One of the easiest ways to track luck in the NFL is tracking how often a team recovers a fumble. By the end of the season, the recovery rate will be relatively near 50/50. Typically teams with a shocking low recovery rate in the early portion of the season will see a progression and teams with an abnormally high recovery rate will see a regression as the season continues. With the Bears stunning habit of forcing turnovers, I thought this was something very important to track.

How often to the Bears recover forced fumbles? How often to they recover fumbles that are in the field of play (fumbles that aren’t fumbled out of bounds)? What is their recovery rate when fumbling on offense?

*NOTE: Muffs are included in fumble totals

KEY:
OPP FUMBLES – OPPONENT FUMBLES
OPP FUMBLES IN PLAY – OPPONENT FUMBLES IN PLAY
BEARS REC – FUMBLES THE BEARS RECOVERED
OPP REC – FUMBLES THE OPPONENT RECOVERED

SEASON RECAP:
As you can see, the Bears had an extremely high recovery rate of available. Of 34 fumbles/muffs by the opponents, the Bears recovered 21 (a 61.7% rate). More alarming is that 26 of those fumbles/muffs stayed in play. Realistically, those were the only fumbles that the Bears could have recovered. Of those 26, the Bears recovered 21 fumbles (80.8% rate). Some skill, but I’d argue quite a bit of luck.

SEASON RECAP:
The Bears fumbled/muffed the ball 22 total times this season. The Bears retained possession on 14 of those fumbles (63.6%). They retained 14-of-20 fumbles/muffs that stayed in play (70%).