After the heartbreaking loss, Chicago now only has a slim chance to make the NFL playoffs.

In a week when the Chicago Bears expressed concern about quarterback Justin Fields taking too many hits before and after whistles, he probably couldn’t be facing a more challenging opponent.

Fields absorbed more than his share of punishment from the Cleveland Browns in his first NFL start and the Bears go into Cleveland on Sunday for the first time since that 2021 game hoping to win three straight for the first time since 2020.

“I’ve learned a lot of stuff,” Fields said. “That was, what, two years ago? A lot of stuff, a lot of stuff. First start in the NFL to now, I’ve definitely learned a lot.”

Fields was sacked nine times in his first start and edge rusher Myles Garrett had 4 1/2 of them. Now, Fields says he is different and the Bears (5-8) are, as well.

They still need to worry about Garrett.

“He’s the best defensive player on the field so you’ve got to know where he is at all times, every play,” Fields said.

One thing Fields said he has learned about in his third season as a starter is something he didn’t do well in 2021: He didn’t know how to properly escape the pocket.

“Yeah I think just learning from past mistakes, I think that’s the biggest thing,” Fields said. “Where last year at some points I would just escape the pocket or just run for no reason.

“So I’m just trying to move in the pocket, feel out the pocket and throw the ball downfield.”

Stepping up into the pocket and throwing is the quality coach Matt Eberflus has seen as a more recent development by his quarterback.

“The pocket presence is better, the rhythm and timing is better,” Eberflus said. “Him being able to, once he starts to create – before he exits – to look down the field, that’s been really good.

“Taking care of the football, in terms of interceptions, that’s been good as of late. A perfect game for a quarterback, like I said, is zero turnovers. That gives us a chance to win the game. Just continuing to do that.”

Fields hasn’t thrown an interception in the three games since returning from a dislocated thumb. His interception rate has dropped to a career-best 2.4% and the Bears have won the past two. They let a 26-14 lead slip away against Detroit in the other one, a 31-26 loss.

More efficient movement in and out of the pocket apparently hasn’t led to fewer hits for Fields.

The Bears felt Fields was hit while sliding early in last Sunday’s 28-13 win over Detroit and it has happened often this season without penalty. It led teammate Jaquan Brisker to criticize officials and opponents.

“It’s disappointing,” Brisker said. “Obviously the other team is being told to do dirty stuff after the play, hit him like this a certain way. It’s obvious they’ve been told just by the way they’ve been treating him the last couple of weeks – a lot of shots to the head.

“It’s very disappointing seeing a guy like that get hit, take hits like that and one of those hits, you know, God forbid could be something that’s very bad.”

Fields isn’t really surprised and said he warns officials about it going on before games.

“It’s just kind of frustrating, but not really astonishing because it happens a lot,” he said.

Now he’s moving on and worrying about the next opponent.

“I just know – especially when we play the Lions, I know how they play, I know what kind of team they are,” Fields said. “So I know that they’re going to play hard and play until the end of the play. I always tell (officials) yhat I’m not trying to take any hits. I get down pretty fast. Just look out for me if they see any late hits.

“I’m going to try to get down. I’m not going to try to do anything sneaky like any fake slides or whatever.”

NOTES: The Bears have lost defensive end Yannick Ngakoue for the season on injured reserve because of a broken ankle suffered near the end of the game with Detroit. Ngakoue, who leads the Bears with four sacks, needed surgery for the ankle injury. He is playing on a one-year contract. … Wide receiver DJ Moore (ankle) was held out of Wednesday’s practice while Brisker (groin) had a limited practice.