CHICAGO (670 The Score) — It happened again.
The Bears suffered more last-play heartbreak, another loss to the Packers, another stunning setback in a season that was once filled with such hope.
The Bears had their game-winning field-goal attempt blocked on the final play of a 20-19 loss to the Packers on Sunday at Soldier Field. Here are the observations from the game.
Eberflus’ latest miscue looms large in loss
After another gut-wrenching loss, Bears head coach Matt Eberflus again defended a strategic decision in the final minute that backfired.
With 35 seconds remaining and the Packers leading 20-19, the Bears called for a handoff to running back Roschon Johnson, who advance two yards to the left hash at the 28-yard line. With one timeout remaining, Eberflus had a key decision to make on what came next.
Eberflus allowed the clock to tick down from 30 seconds to three seconds rather than directing his offense to run another play to move closer for a game-winning field-goal attempt. It led to Bears kicker Cairo Santos attempting a 46-yard try that was blocked — and which could've been easier.
Santos has hit 78% of his field-goal attempts between 40 and 49 yards in his NFL career. Given that his leg is limited in power, Santos has to compensate on longer attempts by kicking a low line drive – a trajectory that's more susceptible to being blocked. The Packers were prepared for that and ready to attack.
In fact, Packers special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia – whom Eberflus attempted to hire back in 2022 before he was poached by Green Bay – told his players Saturday night that he expected them to block a kick Sunday.
“'I will not understand if we come out of this game without a block, whether field goal or PAT,'” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said of Bisaccia's message to the Packers. “Great job by our special teams coaches.”
It was also a poor job by Eberflus.
Santos has hit 93.8% of his field-goal attempts between 30 and 39 yards in his NFL career. He is a perfect 7-of-7 from inside 40 yards this season. With the Packers on their heels and the Bears’ offense clicking, Eberflus could’ve pressed forward with a run or a pass to get closer than 46 yards for the kick.
Every yard would’ve made a difference in Santos’ kicking arc. The Bears’ offense averaged 5.8 yards per play Sunday.
Rather than seizing on an opportunity, Eberflus ran from the potential risk.
“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.”
In his second NFL season, Johnson has fumbled just once on 171 career touches. Veteran running back D’Andre Swift has fumbled only 11 times on 972 career touches. If Eberflus wanted to assess risk management, he should’ve started there.
Eberflus’ default mode is to coach scared in pivotal situations. With his team protecting a late three-point lead three weeks earlier, he had his Bears secondary play well off the line of scrimmage on the penultimate play of the game, allowing the Commanders to hit an easy 13-yard out route to the sideline that set up a stunning 52-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass from quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Rather than contesting the Commanders’ penultimate play, Eberflus was worried about allowing a touchdown. Instead of getting aggressive on the Hail Mary, he rushed just three and dropped seven in coverage.
"It doesn't really matter,” Eberflus said of the 13-yard completion leading up to the Hail Mary. “It's always really going to come down to that last play."
Once again, it came down to the last play Sunday. And once again, Eberflus didn't put his Bears in the best position possible to earn a win.
‘Significantly’ better Bears offense
Eberflus attempted to deflect questions last week after firing offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, but he didn't mince words in addressing one question in particular.
When Eberflus was asked how much the Bears’ offense could change in just a few days in shifting from Waldron to new offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, he gave a fairly straightforward answer.
“I think significantly,” Eberflus said. “I really do. And again, that’s what we’re looking for – significant change and efficiency. We want an efficient, effective offense from the run game to the screen game to the play-action pass, drop-back pass, from A to Z. I know if we put our minds together and everybody works together, we’ll get that done.”
The difference was significant in Brown's debut as the Bears' play-caller. The Bears didn't light up the scoreboard in scoring 19 points, but they posted 391 yards, which was a major improvement over what they'd been doing under Waldron's watch.
In Waldron's final game with the team a week prior, the Bears managed just three points and 142 yards of offense. His scheme didn't cater to the talents of the Bears' playmakers.
Too often, it seemed as if Waldron was calling plays at random rather than attempting to create a flow and rhythm. What was especially alarming was the clear distrust that Bears players felt in the leadership of the offense. They had checked out on Waldron, and it was clear in their body language. It’s why Eberflus felt a change was necessary.
On Sunday, Brown called 34 registered passing plays and 34 runs for the Bears. Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams was 23-of-31 for 231 yards while adding nine carries for 70 yards. Chicago’s rushing game carried 34 times for 179 yards and two touchdowns, including a 39-yard scoring run for Swift.
Top receiver DJ Moore was prioritized, as he hauled in a team-best seven receptions for 62 yards. Rookie receiver Rome Odunze had a team-high 10 targets, hauling in six receptions for 65 yards. Even tight end Cole Kmet – who was often ignored by Waldron – had three catches.
Brown helped the offense flow in a way that it didn't under Waldron. The Bears used the screen game and play-action attack efficiently, offering Williams a greater chance at success. At least the Bears' offense is functioning again.
No defending this fall
The Bears are falling short of their goal of having top-five defense, and their poor performance against the Packers was more evidence of the unit's struggles.
The Packers gashed the Bears’ defense. Quarterback Jordan Love was an efficient 13-of-17 for 261 yards, one touchdown and one interception, which came on an overthrow near the goal line. Green Bay’s running game carried 25 times for 106 yards and two scores. Lead running back Josh Jacobs paved the way with 76 yards and 4.2 yards per carry.
The Packers racked up 366 yards on 43 plays, averaging 8.5 yards per play. Green Bay encountered third down only five times on offense.
Packers punter Daniel Whelan punted just once. Aside from kneeling in the final seconds of the first half, Green Bay’s shortest drive was its four-play, 78-yard touchdown drive to take the lead in the fourth quarter.
The Bears used to get off the field routinely by forcing three-and-outs. They didn’t force a single three-and-out Sunday.
The Bears have sorely missed the presence of nose tackle Andrew Billings, who was lost for the season due to a torn pectoral. Second-year defensive tackle Zacch Pickens has struggled in his attempt to fill that void.
While Billings is one of the NFL’s top nose tackles, his loss shouldn't set back the entire Bears defense. But that’s what has taken place.
Eberflus needs to make significant adjustments to his defense in order to save the unit – and his job.
Extra points
-- For as bad as the Bears have been, Sunday was an opportunity to redeem their season. They could’ve snapped a three-game losing streak and finally taken down the Packers, to whom they've now lost to 11 straight times. It could’ve changed the team's course, but it was instead another damning loss.
-- The Bears produced a field goal on their opening drive, marking just the third time this season that they had scored in the first quarter. When is the parade?
-- After releasing guard Nate Davis, the Bears hoped to finally settle their offensive line. That hope was dashed in the first quarter as left guard Ryan Bates exited with a concussion. Jake Curhan took over for him.
-- I don’t know if the Packers planned to snap the football on a fourth-and-3 situation in the second quarter, but it didn't matter as Bears defensive tackle Byron Cowart jumped into the neutral zone for a five-yard penalty. This Bears team just completely lacks discipline.
-- Let's have a moment of appreciation for Bears left tackle Braxton Jones, who pulled to his left and bulldozed a defender as Swift rushed 39 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter.
-- Sunday could’ve been a seminal moment in Williams’ career and a victory to savor in a spiraling season. Instead, it was all too painfully familiar.
-- So, Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers are 7-3.
-- Seven games remain in the regular season.
-- Here we are again.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.