The opportunity to work with Fields was a big attraction for Eberflus | Bears Top stories

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Matt Eberfluss saw exciting potential in Justin Fields. The chance to unlock it was a big draw in accepting the Chicago Bears coaching job in January.

“When you look at different types of places to go, you take places for that reason,” Eberfluss said Monday. “The No. 1 spot you look at is quarterback. You study and look at it and I liked what I saw.

“I like what I see even more since I’ve been here so long.”

What he’s watching looks like the emergence of a franchise quarterback.

With his latest superb performance on Sunday, Fields sent another strong signal that he could be the man for the role. Although the Bears (3-7) lost 31-30 to the struggling Detroit Lionshe had something to see again.

Fields ran for 147 yards and two touchdowns, including a Rush 67 yards to the end zone. He also threw for two scores.

He did all this on the spur of the moment spectacular performance in loss to Miami. He rushed for 178 yards against the Dolphins, the most by an NFL quarterback in a regular season game since at least 1940.

Fields has already had some promising performances. But what he has done in the last two weeks is nothing short of stunning.

Fields’ 325 yards are the most by an NFL quarterback through two games. Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson had the previous high of 268 yards on Oct. 13 and 20, 2019. Fields also has 555 yards over the last five weeks, the most by a QB over a five-game stretch in the Super Bowl era.

His speed and elusiveness are difficult for opponents to replicate in practice. And it can wear down defenses during games.

“This game can go five seconds, six seconds, and you get tired,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “You want to just go for it at some point because your legs are on fire. That’s why you have to be very disciplined.”

WHAT WORKS

Running game. The Bears remain atop the NFL in rushing at 201.7 yards per game, with Fields leading the way. They also became the first team in the Super Bowl era to rush for at least 225 yards in five straight games after rushing for 258 yards against Detroit.

Obviously, Fields is a big part of that. He ranks sixth in the NFL with 749 yards rushing and averages 7.2 per carry — second only to Jackson.

But Khalil Herbert also plays a big role. The second-year pro rushed for 57 yards on 10 attempts against Detroit. He has 643 yards and is averaging 6 yards per carry with four touchdowns.

WHICH IS NOT

Protection. Despite rookie Jack Sanborn getting his first two sacks, the Bears couldn’t come up with stops down the stretch. Chicago gave up three touchdowns in the fourth quarter, and the defense was responsible for two. The Bears allowed Jared Goff and the Lions to go 91 yards on eight plays for a touchdown in the final minutes.

“They (the offense) gave us, continue to give us everything they’ve got,” safety Eddie Jackson said. You know, especially such things the game does not allow. We have to make these stops. We have to be better on third downs. That’s about all.”

STOCK UP

TE Cole Kmet. The Chicago product had one of the best games of his career with four catches for 74 yards and two touchdowns. That included a 50-yard mark. Over the last three games, Kmet has 11 catches and five TD receptions. That’s quite a turnaround considering he didn’t catch a pass in the first two games of his third season.

INVENTORY REDUCTION

CB Jaylon Johnson. Johnson, he was dealing with an oblique injury and allowed Tom Kennedy to beat him for a 44-yard reception on third-and-8 that set up Detroit’s game-winning touchdown. He was also flagged for illegal hands, negating Sanborn’s interception deep in Chicago territory on a TD drive early in the fourth quarter.

INJURIES

Eberfluss declined to give an update on Herbert (thigh), who was injured on a kickoff return late in the game. … Kmet said Monday he was fine after limping off the field following a collision with Lions CB Jeff Okudah late in the game. He was hit near the thigh.

KEY NUMBER

9 — The Bears committed nine penalties for 86 yards.

FURTHER

The Bears visit Atlanta, while the Falcons lost to the Los Angeles Chargers and Carolina Panthers. That led to more questions about quarterback Marcus Mariota.

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