In Preseason Debut, QB Justin Fields Rallies Bears To Win Over Dolphins
CHICAGO (CBS/AP) — Once rookie quarterback Justin Fields settled in the Chicago Bears saw the playmaking ability they dreamed about on draft day.
Fields rallied Chicago back Saturday from a 13-0 deficit in his preseason debut by throwing for a touchdown and running for one in a 20-13 victory over the Miami Dolphins.
In just over two quarters of playing time, Fields was 14 of 20 for 142 yards. Fields' passing also helped the Bears get on the scoreboard for the first time with a 53-yard Cairo Santos field goal on the final play of the first half. Until that possession, the Bears hadn't picked up a first down as Miami dominated play early.
With Soldier Field fans chanting "Let's Go Fields," the former Ohio State passer replaced starter Andy Dalton with 12:11 left until halftime, but he needed a few drives to get warmed up. Fields' TD pass came after he had scrambled 21 yards for a first-down conversion.
The Bears put away the win with Brian Johnson's 44-yard field goal after a 51-yard run by Artavis Pierce in the fourth quarter after Fields left the game.
The passing of Jacoby Brissette and Tua Tagovailoa staked the Dolphins to their early lead.
Brissette threw a 23-yard TD pass to Salvon Ahmed and Jason Sanders had field goals of 21 and 35 yards in the first half.
Tagovailoa, who started for Miami, found tight end Mike Gesicke for a 50-yard completion to set up the 21-yard field goal. Tagovailoa went 8 of 11 for 99 yards. Brissette was 6 of 10 for 67 yards.
As CBS 2's Matt Zahn reported, Bears Head Coach Matt Nagy would not say Fields' performance Sunday could change his mind about starting Andy Dalton as quarterback in the first week of the regular season, but he also would not rule the idea out.
"Everybody here is super-excited about the way that he played today, you know - and we all want the same thing, and we understand the buzz. We understand the excitement," Nagy said.
When asked if there was anything that might lead to Fields starting in Week One rather than Dalton, Nagy said: "Just worry about tomorrow, baby, you know. Seriously. That's all I want him to do, and make it really hard on all of us."
Fields said: "I mean, to be honest, we're not worried about what the outside has to say. We're just worried about our team, you know, and getting better every day. I was as calm as can be today, so you know, I was just trying to take it play by play, and really just win every play."
TAKEAWAY REBIRTH
The Bears' defense has made a huge point of forcing more turnovers under new coordinator Sean Desai after two straight years struggling to come up with takeaways. They succeeded against Miami with an interception and a fumble recovery.
Tagovailoa's pass to former Bears tight end Adam Shaheen was plucked by backup Bears safety DeAndre Houston-Carson just inside the end zone in the second quarter. In the fourth quarter, safety Marqui Christian stripped Kai Locksley of the ball after a completion, and Dionte Ruffin recovered for Chicago.
RETURN SPARK
Miami first-round draft pick Jaylen Waddle did nothing in the passing game in his debut but started out the Dolphins well with a 24-yard punt return. The Dolphins also had a 34-yard punt return by Jakeem Grant Sr.
INJURY REPORT
Bears WR Allen Robinson missed the game due to hamstring tightness. The Dolphins were without WR Will Fuller, who has been out with a foot injury.
Meanwhile, the Bears have also added some offensive line depth, signing 39-year-old former Pro Bowler Jason Peters – who Nagy said will come in and compete for the starting left tackle job, with Teven Jenkins still out with a back injury.
UP NEXT
The Dolphins host Atlanta on Aug. 21. They will host the Falcons in joint practices on Wednesday and Thursday leading up to the game.
The Bears host Buffalo on Aug. 21 as former Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky comes to Soldier Field.
(© Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
