The Bears have a chance to be just the fourth team in the last four decades to lead the NFL in takeaways and commit the fewest turnovers. The 2011 49ers, 2009 Packers and 1997 Giants also accomplished that, and the 49ers did the most with it by going 13-3 and reaching the NFC Championship Game.
They go into their final regular-season game first in the league with 32 takeaways, two ahead of the Jaguars with no other teams close. They also lead in fewest giveaways with 10, followed by the Texans (12), Packers (13), Chiefs (13), Lions (14) and Eagles (14).
“It is something that we stress, so I hope coaching does play a part of it, [but] I’ve been a part of some staffs that have really emphasized it and it doesn’t come to fruition quite like this,” coach Ben Johnson said.
He added that quarterback Caleb Williams “rarely puts [the ball] in harm’s way,” and the offensive players have taken ball security seriously enough in practice that. “There have only been a few times this year that I’ve gotten on the headsets and said we need to tighten it up.”
Williams has thrown interceptions on just 1.1% of his passes, tied with the Falcons’ Michael Penix for lowest in the league among qualifying quarterbacks, and safety Kevin Byard has a league-best six interceptions.
The Bears last led the NFL in takeaways with 36 in 2018, but committed the eighth-most turnovers at 24. The last time they had the most takeaways and fewest turnovers was in 1963, when they won the NFL championship.
The last time they led the league in either category was when the 2018 team was first in takeaways, but they had one of the most turnover-prone offenses in the NFL that season.
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Williams needs 270 passing yards Sunday against the Lions to reach 4,000 for the season.
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Johnson is intent on the Bears going all-in to beat the Lions regardless of what it means in the standings.
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