Cody Parkey Ruined a Brilliantly Clutch Mitch Trubisky Game (Again)

I said Cody Parkey was the weak link of this Chicago Bears team when everybody was calling out Mitch Trubisky for that title. Sure enough, the heartbreaking end to the playoffs ended exactly that way. Parkey missed a makeable 43-yard field goal off the upright. This after making it on a previous try before an Eagles timeout. What's crazy about all this is it isn't the first time Parkey has been in that exact scenario against a former team. Rewind the clock back to midseason. The Bears are coming out of their bye week hot. They go down to Miami to face the Dolphins and struggle early. However, Trubisky has himself a great second half including three touchdown passes. Then in overtime, he got them in position for a 53-yard kick to win it. He missed. Against the team he played for the year before too. The Bears lost on the next drive. Awesome. History does have a way of repeating itself. Once again the Bears trailed late 16-15. They needed a big moment from Trubisky again. Again he delivered with a beautiful 25-yard pass to Allen Robinson followed by an 8-yard pass to him again to get Chicago in position for a 43-yard attempt. Once again Parkey missed the kick. Again it was against a former team. Incredible. [video width="1280" height="720" mp4="https://www.sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Big-time-throw-by-Trubisky-Big-time-catch-by-ARob.mp4"][/video]

Mitch Trubisky deserved better than what Cody Parkey provided this year

It's incredible to think about. The Bears finished the season 12-4. However, a missed kick cost them a win to go 13-3, which would've given them the tiebreaker and a first round bye over the Rams. Then he misses the kick that could've sent them into that same round to play the Rams. There's just no getting around the facts. He cost them two huge games with a total of 11 missed kicks. That cannot happen under any circumstances for a professional kicker. Trubisky did everything in his power to give Chicago a chance. He threw for 301 yards in a playoff game. That has never happened before. Ever. He also went 7-of-10 for 122 yards and a touchdown in the 4th quarter. He was absolutely brilliant when the Bears needed him to be and Parkey ruined it for him. It's a sad reality of playoff football. Even so, the future looks bright for this team. Their quarterback grew up before their eyes. The defense remains strong. If they can find a reliable kicker, there's no reason to think they can't compete again next year.