CHICAGO (670 The Score) – In the aftermath of a heartbreaking 20-19 loss to the Packers on Sunday at Soldier Field, Bears head coach Matt Eberflus defended another questionable coaching decision that loomed large in the final minute of another setback.
With the Packers leading by a point and 35 seconds remaining in regulation, the Bears called a run play to running back Roschon Johnson that gained two yards to the Packers’ 28-yard line. It set up second-and-8 as the clock ticked down.
Rather than attempting to run one or even two more plays in an effort to move closer for the potential game-winning field goal, Eberflus instead allowed the clock to tick down to three seconds – with the Bears’ offense standing out on the field waiting – before calling a timeout.
Bears kicker Cairo Santos’ ensuing 46-yard game-winning field-goal attempt was blocked by Packers defensive lineman Karl Brooks. It marked the second time this season that Chicago suffered a loss because of a stunning result on the final play of the game.
“They were loading the box there,” Eberflus said of the Packers’ defense leading up to the field-goal attempt. “So, you can say that you can (run another play), for sure, maybe get a couple more yards. But you also risk fumbling and different things there.
“I felt very confident with where we were at that time – with the wind, where we were on the field.”
Santos isn’t known for his ability to kick from long distances. Because of that, he attempts to compensate by kicking on a lower trajectory from long range.
The Packers were prepared for that as they sought to block the kick and then capitalized by breaking through the left side of the Bears’ line.
Packers linebacker Quay Walker, who was on the field-goal block unit, expected the Bears to run one more play to get closer, he told ESPN reporter Kalyn Kahler postgame. And Packers linebacker Edgerrin Cooper thought the Bears would’ve benefitted by moving slightly closer for the field-goal attempt to give Santos a chance for more arc on his kick.
"Possibly, yeah, because when a kicker is farther back, he has to kick it lower to have a good angle to get off,” Cooper told ESPN. “So, if he's a little bit closer, he could kick it straight up and be fine."
Sunday marked the second time in the past four games that Eberflus came under fire for a late-game coaching decision.
Before the Bears gave up a game-deciding 52-yard Hail Mary touchdown on the final play of an 18-15 loss to the Commanders on Oct. 27, Eberflus had his secondary play well off the line of scrimmage, which gave Washington a free 13-yard out route to get closer for the final play. Had the Bears defended those 13 yards well, Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels’ desperation heave likely wouldn’t have come close to the end zone.
The embattled Eberflus is now 14-30 over three seasons in Chicago. On Tuesday morning, Eberflus fired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, the eighth member of his coaching staff cast off during his tenure.
"I know who's in that locker room, the men in that locker room,” Eberflus said Sunday after his Bears fell to 4-6 “And they're strong. They're players. They're tight in terms of their relationship. So, the guys will come back and get back to work. There's always a resolve, always a respect for each other, to come to work and get the job done. We just got to punch that ticket.”
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.