Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields sported a tiny minimize above his left eye when he spoke with reporters late Monday at Gillette Stadium, a gash from being sandwiched between two New England Patriots defenders on a giant second-quarter play.
When defensive lineman Deatrich Wise Jr. charged along with his arms raised, Fields adjusted his arm angle and slipped a brief go to Khalil Herbert. The working again cruised 25 yards untouched into the top zone to present the Bears a lead they by no means relinquished in a 33-14 victory.
Fields didn’t see Herbert get into the top zone as a result of Wise and one other Patriots defender smashed into him concurrently, leaving the gash, however he actually felt the momentum surge that got here with it.
The landing began a run of 23 unanswered factors because the Bears earned their first win in opposition to the Patriots in New England in franchise historical past.
“That was our second time running that play. The first time, the ball got batted down,” Fields mentioned. “The D-end got here working free, so I noticed him and I type of pump-faked it and went sidearmed a bit bit.
“We work on that in practice, maneuvering the screens around the D-end. It was a great catch and run by Khalil and really a great play call and great execution by everybody.”
Eleven days after expressing frustration a few tough 12-7 loss to the Washington Commanders on “Thursday Night Football,” Fields was in a a lot completely different place Monday, caught on digital camera dancing and smiling throughout the nationally televised broadcast.
Bears coaches and gamers made good use of the additional time between video games, crafting a robust recreation plan that featured extra designed runs for Fields, together with a 3-yard landing run that put the Bears up 10-0 within the first quarter.
He had 14 carries for 82 yards and the landing and accomplished 13 of 21 passes for 179 yards with a landing and an interception.
Fields mentioned he was happy with the plan coach Matt Eberflus, offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and different coaches put collectively, saying they “brought a whole different element to our offense.”
“It makes our offense more complex, getting us out of the pocket, more designed quarterback runs,” Fields mentioned. “It opens it up a little bit more. So just doing a lot of different things on offense.”
Fields made some spectacular throws on the transfer and scrambles, together with a 20-yard scurry on third-and-14 on the Bears’ ultimate drive of the primary half to get them to the Patriots 21-yard line. Bears kicker Cairo Santos made his second of 4 discipline targets to enter halftime up 20-14. The Bears have been 11-for-18 on third downs.
“Every time he does something like that, I’m in awe,” Herbert mentioned. “He’s special, and he continues to show it.”
It was a part of an evening during which the Bears amassed 243 speeding yards and 390 complete yards. Herbert had 12 carries for 62 yards, David Montgomery had 15 carries for 62 yards, and vast receiver Dante Pettis had a 29-yard carry.
The efficiency was an apparent constructing block for an offense that lower than two weeks earlier was the topic of ridicule for its incapacity to get in the long run zone in three red-zone alternatives in Week 6.
“When you look at what we did with Justin and the run game and designed runs, that was a lot of fun. And then being efficient in the pass game,” tight finish Cole Kmet mentioned. “Everyone will get tied up in desirous to throw for 400 yards each recreation, and clearly that’s actually cool. I would like that and receivers need that, like, that might be candy for everyone.
“But at the end of the day, our strengths as a team are being able to run the football. We’ve got a quarterback who can run and run physical, and he’s a tough kid who is able to get up and keep going. And when the passes come, he executes on them. It’s something we can lean into.”
Afterward Eberflus mentioned it was necessary for his staff’s confidence to place collectively an entire recreation in entrance of a nationwide viewers. But he and Fields have been cautious to notice there’s extra work forward, particularly in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 8 on a brief week of apply.
“Just the resilience, you know,” Fields mentioned. “Everybody was devastated after the (Commanders) loss, and the best way we fought and the best way we ready all through the week, guys have been locked in by means of conferences, by means of walk-throughs.
“And pretty much our motto this week was ‘finish everything,’ whether it was in practice … finish the day focused in and locked in on meetings. I’m proud of everybody the way they prepared this week and the way they performed today.”
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com