DoubleG
Footballguy
Wheelhouse does a phenomenal job on interesting stats, but I found I thought to be most telling:
Can you say "Halftime Adjustments"?
I knew that you could.
Bear fans had long bemoaned the fact that Wanny (and others) didn't seem to make any changes/modifications to the game plan at halftime. Often, the Bears would get completely outplayed (i.e. outcoached) in the 2nd half of games...semingly shrugging their shoulders and saying "Well, it worked in the first half..."
This year the Bears have outscored their opponenets 185-92 in the 2nd half of games. Now, that may not seem that amazing to most people (as those are almost half their totals), however I submit to you two things:
1) There are many games (especially early in the year) when they were up big and thus settled for FG and running out the clock in the second half. As an example, one of only 2 teams that outscored the Bears in the second half was the 49ers - they outscored the Bears 10-0 in the 2nd half...after trailing 41-0 in the first half. For those curious, the Dolphins were the only other team to outscore the Bears in the second half of a game (17-3).
2) When you only use the numbers from games where the Bears played teams with winning records (i.e. the Giants, Jets, Seahwaks and Patriots) the desparity is GREATER - 65-14.
The Bears defense has held opponents to 7 or less second-half points in 8 out of 13 games.
That's what I would call "halftime adjustments".
Can you say "Halftime Adjustments"?
I knew that you could.
Bear fans had long bemoaned the fact that Wanny (and others) didn't seem to make any changes/modifications to the game plan at halftime. Often, the Bears would get completely outplayed (i.e. outcoached) in the 2nd half of games...semingly shrugging their shoulders and saying "Well, it worked in the first half..."
This year the Bears have outscored their opponenets 185-92 in the 2nd half of games. Now, that may not seem that amazing to most people (as those are almost half their totals), however I submit to you two things:
1) There are many games (especially early in the year) when they were up big and thus settled for FG and running out the clock in the second half. As an example, one of only 2 teams that outscored the Bears in the second half was the 49ers - they outscored the Bears 10-0 in the 2nd half...after trailing 41-0 in the first half. For those curious, the Dolphins were the only other team to outscore the Bears in the second half of a game (17-3).
2) When you only use the numbers from games where the Bears played teams with winning records (i.e. the Giants, Jets, Seahwaks and Patriots) the desparity is GREATER - 65-14.
The Bears defense has held opponents to 7 or less second-half points in 8 out of 13 games.
That's what I would call "halftime adjustments".
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There is only 1 other team in the NFL that has 11 wins at this point. Have they beaten bad teams? Yes. But the "reason" they are 11-2 is because they have scored points than any team but the Chargers and SIMULTANEOUSLY allowed fewer than anyone but the Ravens - and lead the NFL with 40 takeaways - 25% more than the next closest team.Every team in the NFL is "inconsistent" - that's why none are 13-0...not even the good ones. The good teams beat the teams they should beat more often (like SD & CHI). BTW, keep in mind the Bears have done most of this without two of their important defensive players - Mike Brown and now, Tommy Harris.
- but I agree with your point. I do find it amusing when Bear-haters cite the "weak" schedule of the Bears, failing to realize that teams like the Colts, for example, lost to Tennessee or the mighty Patriots were shutout by the Dolphins.Also, before people are quick to dismiss the Bears defense and special teams (for some reason, people forget that all 3 phases matter), it may be helpful to think of past Super Bowls and look at which teams won. HINT: it's usually the team with the better defense (i.e. Pittsburgh, New England, Baltimore, Tampa - NOT the Rams, the Raiders, the Seahawks, etc.)Two quick thoughts: Yes, if discount defense and special teams, the Bears Rams game would have been tied. The Vikings WOULD have a winning record too...if the Bears hadn't beaten them twice. 
The Chargers have outscored their opponents by 114 points in the second half. 
