The final score might not tell the whole story, but the Chicago Bears fought valiantly in a 49-29 loss to the Dallas Cowboys (-10). In particular, Justin Fields looked great as a passer, runner, and general playmaker, as he continually made plays that stressed one of the NFL’s best defenses.
Unfortunately for the young quarterback, he still had one (quite surprising!) blemish from the late third quarter in an exchange with Dallas defensive dynamo Micah Parsons.
After David Montgomery fumbled the ball on a third-and-long conversion attempt, Parsons found himself with the football on the ground. All any Bears player on the field had to do was touch the linebacker. That includes Fields, who, for some reason, elected to jump over the star defender instead.
And that decision led to the worst-case scenario for Chicago — a heads-up defensive touchdown for Parsons (the first of his career!) after he realized he wasn’t touched:
Justin Fields jumped over Micah Parsons instead of touching him, allowing him to get up and score 😳pic.twitter.com/iiPK2nqzl3
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) October 30, 2022
Oof. Let’s see another angle of that strange hurdle by Fields:
Justin Fields just needed to touch Micah Parsons.
Instead, he perfectly hurdled him 😬
(via @nfl) pic.twitter.com/PUyOpLDI7q
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) October 30, 2022
Look, none of the Bears on the field seemed to show much awareness or urgency to touch Parsons. But Fields’ specific effort sticks out because the jump makes it seem as if he didn’t realize Parsons wasn’t actually down. To do what amounts to a nice box jump instead of just touching Parsons is inexplicable!
It was that kind of afternoon for the young Chicago quarterback: Plenty of flashes, but, in the end, the better team had the pedal to the metal the entire way.
NFL fans couldn't believe Fields jumped over Parsons instead of touching him
Justin Fields leaping over Micah Parsons instead of simply touching him is the most impressive disastrous play in NFL history
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) October 30, 2022
Justin Fields jumping over Micah Parsons just another example of how QB athleticism is ruining the sport
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) October 30, 2022
That Justin Fields jump over Micah Parsons is on his Shaqtin A Fool highlight tape.
— yes. ✭ (@iAmTerrace) October 30, 2022
No way Justin Fields just JUMPED over Micah Parsons instead of just touching him😭😭😭
— Mikayla Guarasci (@mikaylaguarasci) October 30, 2022
Wow…Justin Fields jumped OVER Micah Parsons instead of touching him down, allowing him to score a touchdown on a fumble recovery? SMH
— Marshall Harris (@mharrisonair) October 30, 2022
Another incredible effort play from Micah Parsons for the TD.
But what on earth was Justin Fields thinking???— Joe Trahan (@JoeTrahan) October 30, 2022
What an incredible display of athleticism by Justin Fields to leap frog Micah Parsons and allow the Cowboys defender to take that fumble recovery and run it in for a TD. #BearsLife pic.twitter.com/taHEpehRqq
— James Cybulski (@JamesCybulski) October 30, 2022
Justin Fields was millimeters away from stopping a Micah Parsons touchdown… pic.twitter.com/fpYsuDReTE
— Preston Moore (@prestoncmoore) October 30, 2022
Justin Fields seriously just jumped over Micah Parsons when a fingertip touch would have gotten him down. Why do I say nice things about ANYONE?
— James Neveau (@JamesNeveau) October 30, 2022
