Chicago Bears: 3 takeaways from the Detroit Lions game

Parkey’s Pole

Baseball fans are probably familiar with the name of the right field foul pole in Boston’s Fenway Park. Sitting only 302 feet down the line, it was named after the diminutive Johnny Pesky, whose only chance of hitting a home run was wrapping it around that foul pole.

After doinking four, yes FOUR kicks off the upright, Cody Parkey is in danger of having them named after him in a not-so-flattering way. Amazingly, Parkey missed two extra points and two field goals by the slimmest of margins, with each one creating a reverberating “thud” after hitting the upright.

After the game, Parkey’s teammates understandably came to his defense. That’s what teammates should do, and on a team as close and united as this locker room appears to be, it was no surprise that to a man, each one affirmed their faith and confidence in Parkey.

Fans on the other hand? Not so much. Parkey already missed a game-winning field goal attempt against the Miami Dolphins. Although it was no gimme, it is one he is expected to make. Fortunately for the Bears, his misses (totaling eight points) did not cost the Bears as the game was never really in doubt.

However, if the Bears have aspirations of making a push for the playoffs, and possibly advancing, they are going to need to get their kicking game right. Don’t think kicking is important come playoff time? Ask the Vikings about that. Matt Nagy was adamant that Parkey would be the kicker going forward. But if this type of performance continues, then Ryan Pace must be prepared to make a move, regardless of the financial cost.