Matt Eberflus (Photo Credit: chicagobears.com).
The Chicago Bears blew another last-minute opportunity to win a football game, which should spell the end of head coach Matt Eberflus’s tenure with the team.
With a chance to at least tie the game against the first-place Detroit Lions, Eberflus fails to use the team’s last remaining timeout, forcing rookie quarterback Caleb Williams to call a low percentage pass play that fell incomplete as time expired.
The head coach could have called a timeout to at least attempt a game-tying field goal to send the game into overtime and give his team a chance to win. But once again, Eberflus displayed poor clock management, which resulted in a loss.
“This is unacceptable from the head coach position. Your responsibility is to not panic in critical situations. To put your team in the best opportunity to win games. That’s a massive, massive fail by Matt Eberflus” – CBS’ Matt Ryan🔥 pic.twitter.com/z0TZ49IbkE
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 28, 2024
Matt Eberflus when it’s time to find a new insane way to lose a football game pic.twitter.com/azADwy0YJE
— Bearsszn (@bearssznn) November 28, 2024
Though the Bears are not officially eliminated from playoff contention, the loss undoubtedly dooms their season, as they drop to 4-8. Conversely, the Lions improve to 11-1, the best start in their history.
Nevertheless, the loss to the Lions obscures a furious and encouraging comeback from the Monsters of the Midway.
The Bears seemingly didn’t have a pulse in the first half of this game as they entered halftime down 16-0. But they roared back in the second half, outsourcing Detroit 20-7. Under the direction of new offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, Williams looked more comfortable. On the first drive of the second half, the team’s longest of the game, the rookie signal caller threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Keenan Allen, one of two for the veteran receiver.
.@CALEBcsw with a strike to @Keenan13Allen for 6 🎯
📺: #CHIvsDET on CBS pic.twitter.com/625EdRwATi
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) November 28, 2024
The Bears’ No. 1 pick of the 2024 draft went 20 of 39 for 256 yards and three touchdown passes, one of which went to DJ Moore.
Late-game collapses marred the Bears’ once-promising season. Chicago started the season 4-2 and hasn’t won a game since. The team’s last win was Oct. 13, about a month and a half ago.
Five weeks before this Thanksgiving game, the Bears lost to the Washington Commanders thanks to a last-second Hail Mary pass play.
Eleven days ago, the Bears lost to the rival Green Bay Packers after their attempt at a game-winning field goal was blocked. Four days ago, they lost to the Vikings in overtime.
The Bears have now lost six straight games. They next travel to face the San Francisco 49ers on Dec. 8.
However, with this loss, the seat under Eberflus gets hotter, meaning there is an increasing belief that he could lose his job either in-season or certainly after it.