Welcome to Chicago, Justin Fields: Now Go And Beat The Packers

Chicago IL

14 October, 2021

11:56 AM

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CHICAGO — Justin Fields has been the official starting quarterback of the Chicago Bears for all of a week. With the Packers coming to town on Sunday, the rookie's meddle as a big-game quarterback will get its first real test. Fields craves pressure and a big stage. It doesn't get bigger than this, and if he wants to really prove himself to his new city, he has to do it against the Packers. His coaches will say it's just another game. That's bunk. Fields starred at Ohio State, where the true test of a Buckeye is how they perform in The Game against Michigan. Sunday's showdown with Green Bay is Michigan times 1,000. Fields said experiencing the pressure of two Michigan games was a good proving ground. Soldier Field will provide a much friendlier backdrop for Fields' first Packers test than if the game was being played at Lambeau Field. But that won't lessen the intensity. Fields is still smarting from the hits he took last week against the Raiders. The hits will keep coming — faster and harder on Sunday. And while it's easy to throw a showdown with Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers into the mix, Fields claims he doesn't look at this as a showdown between himself and the quarterback who has all but owned the Bears. That may be hogwash, too. Rodgers is 20-4 against the Bears — a team he says he respects, but that he would never play for himself — even if Hell (or Lambeau) freezes over. Fields says he won't fall into the trap of trying to match Rodgers' stats. He's only focused on doing what he has do to lead his team to a win, whether that means handing the ball off 80 times or throwing it all over the field. "My job isn't to be better than any quarterback," Fields said. Well, Rodgers isn't just any quarterback to Chicagoans. To Bears fans, who have as much love for the Packers as for a hot dog with ketchup, he's public enemy No. 1. So, while Fields is focused on himself, he needs to understand what's at stake. Win and he won't have to buy a beer in town until the next Packers game. Lose, and he risks following in the tradition of hyped quarterbacks Jay Cutler and Mitchell Trubisky, who went a dismal 3-14 against the Packers. Welcome to rivalry week, Justin. Let's see what you're made of.