Atlanta @ Chicago preview
Soldier Field
Last Meeting ( Nov 20, 2022 ) Chicago 24, Atlanta 27
Offseason narratives began weeks ago surrounding the Chicago Bears and where quarterback Justin Fields might fit in 2024.
One speculative destination in the Fields rumor mill is Atlanta, where the 2021 first-round pick could be viewed as the answer to ongoing quarterback concerns and a possible franchise reset.
The Falcons will have a chance to get a close look at Fields on Sunday when they face host Chicago.
"I've got too much to focus on today to worry about tomorrow," Fields said Wednesday of the lively discussions about where he'll play next season. "Shoot, I don't know. You all don't know. Nobody knows. Whatever happens, happens. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it."
Falcons owner Arthur Blank offered no guarantees on the job status of coach Arthur Smith this month, stating he wants to see how it plays out, referring to the final games of the regular season. Atlanta (7-8) needs two wins and a lot of help to sneak into the playoffs and stands No. 9 in playoff seeding -- with the top seven teams getting into the playoffs -- entering Week 17.
Playoff probability measures the Falcons' chances to reach the postseason at 10 percent. Smith said you'd have to live in "Perth, Australia" not to be aware of all the postseason chatter.
"The reality is, you start to get caught up, it's just a waste of time. For players and coaches, nothing matters but Chicago. If we don't play well in Chicago, nothing else matters," Smith said Wednesday.
Atlanta quarterback Taylor Heinicke (ankle) and four of his starting offensive linemen -- Jake Matthews (knee), Kaleb McGary (knee), Drew Dalman (ankle) and Chris Lindstrom (ankle) -- were limited at practice Wednesday and Thursday. But each of them except McGary were full participants Friday and removed from the injury report, while McGary is questionable.
Smith endorsed Heinicke's return to the starting lineup over Desmond Ridder in last week's win over Indianapolis due to Ridder's chronic turnover issues. Atlanta has 21 giveaways in 15 games, four fewer than Chicago (25).
But the Bears (6-9) have won three of their past four games and had numerous chances to pull out a victory in the lone defeat (20-17 at Cleveland).
Like Smith, Chicago counterpart Matt Eberflus understands there are no guarantees for NFL head coaches if they aren't producing wins. In that way, Eberflus said he relates to Fields' approach of being concerned solely with focusing on the here and now.
The Bears have less than a one percent chance to make the playoffs, needing a Rubik's Cube number of turns in their favor to keep going after the Week 18 finale with the Green Bay Packers.
"You're always going to get that," Eberflus said of rumors and suggestions about replacing starting quarterbacks and head coaches. "So you got to keep your eyes forward and your feet where they are. That's the most important thing. You got to focus on the here and now and improving every single day.
"When you do that, you're going to get better, and you're going to be able to stay locked in on your job."
Bears guard Teven Jenkins cleared concussion protocol this week and has no injury designation for Sunday. Wide receiver Darnell Mooney (concussion) is out, and tight end Cole Kmet (knee) and offensive lineman Lucas Patrick (knee) are questionable.
Chicago might not be worried about playoff travel plans, but the clock will begin ticking on general manager Ryan Poles and Eberflus the moment Week 18 games go final. The Bears are one Carolina Panthers loss away from securing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
As per annual tradition, the top prospects include multiple quarterbacks, and Poles said in an on-the-record interview last spring that he wanted this pick as a security measure in case the Bears weren't fully convinced Fields was the franchise's answer at the position.
That's because part of the decision to stick with Fields likely means an all-in type of pay raise with 2024 completing his rookie base contract.
For now, Fields isn't concerned with the variables.
"I'm focused on Sunday and playing this Atlanta team," Fields said.
--Field Level Media