The Chicago Bears were just a few games away from squaring off with a dynasty in the New England Patriots. Based on the Rams performance, what can the Bears learn for next season?
We all have heard a comparison between the Chicago Bears rise to the playoffs with the Los Angeles Rams of last season. The two drafted a young quarterback with an old head coach.
They sign a young, inexperienced head coach, make the playoffs and lose in round one to the former NFC champion. They took the same path.
If that is the case the Bears in for a rude awakening in next years Super Bowl. With that kind of thinking in mind, what could the Bears learn from a team that they seem to resemble? How could they win that Super Bowl in their first try?
1. Kickers Matter
One thing that goes underrated with the Patriots dynasty is that they have had just two kickers. When Adam Vinatieri stepped away in free agency, the team drafted Stephen Gostkowski who has been with the team since 2006.
In the game last night you saw the Patriots have the chance to make it a two-score game late and Gostowski nailed the kick. On the back end, the Rams saw a rare miss that ended any chance they had late in the game.
Still, even Greg Zuerlein was a crucial piece in the Rams getting to that point. The Bears have cycled through four kickers since Robbie Gould. They gave Cody Parkey big money to be their big money kicker. Knowing his season if the Bears needed him up 10-3 he would have missed the kick and set the opposition up with a chance to tie the game.
This is a position the Bears have to get right. It is a small position but a big difference in winning consistently and losing in close games.