LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Following a dramatic loss, Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus reaffirmed his choice to let the clock run down rather than attempt another play prior to a crucial last-second field goal against the Green Bay Packers. The Bears concluded a tumultuous week marked by the firing of their offensive coordinator with a fourth consecutive defeat, losing 20-19 to the Packers after Cairo Santos’ 46-yard kick was blocked as time expired.
Eberflus expressed confidence in his decision. “Yes, I would do the same,” he stated in a Monday press conference. “Would you like to be closer? Yeah, sure. You’d like it to be at the 15-yard line. But it is where it is, and you could have done a bunch of different things there.” Unfortunately for Chicago, the loss represented a continuation of a downward trend that began with a defeat at Washington, where they fell victim to a Hail Mary play. With this latest outcome, the Bears (4-6) have now lost twice in four games on final plays.
At one point in the game, the Bears held a 19-14 advantage before the Packers’ Jordan Love scored a touchdown from one yard out, shifting the lead in favor of the Packers with 2:59 left on the clock. Caleb Williams, the Bears’ quarterback, faced immediate pressure and was sacked twice, placing Chicago in a precarious third-and-19 situation at their own 21-yard line. With urgency mounting, Williams managed to connect with Rome Odunze on two consecutive completions, bringing them into enemy territory.
A crucial 12-yard reception by Keenan Allen provided Chicago with a first down at the 30-yard line with just 35 seconds to spare. Following a modest 2-yard gain by Roschon Johnson, the Bears had the option to run another play to narrow the field goal distance. Instead, Eberflus chose to allow the clock to continue running before calling a timeout with merely 3 seconds left. Unfortunately for the Bears, Karl Brooks penetrated the line and blocked Santos’ kick, leading to the Packers securing their 11th consecutive victory over Chicago. Eberflus maintained that the potential hazards of attempting another play outweighed the benefits. “They stunt or whatever and you false start, you go backwards, you look at all that,” he commented, indicating he felt justified in his decision.
The season has not unfolded as the Bears had hoped, sitting at the bottom of the NFC North. Entering this year, the team aspired for a playoff berth after a disappointing combined record of 10-24 over the previous two seasons under Eberflus and general manager Ryan Poles. “We don’t come in this building to lose,” stated safety Kevin Byard. “There are things that happen during the game that we can be better. That, in totality, is the reason we lose games. But at the end of the day, we have to continue to work and ensure we’re not separating. I believe we’re a close group as a team, and I don’t really worry about that, honestly.”
Reviewing the team’s performance, it’s clear that the defense has been substantial, ranking seventh in scoring defense prior to Sunday’s game. However, the offense has struggled to find the end zone. Following the firing of offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and the promotion of Thomas Brown, there was a noticeable improvement in offensive flow, as they racked up 391 yards and controlled time of possession 36:21 to 23:39. However, despite scoring two touchdowns, the overall total of 19 points is hardly a formula for success.
On a positive note, Caleb Williams, the top draft pick, showed improvement, completing 23 of 31 passes for 231 yards and achieving a career-high 70 rushing yards. His performance demonstrated a growing comfort level, contrasting with his previous three games. In contrast, cornerback Jaylon Johnson’s performance dipped, as a moment of misstep contributed to the Packers’ go-ahead touchdown. Johnson stumbled while defending a pass intended for Christian Watson, allowing the receiver to advance significantly, leading to the eventual touchdown.
Injury concerns also loom large for the Bears, with left guard Ryan Bates entering the concussion protocol and safety Elijah Hicks being assessed for an ankle injury. A troubling statistic for Eberflus is the Bears’ 5-17 record in one-possession games during his tenure, further emphasizing the need for improvement as the season progresses.
Looking ahead, the Bears will aim to break their losing streak when they face Sam Darnold and the Minnesota Vikings in a divisional matchup this coming Sunday. The pressure is mounting for Eberflus and his squad to turn around their fortunes throughout the remainder of the season.