The second-year quarterback had serious highlight material in the team’s upset victory.
“That’s when big plays happen,” Pettis said. “Did that a lot in college. Whenever the quarterback breaks the pocket, DBs kinda scramble a little bit. I feel like I’m able to find space pretty well.”
There’s no arguing that Fields wouldn’t be able to put together the highlight plays we’ve seen without his innate talent. That’s what makes him who he is. But Fields also credits the coaching he’s received, and the work the Bears have done this summer to focus on moments when things go off script, for his success in those scenarios.
“Just scramble drill rules,” Fields said. “Just knowing what your receivers are going to do. Just kind of them feeling out the spacing. And really just trying to extend plays as long as I can to where I can either throw it to them there or maybe run for a few yards or even throw it away. I think they did a great job with that today.”
The Bears wouldn’t have won without Fields’ big plays, but he’s far from a finished product. He still made bad throws and bad decisions. Fields wasn’t able to jump start the offense in the first half, and needed to rely on a strong second half to get the job done. The Bears know that, and he knows that too. But for a second-year quarterback, running a new offense for the first time in a real game, it was an encouraging start to the season.