Chicago Bears' Injury Luck This Season Is Absolutely Insane

The first five weeks of the 2020 NFL season has been a rollercoaster ride for the Chicago Bears and their fans. All but one of the team's games has come down to the last possession of the game. Chicago has won all four of their games by a combined 13 points as their opponents have been hampered by some incredibly bad luck when it comes to injuries. In the four games won by the Bears, their opponents have either their best offensive player not play due to injury or miss a majority of the game due to injury. In week one against the Detroit Lions, the Lions were without their best receiver in Kenny Golladay. Golladay has recorded back-to-back 1,000 yard receiving seasons leading up to the 2020 season. Had Pro-Bowl receiver played against the Bears in week one, Chicago likely does not come back from a 23-6 deficit to win 27-23.

The following week, the Bears hosted the New York Giants. The Giants lost Pro Bowl running back Saquan Barkley to a torn ACL early in the second quarter of the game. Chicago would win the game 17-13 but would have to hold the Giants from scoring a game-winning touchdown at the end of the game. If Barkley plays the entire game, there is a good chance that the Giants would have scored more than just 13 points.

In week three against the Atlanta Falcons and this past Thursday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, both teams were without their top wide receiver. Falcons All-Pro and future Hall of fame wide receiver Julio Jones missed the game against the Bears due to a hamstring injury. The Falcons blew a 26-10 lead in the fourth quarter as their offense failed to move the ball late in the game. The Buccaneers were without several offensive weapons, but none bigger than wide receiver Chris Godwin. Godwin's ability to make big catches would have had a significant impact on the 20-19 outcome of the game, as the Bears probably lose if Tom Brady has both of his wide receivers healthy and on the field.

The opponent's injuries have played a role in the outcome of all four of the Bears victories and will factor in their next game too. The Bears' next game will be in Charlotte to take on the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers' best player in running back Christian McCaffrey, has been out since week three due to a high ankle sprain and is expected to miss the week six matchup. If the Bears win on October 18th against the Panthers, it will make five wins against teams that have been without either an All-Pro or Pro Bowl player a skill position.

Chicago has suffered significant injuries this season also. Against the Falcons, the team lost explosive running back and punt returner Tarik Cohen to a torn ACL. Against the Buccaneers, the team lost guard James Daniels to a torn pectoral muscle as he will miss the remainder of the season. Outside of Cohen and Daniels, the Bears have not had a single opening day starter miss a game due to injury this season.

Luck may be on the Bears side now, but that doesn't mean it will be going forward. The NFL is notorious for having things change for teams from one week to the next. Even if the Bears are winning against teams without their star players, it shows the team's ability to capitalize on the moment. Chicago has a chance to be 6-2 at the season's halfway marker in a few weeks, and a prime reason will be because they took advantage of the luck that was on their side.