The 2016 Bears failed the eye test.
They failed the stat test too.
One day, years from now, my children will ask me what the hell happened to the 2016 Bears. And I will tell them stories of injuries and undrafted receivers, of Matt Barkley’s spirited ineffectiveness and Jordan Howard’s irrelevant brilliance.
I will tell them, incredibly, that a franchise known for forcing turnovers tied an NFL record for the fewest ever.
That is one of six eye-opening stats that sum up the 2016 Bears season. Here they are in all their historically depressing glory.