MVP Justin Fields? This Is A Real Thing Being Mentioned Lately
Justin Fields was a draft bust at the beginning of October. He’d thrown for two touchdowns, four interceptions, and barely completed half his passes. He also only had 147 yards rushing. It is hard to fathom how drastically the narrative on a player can shift in less than two months. Yet that is the place Chicago Bears fans find their young quarterback. Fields has amassed 1,620 total yards, 15 touchdowns, and only three interceptions in the past six games. He’s scored a rushing touchdown in five straight games and thrown only one interception in the past three.
People continue to nitpick his lack of gaudy passing stats, ignoring that Chicago has averaged 30 points per game for a solid month. It isn’t because the offense is talented or because they’re facing a weak schedule. It is entirely thanks to Fields’ incredible abilities. Stop and ask where this team would be if they didn’t have him. That is the point former quarterback Dan Orlovsky made on ESPN Get Up. He believes Fields deserves way more credit than he gets. Enough to where he should even be in the MVP conversation.
Justin Fields won’t win MVP.
The Bears are 3-7 and likely to end up with a top 10 pick in the draft. The NFL doesn’t award Most Valuable Player to a losing team. Still, what Orlovsky said isn’t entirely without merit. When thinking about which player in the league right now is more valuable to his team than Fields, there aren’t many names that come to mind. Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Saquon Barkley. That’s about it. Imagine if the Bears had managed to win a few more games. Don’t forget five of their seven losses this year were by one score. If they were 5-5 right now, Fields would absolutely be in the MVP conversation.
The focus isn’t on current achievements anyway. It is on what the Bears can become in the near future. They know they have a quarterback that can carry them to success. Now it’s on GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus to get him some help. They have loads of cap space coming their way. Maybe a top 10 pick too. The offense around Justin Fields could look far more formidable next fall. Maybe then Orlovsky can start the MVP campaign early. Until then, it’s best to enjoy the ride.