The Chicago Bears dominated the New York Jets in Week 4, and one statistic from the game helps explain just how thoroughly they controlled the afternoon. While the scoreboard tells part of the story, the Bears’ ability to consistently keep the ball in their hands proved just as important.
Chicago’s offense repeatedly wore down the Jets defense, allowing the Bears’ defense to stay fresh while New York struggled to find any rhythm. One eye-popping number in particular shows just how much control the Bears had from start to finish.
89 Bears Offensive Plays
The best defense is a defense that stays well-rested on the sideline. Chicago’s offense ensured that with a mind-blowing 89 offensive plays. New York ran just 32 plays, nearly three times fewer than the Bears. Talk about a stingy, ball-control offense by the Bears. It was truly a sight to behold, and the impact could be felt. The Jets defense looked tired and worn down by the end of the game. What probably made it even more devastating was that the Bears averaged 5.5 yards per play.
Sometimes, when you see an offense approach 500 yards, a handful of huge chunk plays drive the production. The Bears had their chunk plays, but they primarily just kept grinding away at the Jets defense. By the end of it all, the Bears’ offensive line had certainly earned its postgame meal and then some.
Bears Controlled the Ball for 42:45
Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images
With 89 plays averaging 5.5 yards per play, the Bears controlled the clock in a massive way. The ball didn’t hit the ground often, either, as Chicago recorded only nine incompletions. They chewed up nearly 75% of the game clock and left very little on the table.
It was a mauling performance by the Bears offense. Oddly enough, though, Chicago’s 42:45 of possession did not set the NFL record for time of possession in a game.
That record belongs to the Houston Oilers, who possessed the ball for 48:34 in a 1991 non-overtime game against the Dallas Cowboys. Houston held the ball for more than 80% of the game’s 60 minutes.
