(670 The Score) Few wanted to go so far as to call the matchup with the Bengals on Sunday a must-win for the Bears, but we all know it was, to keep intact any belief outside of their locker room if not also within.
The Bears' 20-17 victory at Soldier Field accomplished just that for now, staving off the disaster of an 0-2 start and allaying some fears about the defensive ineffectiveness that was so glaring in the opener. It may have ushered in the era of their rookie quarterback as well, whether Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace want it now or not.
Those are the things that mattered above all, and neither aspect developed without some discomfort before it was over.
Andy Dalton appeared to injure his left knee on a second-quarter scramble, exiting the game after his next series. He was efficient before the injury, directing a 75-yard touchdown drive to open the game, but was then listed as questionable to return and soon downgraded to doubtful, ceding the game to rookie Justin Fields for his first extended opportunity in the NFL.
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It was a wild ride for the kid, as he showed off both his rare athletic traits and professional inexperience, even as he seemed to be constrained by a game plan designed for more for Dalton's skills than his. As Fields operated almost exclusively from the pocket rather than make designed throws on the move, he lost a fumble on a sack by an unseen blind-side rusher and threw what could've been a devastating late interception when he failed to account for linebacker Logan Wilson on a slant route. The positive side of the ledger for Fields included an absolute dime to Allen Robinson that should've been the touchdown that blew open a then 17-3 game, a 21-yard strike to Darnell Mooney that helped set up a field goal and a late tackle-breaking scramble on third-and-9 that kept the chains and the clock moving.
It's a start.
But before getting burned for a 42-yard fourth-quarter score, the Bears defense was some semblance of what it has been purporting to be for months, establishing itself as the dominant unit of any on the field, led by the guys with the big names and the big paychecks, as it's expected to be.
Hey! There's Khalil Mack, with a sack, a tackle for loss and a bunch of quarterback pressures! Remember Eddie Jackson, the safety? He was all over the field, forcing a fumble playing with rediscovered physicality at the point of attack. Robert Quinn got a sack that nearly equaled his entire 2020 output, Jaylon Johnson continued to perform at a level that reflects his continued ascension to something resembling a No. 1 corner and Roquan Smith seems motivated to make a Pro Bowl selection an easy call, filling the stat sheet with eight tackles, a sack and a pick-six that highlighted his instincts and speed. Credit to new defensive coordinator Sean Desai for putting players in positions to succeed, and the forcing of three interceptions on three straight Joe Burrow passes is already a career accomplishment for anyone in that job.
Now keep it up, and this could all still be something not horrible.
What's next is the quarterback call, and the Bears claim that they'll know more about Dalton's condition in the next couple days that will inform their decision on a starter for next Sunday in Cleveland. It should be Fields regardless, as it should've been from the moment they drafted him and should be from here.
It was far from an ideal day for him, but the outcomes lined up just right for his team. The Bears won a game they had to win, and the on-field development of their most important player has accelerated due to circumstances beyond their control. Now what matters is how they commit to it.
Dan Bernstein is the co-host of the Bernstein & Rahimi Show on middays from 9 a.m. until noon on 670 The Score. You can follow him on Twitter @Dan_Bernstein.
