# Poll: Justin Fields and the 2023 Bears **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** football-nfl\ **Created:** [July 25, 2023, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-justin-fields-and-the-2023-bears/987573 "2023-07-25T18:54:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 155
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2023, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-justin-fields-and-the-2023-bears/987573/155 "2023-10-23T05:53:34Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > I’m pretty much out on Fields. He’s cooked. Like was said upthread, if a QB is going to make it, you’ll see something definitive by year 3. Especially if he’s gotten a fair number of starts over that time. Talent ultimately wins out. > [@Omniscient](#): > > So yeah, unless something really dramatic changes, I think Fields is cooked. I hope we get Bagent out there and see if he has anything to offer. So, I got my wish. And I think we have an answer. I included the first self-quote from above because this game I think illustrated the point. Bagent in his first start looks like a professional QB behind this line, with these WRs and with these coaches calling ceaseless screens. The numbers weren’t eye popping, and the Raiders defense isn’t exactly elite, but Bagent was calm, collected and efficient. When plays went sideways he usually managed to complete a pass for a short gain or at least not take a crippling sack. His balls were accurate (72.4 completion %; 97.2 rating) and when he was checking down or throwing screens, he got the ball out quick and in a catchable position so that the receiver could get upfield for positive yardage. He used his legs effectively and he completed passes to 8 different players. He didn’t attack anything downfield all game but I’m sure that was the conservative game plan with the running game working so well. And importantly, he didn’t show even show a hint of nerves, dude played with swagger, which is saying something considering his last 6 regular season opponents were East Stroudsburg, Bloomsburg, West Chester, Millersville, Lock Haven, and Shippensburg. After just one start the jury is of course still out on Bagent. We need to see him do it consistently and under more adverse circumstances. We need to see him in a come-from-behind situation. We need to see him with the governors off to see if he can make splash plays. We need to see him do it in Lambeau. But I immediately feel like we have a better chance to win with Bagent out there over Fields. Linking the above hyperbole from the original Preseason thread… > [@NFL 2023 Preseason Thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-preseason-thread/987698/82): > > Back to the actual preseason… Look, I know this statement is precisely the kind of garbage that gets puked out by 14-year-olds on Reddit and some of the hackiest sports talking heads (who may be the same people), but I still need to put it out there. Tyson Bagent looks like this season’s Brock Purdy. This dude looks like HIM, and while I desperately hope that Fields stays healthy and takes a massive step forward as a passer, if he misses a bunch of time… Yes, I know it’s just 2 preseason game… The world is officially on notice. --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-justin-fields-and-the-2023-bears/987573)._