The Chicago Bears are 2-2 on the season but their performances have been anything but pretty, especially on the offensive side of the ball. The running game has been excellent as the Bears are currently third in attempts and yardage, sixth in touchdowns and fourth in yards per carry.
The running back duo of David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert have done an excellent job of carrying this offense. Quarterback Justin Fields has shown off his excellent rushing ability as well, as the Bears can certainly get the job done on the ground.
However, for as good as the Bears are at running the ball, they are poor at throwing it. Fields has struggled mightily in his second season in the NFL and there is a multitude of reasons why.
The supporting cast around him is certainly underwhelming as the Bears are doing him a disservice with the wide receivers that he has to work with. The offensive line has also struggled at times to perform up to snuff. Fields is also struggling to see the field and will sometimes bail out of the pocket early when the blocking is good in front of him.
It has resulted in the most anemic passing offense in the NFL through four games. While he hit a few deep shots to Darnell Mooney against the New York Giants in Week 4, there aren’t any real signs of things turning around for this passing offense.
Just how bad has their aerial offense been this season? As pointed out by Ari Meirov, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp has more receptions this season, 42, than Fields has completions, 34.
Through four games Fields is 34-for-67 for 471 yards and two touchdowns with three interceptions. Chicago just isn’t giving him many opportunities to throw the ball as they are content with running it, which they have done on two-thirds of their offensive plays.
Taking it a step further, there are 26 quarterbacks currently in the NFL that have completed more passes in four games than Fields has even attempted. That list could very well grow in Week 5 if the Bears pass with the same frequency as they have been thus far this season.
Some of the struggles in the passing game have to be put on Fields, who isn’t delivering catchable throws too often, either. But it is malpractice what they are doing to the second-year signal caller out of Ohio State as he isn’t given any real chance at succeeding.
