The Bears finished plus-20 in turnovers last year and didn't make the playoffs. That's weird; normally, you win the takeaway battle and you tend to win games.
It's been 10 years, as a matter of fact, since a team averaged better than a takeaway advantage per game and didn't make the playoffs. Kansas City was plus-16 in 2002 and finished 8-8.
The Bears went 10-6 last year but lost on a tiebreaker to the Vikings, missing out on the playoffs. All of the other teams that have finished plus-16 or better in turnovers the last 10 years have made the playoffs.
BEST TURNOVER RATIOS, 2002-2012
Ratio Year
+28 2010 New England (14-2)
+28 2011 San Francisco (13-3)
+25 2012 New England (12-4)
+24 2011 Green Bay (15-1)
+24 2005 Cincinnati (11-5)
+24 2007 San Diego (11-5)
+24 2009 Green Bay (11-5)
+20 2005 Denver (13-3)
+20 2012 Chicago (10-6)
+19 2003 Kansas City (13-3)
+19 2004 Indianapolis (12-4)
+18 2007 Indianapolis (13-3)
+17 2003 New England (14-2)
+17 2006 Baltimore (13-3)
+17 2011 New England (13-3)
+17 2002 Tampa Bay (12-4)
+17 2002 Green Bay (12-4)
+17 2010 Pittsburgh (12-4)
+17 2008 Miami (11-5)
+17 2004 NY Jets (10-6)
+17 2012 Washington (10-6)
+16 2007 New England (16-0)
+16 2005 Carolina (11-5)
+16 2002 Kansas City (8-8)
^aEUR"Ian Allan
March 20, 2013