The Chicago Bears have officially validated concerns they were in complete crisis mode.
On Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago had an opportunity to rebound from a deflating opening defeat to the Green Bay Packers. But an uneven team performance forced the Bears to press for a comeback from their own end zone in the final moments of the fourth quarter. And they never got a chance to really make Tampa Bay sweat.
While backed up, Justin Fields tried to loft a soft pass over his offensive line. Instead, it went straight to defensive end Shaquil Barrett, who made an athletic one-hand catch before burrowing his way into the end zone for a game-clinching 27-17 score. It’s just a brutal ending for the Bears, who already had their backs up against the wall this early in the year:
What a play by Shaq Barrett ‼️
📺: #CHIvsTB on FOX⁰📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/FhXtx7w3wW pic.twitter.com/SS75BQ128g
— NFL (@NFL) September 17, 2023
A rough and lackluster day for Fields ended with two picks on his last two drives. He now has 427 yards passing and three interceptions in two games of what was supposed to be a promising Year 3 leap. And this pick-six was perfectly symbolic of a Chicago offense that never really gained any steam en route to a disappointing 0-2 start.
This was how Twitter reacted to Fields' pick-six throw
https://t.co/Q6GzhMZ9GU pic.twitter.com/hlKHFOhdtK
— Phoenix (@dalvincookin) September 17, 2023
Is it time for the bears to let fields walk https://t.co/lyvZIif2wh
— Landon (@landonisdon) September 17, 2023
https://t.co/vpKHaOSHu3 pic.twitter.com/e7DYzjx7K9
— chips moradas (@MarcelaSandodi) September 17, 2023
Oh man. Shaquil Barrett getting that pick-six to beat the Bears is everything you wanna see.
— Evan Winter (@evan_AtoZ) September 17, 2023
OMG WHAT A PICK 6 SHAQUIL BARRETT pic.twitter.com/lmk1EtaATn
— CJSSports (@CJSSports_) September 17, 2023
Justin Fields TD Pass!!!
… to shaq barrett…— Big Game Bengal (@BengalYouTube) September 17, 2023
WHAT!? Pick 6 by Shaq Barrett! Horrendous decision by Justin Fields. The worst throw/decision you will ever see. #Bucs put it away
— Tom Krasniqi (@TKras) September 17, 2023
After the year that he had, Shaq Barrett deserves any and all praise thrown his way https://t.co/NYEl2vogkc
— Tanner Haworth🤙🏻🌈 (@TannerHaworth) September 17, 2023
Love it!!! Way to go SHAQ https://t.co/JCDZyHB1aF
— Brendan Mackey (@BMackeySports) September 17, 2023
