The Chicago Bears were one of the best defensive teams in football during the regular season, and that theme continued in their playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. In fact, that is one of the reasons Nick Foles’ latest postseason triumph was so remarkable.
The Bears ranked third in the NFL in turnover margin during the regular season at +12. They were +2 against the Eagles on Sunday, which has historically almost always equaled a postseason victory. Take a look at the odds Philly overcame:
Bears were +2 in turnovers Sunday vs. Eagles. Home teams that were +2 in the playoffs the past 40 years were 112-4.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 7, 2019
That means of 116 teams that were -2 in turnover differential, four emerged victorious. The Eagles had about a 3 percent chance of winning given the circumstances, if you want to look at it that way.
While Foles once again led a touchdown drive when he needed to in a playoff game, the Eagles got a lot of help from Bears kicker Cody Parkey. The reaction we saw from Chicago coach Matt Nagy after Parkey missed from 43 yards tells you how little turnover margin had to do with the loss, but it’s still impressive that the Eagles found a way to win.
