Doink.
With Madden set to release in just under two months’ time, more details on the next installment of the long-running football franchise have been released. A new gameplay mechanic introduced for this year’s edition titled “M-Factor,” gives all 32 teams a specific home-field advantage.
The Bears’ advantage at Soldier Field is actually hilarious and ironic: The “Madden” folks decided to give visiting opponents a kicking disadvantage, when we all know that Chicago has had issues with their kicking game in recent years.
MORE: In other Madden news…
The Bears have famously had kicking problems in recent years, most notably a field goal that was partially blocked, ricocheted off one upright, then hit the crossbar, in a 2019 playoff matchup between the Bears and the Eagles.
The play was monikered the “Double Doink” by NBC Sports’ Cris Collinsworth.
From 2016-2018, the Bears never finished higher than 27th in field goal percentage. In 2019, they were No. 16 before the playoff mishap.
Chicago turned to kicker Cairo Santos in 2020, who missed just two kicks (30 for 32), which ranked seventh.
While Bears kicking problems have seemingly settled after the infamous moment, the internet hasn’t, with jokes being flung in the Bears’ direction on news of the mechanic: