The Chicago Bears improbably lost another game on Sunday, when Cairo Santos’ field goal attempt was green. was blocked by the Green Bay Packers. The 20-19 loss drops Chicago to 4-6 on the year and has put head coach Matt Eberflus under heavy fire for his late-game decision-making. Again.
Earlier this year, Eberflus was hammered for a defensive play call that helped the Washington Commanders get their amazing Hail Mary as time expired in a devastating loss to the Bears. On Sunday, it was his choice not to move Santos closer on his 46-yard field goal attempt, which drew widespread criticism.
To put that decision in context, the Bears had the ball at the Green Bay 30-yard line with 35 seconds left. The Packers had no timeouts, while Chicago had one. Therefore, the Bears had a very good opportunity to try to pick up a few extra yards on a passing play. In fact, they could have called multiple plays with one timeout. Instead, Eberflus apparently decided that gaining those yards wasn’t that important. c
Chicago called a run play that gained two yards and, instead of calling a timeout to try to gain a few more, Eberflus let the clock run until there were three seconds left on the clock. Santos’ attempt was blocked and it was game over.
Bear fans are very dissatisfied with the series.
36 seconds and a timeout.
There is no excuse not to try and gain at least another 10-15 yards.
Matt Eberflus coaches like a coward. Year 3 and nothing has changed. They have played more close games where Eberflus has total victories. #Bears
— Aaron Leming (@AaronLemingNFL) November 17, 2024
Matt Eberflus is the worst situational coach I have ever seen.
— Harrison Graham (@HGrahamNFL) November 17, 2024
That’s another loss for head coach Matt Eberflus. You have more than 40 seconds to try to get the ball closer, and you settle for a 46-yard field goal that is blocked. That does not come at the expense of victory. #DaBeren
— Ben Devine (@Chicago_NFL) November 17, 2024
Matt Eberflus is so good at finding the worst ways to lose a football game.
Hall of Fame level
— Brendan Sugrue (@BrendanSugrue) November 17, 2024
Takeaways from Matt Eberflus’ 30th loss in 44 games as the #Bears head coach:
1.) Fire Matt Eberflus now. This was as predictable as it gets. Put us all out of our misery and put an end to it.
— Matt Eurich (@MattEurich) November 17, 2024
Matt Eberflus is such a pathetic and cowardly coach and the only thing more pathetic is that the Bears refuse to fire him
— Justin (@Justin_14P) November 17, 2024
And the stairs are blocked. Incredible. That’s why you don’t settle for a 46-yard field goal when your QB is cooking. Unforgivably late game management from Matt Eberflus again. https://t.co/QYxFIALfmD
— Matt Zahn (@mattzahnsports) November 17, 2024
Matt Eberflus just letting Matt Eberflus lose that second deficit was the most Matt Eberflus decision. It’s at least one stupid call every week. How does this man even know how to put one foot after the other?
— Stathole (@Statholesports) November 17, 2024
There are a lot of hard feelings, but it’s an incomprehensible decision not to attempt to gain a few more meters. Eberflus does not call a play for the foul after the firing of coordinator Shane Waldronbut as a head coach, everything runs through him and he is expected to have better situational decision making than this.
But apparently he doesn’t and the Bears suffer another loss as a result.