CHICAGO (670 The Score) — With the focus already beginning to turn toward the Bears’ future and what the organization will do in the pivotal offseason that looms, quarterback Justin Fields knows his play is constantly under the microscope.
Fields had a mixed performance Sunday against the Cardinals at Soldier Field, going 15-of-27 for 170 yards, one touchdown and one interception while adding 97 rushing yards and a score on the ground. But only a couple numbers mattered to him at the end of the game.
Those were in the final score – Bears 27, Cardinals 16.
"I'm cool with whatever as long as we win a game," Fields said. "To be honest, shoot, if I have 100 passing yards with zero touchdowns and zero things and we get the win, I'm cool with that. I know people love stats.
"As long as we win. I'm not really a numbers guy.”
Sunday wasn't a definitive performance for Fields, nor was it a statement victory for the Bears, who improved to 6-9. The Bears started fast by taking a 21-0 lead by the middle of the second quarter, then let the three-win Cardinals climb back late but pulled through after flirting with disaster.
Fields paced a Bears offense that posted 420 total yards, including a season-high 250 rushing yards. But the Bears also felt like they left points out on the field.
"We definitely got to work on sustaining that firepower,” Fields said. “We came out with 21 points, boom, so we got to keep doing it. I felt like we could’ve put up at least 35, 40 points, so we got to just stay on top of us and really not get complacent. You never know what’s going to happen as we’ve found out in the past.”
When Cardinals receiver Greg Dortch weaved through Bears defenders for a 38-yard touchdown reception with 6:37 remaining in regulation, Chicago’s lead was cut to one score at 24-16. Having been in that position several times earlier this season, the Bears understood the significance of it.
A week prior in Cleveland, the Bears blew a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter. It marked the third time this season they had blown a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter, and it was a catastrophic collapse for a team still learning to win.
To the credit of head coach Matt Eberflus, his staff and players, the Bears have responded with a win in their next game each of the three times they squandered a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter this season. This time around, the Chicago defense forced Arizona to turn the ball over on downs with about three minutes remaining, and kicker Cairo Santos, who signed a four-year contract extension this weekend, hit a 29-yard field goal with 1:05 remaining to seal the victory.
Nothing has come easy for the Bears throughout this 2023 season, one in which Eberflus was tasked with showcasing progress and guiding the team to more wins. At the least, the Bears proved to be better than the scuffling Cardinals, who fell to 3-12 as their own rebuilding process continues.
The futures of Eberflus and Fields remain uncertain with two games remaining, and key decisions will be made in the days and weeks after the regular season ends. With that hovering over them, the Bears have stayed the course through adversity. They haven’t let the looming questions affect their preparation.
“Focus on one game,” Eberflus said when asked of his own job security.
“That’s all you can do in this business.”
The Bears host the Falcons (7-8) next Sunday at Soldier Field before closing the regular season against the Packers (7-8) at Lambeau Field on Jan. 7. Eberflus will know soon after the season finale whether he’ll be retained for a third year as Bears head coach, while Fields should get his answer by March as to whether Chicago will stand by him as its starting quarterback or search for his replacement.
On Sunday at Soldier Field, the Bears produced a victory that wasn’t pretty, but it counted all the same.
“All I know is one win went up in the win column today,” Fields said. “And that's all I care about.”
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.