Chicago Bears fans seemed like they were finally starting to calm down following the end of the season for their team. Sure there was still inner rage over kicker Cody Parkey. They just weren’t as open about it. They began to accept the fact that he’d likely be gone in a few months and they could put the entire episode behind them.
That is until the end of the NFC championship game. In the space of a few minutes, Los Angeles Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein entered NFL lore with two supremely clutch kicks. The first was a 48-yarder to tie the game 23-23 with under a minute to go. Then in overtime after a Drew Brees interception, he drilled a 57-yarder to send his team to its first Super Bowl in 19 years.
Seeing those two kicks go through, knowing their own couldn’t hit a 43-yarder with no wind two weeks ago? Safe to say Bears fans were sent over the edge all over again. Their reactions on Twitter were rather entertaining to say the least.
I wonder if Cody Parkey is watching and what he’s thinking?
— Hub Arkush (@Hub_Arkush) January 20, 2019
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Been trying to stay classy with Cody Parkey… but if I see a game-winning field goal in this #NEvsKC after watching Greg Zuerlein nail a 57-yarder in OT to send the Rams to the Super Bowl… all bets are off. pic.twitter.com/fdWDedSHf1
— Bears Barroom (@BearsBarroom) January 20, 2019
I want a good kicker. Damn Parkey pic.twitter.com/FXPG2gL9HC
— Dan Shuftan (@StateStSports) January 20, 2019
THE SPIN CYCLE ON THIS KICK, this how you finish when your team needs you @CParkey36 pic.twitter.com/mPK6SFDlqN
— Cody get the Carkey (@WhosTreyJones) January 20, 2019
LOL Zuerlein from 57 looks 10000x better than Parkey from 30 #kickersmatter
— Steven Stark (@IronmansCuz9) January 20, 2019
Codey Parkey watching Greg Zuerlein make two clutch kicks like…. pic.twitter.com/rcwwxNEmRr
— David Durham (@DDurham1) January 20, 2019
It’s certainly further proof of one thing. Championship teams need good kickers. History proves that many times. Parkey can’t escape what he did this past season. Not only did he miss 11 kicks total, but he also missed one that would’ve given the Bears a first round bye against Miami and then the other that would’ve sent them to Los Angeles to play the new NFC champion Rams.
A team they beat handily back in December. So yeah, it’s not hard to see why people are still upset.
