Another season, another year where the Chicago Bears have a kicker issue.
After releasing beleaguered kicker Cody Parkey last offseason, the Bears put their faith in rookie Eddy Pineiro, who got off to a solid start in Chicago. Pineiro converted 8-of-9 field goals, including a 53-yard game-winning field goal against the Denver Broncos.
But then the Chargers game happened in Week 8, where Pineiro missed two field goals, including what would’ve been the game-winner. Since Week 8, Pineiro has gone 6-of-10 on field goals, including missing two field goals in a loss to the Los Angeles Rams in a game where points were at a premium.
Despite the fact that Pineiro was perfect against the Detroit Lions — connecting on his lone field goal and all three extra points — there was another example of Nagy’s distrust in his kicker last Thursday in a victory over the Lions, where he opted for his offense to go for it on fourth down rather than Pineiro attempt a long field goal.
In the second quarter of the Bears’ 24-20 victory over the Lions, Chicago found themselves facing a fourth-and-six at Detroit’s 32-yard line. Rather than entrusting Pineiro to convert a 50-yard field goal — indoors, mind you — Nagy had more trust in his struggling offense. Mitchell Trubisky threw an incomplete pass to Javon Wims, but the Bears were flagged for illegal formation.
“I just felt like, at that point, staying a little aggressive,” Nagy said. “If it had been a little further out — fourth-and-seven, -eight, -nine — we probably would’ve attempted a long field goal.
“We’re in that area of, do you settle for three or do you show that, ‘Hey, let’s go get this thing’? We felt good with the play-call, but it ended up not working.”
While Nagy has insisted that he’s going to continue to ride the season out with Pineiro, the future for the rookie kicker doesn’t look secure in Chicago. It’s fair to wonder, unless the Bears are able to lock up a slim wild card playoff berth, if Pineiro is playing his final four games as a Bear.
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