Bears hope Fields keeps promising run going against Lions
Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell started rattling off names when asked about Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields. It was an impressive list: Lamar Jackson, Deshaun Watson and Jalen Hurts. Campbell sees a little bit of each of them in Fields, and he’ll get an up-close look when the Lions visit the Bears on Sunday. "Quarterback driven runs, guard-tackle pulls, read the end, hand it off, these backs are running hard, they’re downhill," he said. "And then, there’s enough of the keepers off of it. There’s enough misdirection to the receivers. And then, certainly his ability on third down, that’s where they really got Miami was man; … there’s an opening in there and he takes it and he’s gone." The Bears (3-6) come in with five losses in the past six games. But the big story is Fields’ improvement. He’s making a case he just might be the one to nail down a position that has historically been a weak spot for one of the NFL’s founding franchises. He had already strung together several encouraging performances in a row – and then came the game against Miami last week. Though the Bears lost 35-32, Fields put on a show, running for 178 yards. It was the highest rushing total for an NFL quarterback in a regular-season game since at least 1940. But there was more. Fields also became the first player since at least 1950 with at least 150 yards rushing and three TD passes in a game. In the past five weeks, he has thrown for 851 yards, completing 76 of 120 passes, with eight TDs and two interceptions. He also has run for 455 yards and three TDs in that time. Fields leads the Bears in rushing with 602 yards and is averaging 6.6 per attempt. Only Jackson has more yards per carry. "The experience has really led him to take the next step," coach Matt Eberflus said. "But also, as I think we’re learning him and he’s learning the offense, it’s kind of both. So we’re tailoring it to him more, but he’s also learning the scheme at the same time." The Lions (2-6), meanwhile, had lost five in a row before beating Green Bay 15-9 last week. They intercepted Aaron Rodgers three times and hung on when he threw an incompletion on fourth down at the Detroit 17 in the last minute. Even so, the Lions are in a familiar spot. They’re last in the NFC North and on course to finish with a losing record for the 18th time in 22 seasons.
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