Numbers can help tell a story in a football game. Here's a look at 10 important or interesting statistics that could play a role in Saturday afternoon's game between the Bears and Washington Redskins.

1:

Number of years the Washington single-season passing record stood. Kirk Cousins topped Jay Schroeder's 1986 mark last season by throwing for 4,166 yards, a new franchise-high. But a year later, Cousins topped it again, throwing for 4,360 yards so far this season.

3:

Bears receivers who had more than 80 receiving yards in the Week 15 contest versus Green Bay. Cameron Meredith (9 catches for 104 yards), Deonte Thompson (8-110) and Alshon Jeffery (6-89) all had big afternoons for the Bears. It marked the first time Chicago had three receivers with that many yards since September 18, 1983, in a loss at New Orleans. In that contest, Emery Moorehead (4-82), Ken Margerum (2-86) and Willie Gault (4-103) all topped the 80-yard plateau.

4:

Sacks recorded by the Bears defense in Week 15 versus the Packers. It was the most takedowns of Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers by a Chicago defense since September 13, 2012, when the Bears sacked Rodgers five times.

5.9:

Yards per offensive play averaged by Chicago this season, which ranks tied with New England and Tennessee for fifth-best in the NFL. However, the Bears have run the third-fewest offensive plays in the league so far this season (841), limiting the offense's output. Washington ranks second by averaging 6.4 yards per play on the season.

9.8:

Yards per rushing attempt allowed by the Chicago defense in the Week 15 loss to Green Bay. The Packers ran the ball 23 times for 226 yards. The last time Chicago allowed more than 220 rushing yards in a game was December 22, 2013, when Philadelphia gained 289 yards in a 54-11 Eagles victory.

17:

Fourth-quarter points scored by Chicago in Week 15 versus Green Bay, the highest-scoring fourth quarter of the season for the Bears. Alshon Jeffery and Jordan Howard each scored touchdowns, and Connor Barth added a 22-yard field goal to wrap up the Chicago scoring in the fourth. On the season, the Bears have scored 73 fourth-quarter points, which ranks 27th in the NFL.

18:

Passes thrown to Washington tight end Jordan Reed in two career games versus the Bears. Reed has caught all 18 passes he was targeted on, gaining a total of 234 yards and two touchdowns in the previous meetings with Chicago.

22.9:

First downs allowed per game by the Washington defense this season, third-most in the NFL. The Redskins have allowed more than 20 first downs in 10 different games this year, including each of their past four contests. The Bears offense is coming off its best game of the season in that department, recording 29 first downs in Week 15 versus Green Bay.

211:

Rushing attempts by Chicago running back Jordan Howard so far this season. Howard, a rookie, eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards for the season in the Week 15 contest versus the Packers. Of the 64 players all time that have run for 1,000 or more yards in their rookie years, only six had fewer carries that season than Howard. (Obviously the Chicago rookie still has two games to go, so his attempts total will rise.)

1,163:

Passing yards by Bears quarterback Matt Barkley this season, in five games played. Barkley threw for a career-high 362 yards versus the Packers last week, putting him in quadruple digits for the season. He became the third Chicago QB this season to reach that mark, joining Brian Hoyer (1,445 yards in six games) and Jay Cutler (1,059 yards in five games). The last time the Bears had three quarterbacks with 1,000 or more passing yards in a season was 1999, when Jim Miller, Cade McNown and Shane Matthews all accomplished that feat.