Chicago Tribune

Why the Bears kept playing Justin Fields during a sack-filled, blowout loss to the Lions

Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields is sacked by Detroit Lions linebacker James Houston in the third quarter Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, at Ford Field in Detroit.

DETROIT — As the deficit began to grow Sunday at Ford Field and the Detroit Lions defensive line continued to pummel quarterback Justin Fields, Chicago Bears coaches had the conversation after every drive.

Should the Bears leave in Fields? Even as a banged-up offensive line allowed the Lions to sack Fields seven times? Even as a game that was worth only experience for the Bears got out of hand?

The conclusion, coach Matt Eberflus said, was that the “live experience” was necessary to Fields’ development, and that experience meant playing all the way through the Lions’ 41-10 win.

“Every single series we were discussing it, and we said, ‘Let’s

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