Chicago Bears: 3 Statistics that must improve to make playoffs in 2020
No. 2: The Chicago Bears ranked dead last in first quarter and first half PPG
The philosopher that claimed that it’s not about how you start, but rather how you finish has obviously never taken a step inside Soldier Field.
The Chicago Bears only generated opening drive scores on three of their 16 games in 2019, and the collateral damage that does to the confidence of both the offense and defense is evident. This isn’t me saying Chicago needs to become Tampa Bay — last season’s best first-half offense — but statistics similar to the ones below cannot happen.
First Quarter Points: 2.3 (T-last in NFL w/ Redskins)
First Half Points: 7.3 PPG (last in NFL)
There were distinct moments during 2019 in which the Bears were essentially booed off the field, because of their lack of production early in games. It was almost as if they hadn’t wiped the crust from their eyes and awoken for the start of the game.
What is this #Bears offense doing? They were boo’d off the field in the first half… with the lead. And maybe the fans were right to do so.#BillsBBQ presented by @StateFarm pic.twitter.com/LVZFEh12oh
— The Ringer (@ringer) October 28, 2019
And it would be one thing if the Bears were like that of the Cardiac Kids — early 1980s Cleveland Browns team with a penchant for late-game comebacks) — the Bears still ranked just tied for No. 21 in the league in the second half, with 10.2 points per game.
In SparkNotes terms, confidence is everything for the Chicago Bears this year. From the soft early schedule that fans are hoping helps rekindle the moxie of the 2018 team to the way quarters begin, getting games off to a better start should be atop the bulletin board.