Justin Fields’ performance vs. Dolphins complicates Bears’ QB plan

Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Justin Fields made his NFL debut in Saturday’s preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins and was everything the team hoped he’d be.

Fields didn’t play look like a rookie facing an NFL defense for the first time. Instead, he was composed, calculated and decisive as both a passer and a runner.

Fields completed 14-of-20 passes for 142 yards and a touchdown and added 33 yard rushing with another score en route to the Bears’ 20-13 victory.

Simply put, he looked the part. In fact, he looked more like an NFL starting quarterback than Andy Dalton, who started and played just two series for the Bears.

Coach Matt Nagy has said all offseason — and throughout training camp — that Dalton is the unquestioned starter, but Saturday’s performance by Fields will make that narrative a challenging one to continue.

Sure, it’s only one game, and if Fields takes a step back in Week 2 (or if Dalton makes a few plays), it’ll be easier to return to Dalton as QB1. But for the first time since the Bears drafted Fields, the storyline is flipping from Fields having to win the job outright to Dalton now fighting to keep it.

The analytics support the theory that Fields is intensifying (as Pro Football Focus put it) the quarterback battle too.

Here’s how PFF graded Fields:

On PFF’s first review of the broadcast film, Fields earned just a 66.0 overall grade. The head-scratching fumble and zero big-time throws pull his overall and passing grades down significantly, but his ability to recoup from easy mistakes and return to action with composure and decisiveness are obvious highlights. His third-quarter PFF grade (seven total snaps) was an impressive 90.5 before All-22 reviews. 

Fields earned a 32.2 PFF grade (on first review) and the Chicago offense totaled one yard on his first three drives of the game. He completed 12-of-14 passes for 132 yards, rushed for 31 yards and totaled two touchdowns en route to a 84.1 PFF grade on his final four drives.

Fields’ shaky start led to his surprisingly low preliminary grade, but it’s not how you start, right?

The most important thing Fields did on Saturday won’t appear in the box score. He showed that he has intangible traits to be a dominant playmaker and leader, two things the Bears haven’t had behind center in decades.

Sure, Dalton might end up being a ceremonial Week 1 starter, but his tenure won’t last long, assuming it ever even begins.