Bold Predictions for Bears' Individual Stat Leaders in 2022 NFL Season

Chicago Bears fans have to be excited by what they saw from Justin Fields during the team's preseason finale on Saturday night. Because the 23-year-old quarterback put on a show that gives him a ton of momentum heading into the regular season.

Fields went 14-for-16 for 156 yards and three touchdowns in the Bears' final tune-up for the regular season, a 21-20 win over the Cleveland Browns. It may have been an exhibition contest, but it was still an encouraging performance by Fields, who struggled quite a bit as a rookie in 2021.

What might Fields be capable of during his sophomore campaign? He's always been talented, and even though Chicago doesn't have the best offense around him, perhaps he can make big plays happen himself, with either his arm or his legs. Maybe he could solidify himself as a strong starting QB in the league.

Don't be shocked if Fields (and perhaps a few other Bears players) outperform their projections heading into the 2022 season. As the opener nears (Sept. 11 vs. the San Francisco 49ers), here are some bold stat predictions for several players, including Fields, for the upcoming year.

Justin Fields Accounts for 30 Total TDs

AP Photo/David Dermer

Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) looks to pass against the Cleveland Browns during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

Justin Fields is going to be better this season than he was last year. That's to be expected for a young quarterback who was just figuring out the league as a rookie. However, Fields may end up faring even better than many outside critics have been expecting.

Fields' passing stats were unimpressive last season (1,870 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions), and he didn't make a huge impact on the ground, rushing for 420 yards and two touchdowns. But he has a strong skill set, which is why the Bears moved up to take him at No. 11 overall in the 2021 NFL draft.

Now, Fields has been making better reads in training camp and the preseason, showing a better mental approach to attacking defenses.

"He is getting better," Chicago head coach Matt Eberflus said, per Josh Schrock of NBC Sports Chicago. "That's one of the parts that he's getting better at. That's really about his footwork. He's been working on that—the timing of his feet with his throws. He's getting better every day."

How much better will Fields' 2022 stats be then? Expect him to account for 30 total touchdowns (between passing and rushing), which will be a huge step forward in his development.

Cole Kmet Records 10 TD Catches

AP Photo/David Richard

Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet (85) tries to evade Cleveland Browns linebacker Sione Takitaki (44) as he runs in the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Cole Kmet put up some solid stats in 2021, his second year in the NFL. But there's one glaring number in his log for last season: zero touchdowns. After scoring twice as a rookie in 2020, the Bears' tight end never got into the end zone last year.

That's going to change in a big way in 2022 because there's no way Kmet isn't going to score a touchdown this season. Jimmy Graham is no longer in Chicago, so Kmet is the clear top tight end on the team. And the Bears don't have a great group of wide receivers, so they'll need Kmet to step up and fill an important pass-catching role.

Kmet has a strong receiving skill set, which is why he had 60 catches for 612 yards last season. It was just a bit of an anomaly that he ended up with no touchdowns because he played well enough over 17 games that you'd think he'd have gotten into the end zone at least a few times.

Expect Kmet to make up for it. The bold prediction here is that the 23-year-old ends up with 10 touchdown catches this season. It's a high number, but it's doable given his continued growth and the large role he's likely to have in Chicago's offense.

Roquan Smith Collects Even More Tackles Than Last Year

Michael Reaves/Getty Images

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 13: Roquan Smith #58 of the Chicago Bears looks on prior to the preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Soldier Field on August 13, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Despite all the rumors and reports of Roquan Smith's unhappiness throughout training camp, the 25-year-old linebacker will be playing for the Bears in 2022. Because he didn't get the large new contract he was hoping for, he'll have something to prove, too.

Even though Smith didn't participate in some early parts of camp, he's still going to have a big year in 2022. He's been one of the top linebackers in the league over his four-year NFL career, and he has the talent to keep it going this season.

In 2021, Smith had a big year, collecting a career-high 163 tackles, three sacks and an interception while also scoring his first NFL touchdown. He started all 17 games and was a leader for Chicago's defense.

Could Smith's numbers keep trending up in 2022? We don't see why not. So don't be surprised if he has even more than the 163 tackles he recorded last season, especially now that it's a sure thing that this will be a contract year and that he'll be an unrestricted free agent next offseason.