Updated: October 21, 2025
- Chicago Bears kicker Cody Parkey hit the upright four times in Sunday's 34-22 victory over the Detroit Lions
- Bovada is offering odds on whether Parkey will hit another upright in Sunday's game against Minnesota
- The Bears are 31st in the NFL in field-goal percentage since 2016 (74.6)
With first place in the NFC North on the line, you can excuse the Chicago Bears for feeling downright upright about kicker Cody Parkey.
Not much went wrong for the Bears in Sunday's 34-22 drubbing of the woeful Detroit Lions… well, nothing that didn't involve the instep of Parkey's right foot.
Over the years, Cody Parkey has shown a mixed record in terms of field goal accuracy. His best season came in 2014 with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he made 88 percent of his kicks. However, consistency has been an issue, with several seasons dipping below league averages. This variability in performance adds a layer of uncertainty for the Bears each game day.
Parkey banked four – count 'em – four balls off the uprights of the goalposts.
There was no word from Guinness as to whether this was a world record, but there is a prop wager being offered by Bovada on whether it will happen to Parkey again this week as the NFC North-leading Bears (6-3) play host to the 5-3-1 Minnesota Vikings.
Odds Cody Parkey Will Hit the Upright or Crossbar on a Missed Field Goal or Extra Point in Week 11
| Will Cody Parkey Hit the Upright or Crossbar on a Missed Field Goal or Extra Point in Week 11? | Odds at Bovada |
|---|---|
| Yes | +550 |
| No | -1000 |
If you're a Bears fan, it can't be comforting to know that two of the last three, and three of the last five Chicago-Minnesota games at Soldier Field have been decided by three points or less.
Compared to other NFL kickers, Parkey's struggles at Soldier Field aren't unique. The challenging winds and tough conditions make it a notoriously difficult venue. Across the league, the average field goal success rate is around 84 percent. This emphasizes the uphill battle Parkey and others face kicking competitively.
Uptight About the Upright?
The Bears took the seldom-deployed option of having Parkey go to Soldier Field to practice kicks in addition to his daily work at the club's practice facility in Lake Forest, Illinois.
Windy conditions at Soldier Field can wreak havoc on a kicker’s aim. Crosswinds can shift the ball’s trajectory, while the cold temperatures tighten muscles. Practicing in these conditions might help Parkey adjust, but it’s a game of millimeters when the wind howls.
pic.twitter.com/t5nFnsCMBJ
— Derek Munter (@Derek_Munter) November 11, 2018
Parkey is 13-for-18 on field goal attempts and 20-for-22 on extra points this season but three of his five field goal misses and both of his failed extra points came at Soldier Field.
Here's Cody
You know it's been a rough week when you're an NFL kicker and Jimmy Fallon is talking about you on the Tonight Show.
Could it happen again? Could he hit another upright this week? Logic says no. As Fallon points out, its actually harder to do than putting the ball through the posts. But like a golfer with putting yips, or Dodgers' second baseman Steve Sax's inability to throw throw the ball to first base, these things can get inside an athlete's psyche.
It's a wild and crazy idea, but play a small wager on yes. It could lead to a big payday.
The post Another Cody Parkey Field Goal off the Upright in Week 11 Would Payout Nicely appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.
Original source: https://www.sportsbettingdime.com/news/nfl/another-cody-parkey-field-goal-off-the-upright-in-week-11-would-payout-nicely/
