It’s past time — and prime time — for Justin Fields to perform

The first time he appeared on ‘‘Monday Night Football,’’ quarterback Justin Fields led the Bears to 21 points in the fourth quarter, the fourth-most in franchise history.

With the Bears down by six with about three minutes left, Fields marched them 75 yards for a touchdown to take the lead against the Steelers last Nov. 8.

The Bears eventually lost on a field goal with 30 seconds left, but Fields had given them a glimpse of what their offense could look like when he was at his best.

‘‘We’re real close,’’ running back David Montgomery said in the locker room after the game.

Sound familiar?

Eleven months and two weeks later, the Bears are saying the same thing. Fields played only three more games in 2021 — including a loss to the Vikings on ‘‘MNF’’ — and has struggled through six games this season.

Their general manager, head coach and roster construction are different, but the Bears will be in the same place when they face the Patriots on Monday in Foxborough, Massachusetts, that they were last season in Pittsburgh: They will be looking for signs that Fields is a franchise quarterback.

Because the game is on ‘‘MNF,’’ all of football-watching America will be viewing along with them.

‘‘Those are moments you ask for; those are moments you pray for,’’ receiver Darnell Mooney said. ‘‘Those are the moments you get into this league for. You’re the only game on, so it’s like all eyes are on you and your team. So shine, shine bright. Just play good.’’

In a small sample size, Fields has performed better on Monday nights than he has on Sunday afternoons. He has a 93.75 passer rating in two ‘‘MNF’’ games and a 68.63 passer rating in all other games.

‘‘I don’t really necessarily look at the day that we play,’’ Fields said. ‘‘I just play every game my hardest and the best I can.’’

Maybe so, but prime-time performances drive national narratives. Just ask the Bears, whose play-calling was picked apart after a 12-7 loss to the Commanders on Oct. 13 on ‘‘Thursday Night Football.’’

Fields made no secret of his frustration after that game. How he and the Bears respond Monday feels like an inflection point for his development.

Coach Matt Eberflus said Fields was upbeat all week.

‘‘I would say A-plus for the week from my standpoint and being in the meetings with him, working with the other players,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s been really good.’’

Halas Hall is littered with quarterbacks who performed well in practice and not on game day. Entering play Sunday, Fields was last among regular quarterbacks in passer rating, second-to-last in completion percentage and fourth-from-the-bottom in passing yards.

The Bears aren’t scheduled to play another night game all season — every game the rest of the way is scheduled for noon — so Monday marks Fields’ last chance on the big stage.

The first time he played on ‘‘MNF,’’ the Bears thought he had turned a corner. Fields went 17-for-29 for 291 yards, including completions of 50, 39, 28 and 25 yards, in the 29-27 loss to the Steelers.

‘‘He had a helluva game,’’ running back Khalil Herbert said. ‘‘Seeing the growth from him last year and this year, I remember last year him putting together drives — big plays — and helping us get into the end zone.’’

Afterward, tight end Cole Kmet sought out Fields to commend him on a special showing. Almost a year later, he remembered the promise of that fourth quarter.

‘‘Justin had some explosive plays with his arm,’’ Kmet said. ‘‘You definitely saw what it could be when things were clicking.’’

The Bears are waiting to see it consistently. On Monday, they’ll look for it in prime time.