The play occurred 5 1/2 weeks in the past, however Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields nonetheless can recite the small print and his thought course of all the way in which up by D.J. Wonnum crunching him to the Soldier Field grass.
It was, in any case, simply two begins in the past for Fields.
With a free rusher, Wonnum, to his left on the primary play of the Bears-Minnesota Vikings sport on Oct. 15, Fields wanted to float to his proper and get the ball out rapidly to fullback Khari Blasingame. But within the second earlier than Wonnum bought to him, Fields nervous {that a} Vikings cornerback was sitting on the route — not anticipating Blasingame to go deep — and he didn’t need to throw an interception on the primary play of the sport.
“Learning from that, I’ve just got to sail it over his head and move onto second and 10,” Fields stated Wednesday at Halas Hall.
Instead, Fields’ day began with that sack and ended within the third quarter with one other sack — and Fields dislocating his proper thumb. The Bears quarterback then sat out 4 video games with that thumb harm, returned Sunday in opposition to the Detroit Lions and now’s again up in opposition to the Vikings (6-5) once more Monday night time at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The Bears and Fields have a lot to enhance upon from that 19-13 Vikings win, wherein Fields threw for 58 yards, no touchdowns and an interception earlier than his harm. The Bears’ 113 internet passing yards between Fields and backup Tyson Bagent had been a season-low for a Vikings opponent.
“It’s just being on the same page. I felt like we made too many mental mistakes last time we played them,” Fields stated. “We’re better than what we put on tape that game. Putting our best foot forward, making sure we’re on our Ps and Qs each and every play. Locked in and getting the ball out fast when we need to when they do bring that pressure, it’s going to be key. When they do bring pressure, the O-line picking it up. Everything starts up front. Once we get the protection and everything together, we’ll be good.”
Fields’ begin to the earlier Vikings sport was a jarring departure from what was starting to appear to be his huge breakout.
In Weeks 4 and 5 in opposition to the Denver Broncos and Washington Commanders, Fields had thrown for 617 yards and eight touchdowns, although his late-game errors in opposition to the Broncos contributed to a Bears’ collapse.
But the pressure-heavy Vikings protection led by coordinator Brian Flores gave the Bears matches.
Fields was sacked 4 occasions in slightly greater than two quarters of play. The fourth sack, when Danielle Hunter took him down from behind as he tried to scramble and do away with the ball, was the play that knocked him out for 4 video games with the thumb harm. Hunter, on tempo for a career-best season, now has 12 sacks.
Bears coach Matt Eberflus stated he believes his gamers have a very good understanding of how the Vikings will play them this time round.
“It’s their pressure looks on first and second down that are unusual,” Eberflus stated. “Having seven guys, six guys up on the road of scrimmage. (Safety Harrison Smith) is up on the road. And the variation of protection. (Flores) does a very good job of blending up the coverages for the spots which are open on the sector, and that creates quite a lot of stress for each offense.
“You could certainly feel that when watching the games and watching the cut-ups. But our guys have played them before, so I think our guys will have a good understanding of where we’re going to attack and how we’re going to operate to win this game.”
The Vikings, who rank thirteenth within the league with 320.6 yards allowed per sport and fifteenth with 20.9 factors allowed, might be a very good follow-up check for Fields as he tries to construct his case for a future with the Bears over the ultimate six video games.
Fields performed properly in opposition to the Lions in his return, throwing for 169 yards and speeding for 104 yards. He stated his thumb was “a little bit sore” after the sport. “But it got me through,” Fields stated, noting he ought to be good to go Monday along with his hand taped.
He was happy along with his capability to get the ball to huge receiver DJ Moore, who had seven catches for 96 yards and a landing, unfold it round to different targets and defend himself when he did take off on the run.
But he famous the fast sport Monday might be key when the Vikings blitz.
“You’re outnumbered in protection, so that’s when you get the ball out quick, so that’s how you combat that,” Fields stated. “Unless you completely out-athlete the D-end, set him up one way or the other. But Cover 0 that’s not really the answer to beat that, to try and scramble and stuff around. You just want to get the ball out quick and just let the playmakers make plays and work for you.”
It additionally would assist the Bears in the event that they bought slightly extra from their working backs than they did in opposition to the Lions.
Coming off a five-game absence due to an ankle harm, Khalil Herbert averaged 2.2 yards per carry (16 carries for 35 yards). D’Onta Foreman, who additionally was taking part in by an ankle subject and sat out the portion of Wednesday’s follow open to the media, had 2.3 yards per carry (six carries for 14 yards and a landing). Roschon Johnson had six carries for 30 yards.
“(Herbert) is going to be in there, and he’s going to get the looks he needs and he’s going to come back with great strength this week,” Eberflus stated. “Certainly, Khalil wanted to play better there. He’s going to be great.”
The buzzword round Halas Hall this week is once more “finish” after the Bears let a 12-point lead get away from them in a 31-26 Lions win.
Fields is happy to indicate how he and his teammates can end in opposition to the Vikings. He didn’t get the possibility final time round.
“I think for the most part we showed who we were (against the Lions) except until the end of the game,” Fields stated. “Focus on finishing better and finishing out the game when it counts, and when a drive comes up, making that big play when it matters. The Vikings, they have been playing great these past few weeks. We’re definitely excited for the opportunity we have on Monday night to get to go out there and ball out.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com