(670 The Score) For the third time this season, the Bears on Sunday blew a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter, losing 20-17 to the Browns in Cleveland. Here are the observations from the Bears’ latest gut-wrenching loss, which dropped them to 5-9.
Blame it on Eberflus
After the Bears blew a 26-14 lead late in the fourth quarter of a 31-26 loss to the Lions at Ford Field on Nov. 19, head coach Matt Eberflus preached the need to finish to his team.
Like in that heartbreaking loss in Detroit, Eberflus deserves the lion’s share of the blame for why the Bears once again didn't finish Sunday.
The Bears’ offense struggled considerably while working with a lead for most of the second half, as it failed to run the football and create the necessary balance to beat the Browns. Embattled offensive coordinator Luke Getsy is responsible for the play calls, but Eberflus is still in charge of overseeing the offensive game plan.
Quarterback Justin Fields had 43 registered dropbacks in a game the Bears didn’t trail until there were 32 seconds remaining. The Browns’ defensive front was licking its chops over the game plan that was implemented by Eberflus and Getsy. The Bears ran the football just 27 times for 88 yards. That included two carries for receiver Velus Jones Jr. and one for rookie receiver Tyler Scott on a pivotal third-and-1 play early in the fourth quarter.
Browns defensive end Alex Wright recognized that jet sweep motion and blew the play up without even being blocked. Wright then looked toward his team’s sideline and pointed to his eyes, as if to say he knew what was coming.
Eberflus' biggest blunder came late in the game, with the score tied at 17-17 and the Browns facing a third-and-15 from their own 47-yard line with 56 seconds remaining. A stop on the play by the Bears likely would've sent the game to overtime.
Eberflus' defensive play call sent six players after Browns quarterback Joe Flacco and dropped five into coverage – including defensive tackle Justin Jones, who was the closest defender to Browns tight end David Njoku as he ran an underneath route. Flacco found Njoku, who had a big speed advantage, for a 34-yard completion that set up Cleveland game-winning field goal a few plays later.
In the Bears' collapse against the Lions, Eberflus' play calls were too conservative, and Detroit quarterback Jared Goff drove his team to the end zone in just six plays to start the comeback. On Sunday in Cleveland, Eberflus was aggressive at the wrong time.
It would've been so simple for Eberflus to draw up a Cover-2 look with linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards waiting over the middle and safeties Eddie Jackson and Jaquan Brisker standing 15 yards downfield at the first-down marker.
Eberflus took over play-calling duties for the Bears’ defense in September after defensive coordinator Alan Williams' abrupt resignation. Was Sunday an example of Eberflus being overwhelmed by his many duties?
What’s clear is that Eberflus let down his Bears with the game on the line. He failed to finish when he had been preaching that to his team.
Eberflus’ case to remain the Bears' head coach in 2024 lies in progress being made this season. The Bears are have undoubtedly improved this season, and they can compete with quality opponents. But there’s no defending squandering double-digit leads in the fourth quarter three times in a single season. Coaching has cost the Bears opportunities to win.
As Bears suffered a devastating loss, the blame should start with Eberflus.
Back down on Mooney
On the Hail Mary heave to end the game, Bears receiver Darnell Mooney had the football fall into his lap for the potential game-winning touchdown catch. He couldn’t corral it.
Mooney predictably received criticism on social media, which he noticed immediately after the game. With that in mind, let’s be reasonable here in assessing the degree of difficulty on this play.
Mooney was falling backward amid the end zone scrum, reacting to the deflection as his momentum went to the ground. He appeared to adjust his arms from bracing for his fall to instead reaching for the football, with his body shaking on impact upon landing. As Mooney brought his arms in to cusp the football, it had already begun to hit off his chest and bounce away.
That's a challenging play for any receiver, and they’ll tell you that. That wasn’t a stunning gaffe that deserves the ire of fans. It was an ill-timed missed opportunity that will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.
It would be more reasonable to point the blame to tight end Robert Tonyan Jr., who dropped a long pass in the first quarter that could've been a 73-yard touchdown. That was a perfect ball from Fields that simply has to be caught.
If there's blame to be placed on Mooney, it's for whiffing on a block on a Fields run on fourth-and-1 in the fourth quarter, a play that should've easily gone for a first down but instead resulted in Fields being tripped up just shy of the marker.
The Tez effect
Bears edge rusher Montez Sweat has been worth every penny of the $98.5-million contract extension that he signed with the Bears, who acquired him from the Commanders in late October.
Sweat had 2.5 sacks Sunday, giving him 12.5 sacks for the season. He has helped transform a Chicago defense that struggled early in the season into a strong unit that can make game-changing plays. On Sunday, the Bears recorded at least three takeaways for the fourth time in six games since Sweat joined the team.
Sweat presently leads both the Bears (6) and the Commanders (6.5) in sacks this season.
Extra points
-- On the Bears' first play from scrimmage, quarterback Justin Fields dropped back deep in the pocket and got drilled by Browns pass rusher Za’Darius Smith as he threw a deep ball. It wasn’t the type of play call from offensive coordinator Luke Getsy that suggested the Bears could handle the Browns’ constant pressure.
-- Pass rusher DeMarcus Walker was essentially demoted into a reserve role when the Bears acquired Sweat. After fellow pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue was placed on injured reserve this past week with a season-ending ankle injury, Walker was rejuvenated with an increased opportunity Sunday. He recorded four tackles, two tackles for a loss and a shared sack. More of that, please.
-- The average fan probably doesn't appreciate enough how well Bears nose tackle Andrew Billings has performed this season.
-- Last week, Bears safety Eddie Jackson said in passing that he felt his first interception of the season was coming Sunday. Indeed, he hauled it in and nearly ran it back for a pick-six by setting the Bears up at the Browns' 1-yard line. Good for the veteran Jackson, who has been a key figure in the Bears’ locker room.
-- The Bears signing linebacker T.J. Edwards to a $19.5-million deal looks like a complete steal.
-- The Bears are second in the NFL with 18 interceptions.
-- The defense was the reason the Bears were in position to win this game, then it broke down in the fourth quarter.
-- Flacco looked elite against the Bears.
-- Bears fans’ dreams will be haunted by Jones dropping into coverage.
-- So much for the Bears being in the hunt.
-- Bears-Cardinals is up next. Merry Christmas.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.