have been his final begin at Soldier Area for the Bears, however extra so as a result of he has made residing within the second a precedence.
“I undoubtedly will bear in mind this sport for the remainder of my life,” Fields mentioned. “Simply the environment, the followers, the chants, the snow. I don’t like snow as a quarterback, but it surely was nice. … Enjoying the hometown group the place I’m from and beating them. So it was an excellent day right this moment.”
[ [Don’t miss] Column: ‘You’ll be able to see the place that is going.’ The Chicago Bears completed an eventful 2023 with a hope-inspiring blowout ]
The Bears led from their first drive of the sport, which ended with Fields delivering a 7-yard landing strike to DJ Moore within the again left nook of the tip zone simply earlier than Fields was hit.
Moore had 9 catches for 159 yards to place him at a career-high 1,300 receiving yards for the season. Moore’s 32-yard catch over his shoulder sparked the following drive, which led to a 9-yard Fields landing run.
“The snow form of bought in my manner,” Moore mentioned. “I needed to observe it after which blind catch it. It was like, ‘Thank goodness that I caught this.’”
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tronc/DG2WIVNFCRCJBFHGTX3LRXRE3Y.JPG)
The Bears led 21-7 at halftime and stored the momentum going within the second half so the sport was by no means actually shut. Khalil Herbert had his second straight sport with greater than 100 speeding yards, totaling 18 carries for 124 yards and a landing.
One among Fields’ most exceptional performs didn’t come on a scoring drive however would slot in effectively in a presentation arguing his case to stay in Chicago. On third-and-8 within the third quarter, he dipped his head out of 1 sort out try, pulled his leg away from one other and left a 3rd would-be tackler sliding on the grass as he rushed for 13 yards.
“A Houdini play,” Moore mentioned.
“I felt like there was one man — growth,” Fields mentioned. “One other man was on me — growth. Then one other man was on me — growth. And once I bought up the third time, I seemed up and I simply noticed inexperienced grass.”
Whereas some in Chicago nonetheless could also be arguing that the grass is greener on the opposite aspect of the draft, Fields’ teammates continued to supply their votes of help after a day through which Fields put up the fifth-best passing output of his profession.
“I did hear the chants,” Moore mentioned. “And I do know (the GM’s) field is correct there, so I do know they heard that stuff too.”
“After all I heard them,” security Jaquan Brisker mentioned. “I would like Justin. All of us need Justin. Let’s go!”
Brisker was a part of a Bears efficiency on protection that factors to a different huge query for the Bears. Has coach Matt Eberflus, whose protection has largely fueled the turnaround, secured his job past this season?
NFL Community reporter Ian Rapoport reported Saturday that Eberflus is constructing a case to remain for a 3rd season. Then on Sunday, linebacker T.J. Edwards, cornerback Tyrique Stevenson and nickel Kyler Gordon every intercepted Falcons quarterback Taylor Heinicke. Stevenson got here up with a fourth decide towards backup quarterback Desmond Ridder. A 75-yard landing on a display move from Heinicke to Tyler Allgeier was the one main blip.
[ [Don’t miss] Justin Fields is aware of there’s a typical timeline within the NFL. The Chicago Bears QB thinks he’s ‘simply firstly.’ ]
Eberflus dismissed questions on his future — and that of the No. 1 decide — saying he was centered on spending time together with his household for the vacation Sunday evening, whereas additionally watching some movie at residence. The Bears play the Inexperienced Bay Packers at Lambeau Area subsequent weekend to shut the season.
“My eyes are ahead on the corrections of this sport, and I actually don’t take note of that,” Eberflus mentioned of the report about his future. “I’m a soccer coach, so I do know there’s at all times going to be noise on the market, good or dangerous. In the event you hearken to both of them, guess what, you ain’t doing all your job. And for me, doing my job is specializing in the boys in that locker room and the coaches and the event of the Chicago Bears, and that’s what I’m going to do.”
His gamers have been blissful to benefit from the second too relatively than look forward, although not everybody was huge into the cigars. Stevenson mentioned he tried one — and didn’t prefer it.
“I put it down instantly,” Stevenson mentioned. “No matter it’s to have a good time with these guys, I’m blissful we got here collectively all year long. All of the doubters, all of the haters, we overcame all that, and we simply confirmed the world what kind of group we’re and the way we consider in one another.”
