You Have More Kidneys than the Chicago Bears Did Passing Yards in Week 3
Dustin Baker
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Kidneys at birth, anyway.
The Chicago Bears registered a net positive of one single passing yard in Week 3 against the Cleveland Browns — the same AFC team the Minnesota Vikings host in Week 4 at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Passing yard statistics are a little goofy. Rookie passer Justin Fields — considered the franchise savior by many Bears loyalists — notched 68 passing yards as an individual stat in Cleveland. But his team surrendered 67 lost yards via sack, dicing the team passing yards total to one. The devil is in the details.
The Bears in Week 3 were the first team since the 2009 Cincinnati Bengals to record one or fewer total passing yards in a single game. In that season, the Bengals, led by Carson Palmer, and the Kerry Collins-fueled Tennesse Titans each underwent games with one or fewer total passing yards.
Chicago joined the dubious club last weekend.
Led by Fields, the Bears were battered by the Browns — a team historically on the receiving end of nasty statistics. But not in 2021. Cleveland is 2-1, showcasing a consistent offense with hellraisers like Myles Garrett on defense. The Browns are currently two-point favorites to down the Vikings in Week 4.
In Chicago, operations are gloomy. Fields was supposed to bring a Mahomes-like vigor to the Bears offense. Instead, the franchise, in his first start, is stuck with a paltry passing yard. And stats like this:
Since 2010, list of QBs to throw less than 70 Passing Yards in first-ever start:
➤ Justin Fields
➤ Nathan Peterman[end list]
— Dustin Baker (@DustBaker) September 27, 2021
The incumbent starter, Andy Dalton, is battling a bone bruise on his left knee. Nick Foles, the Super Bowl-winning savant of yesteryear, could be in the mix for playing time. Fields, the heir apparent, obviously deserves a lot more time to mature. But the Bears leadership must win now. Head coach Matt Nagy already topped “hotseat” lists before Week 3 — along with Vikings skipper Mike Zimmer — and Nagy’s job security was not bolstered by the Browns debacle. At all. Conversely, Zimmer silenced his hotseat chatter, if only for a week.
The Green Bay Packers took control of the NFC North after a storybook finish in Santa Clara over the San Francisco 49ers. Kicker Mason Crosby booted a 51-yard field goal as time expired to end the 49ers undefeated streak. Then, the Detroit Lions were bitten by a walkoff field goal, too. Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker set an NFL record with a 66-yard field goal as the game concluded, ending the Lions afternoon in sorrow.
Meanwhile, the Vikings finally solved the Seattle Seahawks after a dominant performance from Kirk Cousins and Alexander Mattison. Minnesota’s defense even made an appearance in the second half.
It’s back to the drawing board for Chicago. No matter how many yards he accrued in his first start, Fields was always going to get a fair audition to lead the franchise. His maiden voyage was just a wee bit downtrodden from most folks’ tastes.
Chicago hopes to surpass the one-yard passing total next week at home against the winless Lions.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).