How Will Kicking Game Differ from Last Season?
To some, the kicking game may not seem like a top priority to a team, but as the Bears learned last season, it can make a major difference. Thanks to two missed field goals in critical moments by Cody Parkey, the Bears missed out on an even more success season.
A missed kick in Week 6 during overtime against the Miami Dolphins kept Chicago from victory. This win would have given the Bears a 13-3 record, putting them in a three-way tie with the New Orleans Saints and the Los Angeles Rams atop the NFC. Having had the tie-breaker over both of these teams, the Bears would’ve had the No. 1 seed, a first-round bye, and home-field advantage throughout the postseason. And of course, everyone knows about Parkey’s double-doink that ended Chicago’s season in the wildcard round.
With a total of eight missed field goals (including the playoffs), the Bears decided that Parkey wasn’t worth the big contract he was given, and released him.
Fast forward to the 2019 offseason. Chicago is now in a frantic search for a reliable kicker. With virtually no chance of getting Robbie Gould back, the Bears brought in eight kickers to tryout in their rookie minicamp. Now, two of those eight, Chris Blewitt and Elliot Fry, are still on the roster. In addition, Chicago made a trade with the Oakland Raiders for Eddy Pineiro.
Will one of these three be the one the Bears rely on? Or, will Chicago end up pursuing a veteran kicker before the start of the regular season? Whoever the Bears decide to go with, they better make sure that it will be the right man for years to come.