Bears’ Brown denies late-game fumble in loss to Seahawks

CHICAGO – A month after clock management problems against the Detroit Lions led to the firing of coach Matt Eberflus, the Chicago Bears sealed their 10th straight loss as timeout problems and no attempt on a potential tying field goal resulted in a 6-3 loss. to the Seattle Seahawks.

Thursday’s Seahawks-Bears game was one of two NFL games this season without a touchdown. Chicago had 179 yards of total offense, its fourth-lowest in 2024, and managed just one field goal in its final home game of the season.

As the Bears’ loss to the Lions unfolded on Thanksgiving Day, Chicago trailed by three going into its final drive. The Bears took possession with 5 minutes, 12 seconds left in the fourth quarter at their 11-yard line with all three timeouts.

Chicago drove six plays before facing fourth and eight from its 39-yard line when left guard Jake Curhan, starting in place of injured Teven Jenkins (calf), was flagged for a false start.

The Bears were in punt formation when interim head coach Thomas Brown took advantage of his team’s first timeout with 2:14 remaining. A situation that appeared to be the result of confusion on the sideline was a byproduct of Brown deciding to be more aggressive.

“It wasn’t confusion at all,” Brown said. “I just changed my mind. I think being able to use (player) Tory (Taylor) as a weapon and we still had that, I think it was 2:16 on the clock, still had our three timeouts plus the two minute warning that our defense had been playing all day, possibly a chance to turn the field and force a three-and-out, get a shorter field and have, like, one last end-of-the-game drive. That was my thought process.

“During that, I changed my mind and said, ‘Let’s go to it now,’ and sent the offense back to the grass.”

Quarterback Caleb Williams connected with receiver DJ Moore on the ensuing fourth-and-5 play for a 14-yard gain. The Bears ran a play after the two-minute warning and let 45 seconds run off the clock before rookie Rome Odunze gained 15 yards on third-and-14 to get the Bears into Seattle territory.

But Chicago wouldn’t advance the ball past the Seahawks’ 40-yard line, and another one-score loss would end in similarly confusing fashion.

Williams said he was hit in the throat by Seattle’s pass rush after launching a deep ball to Odunze. Between the time the game began and Chicago’s next play on first down, another 38 seconds ticked off the clock.

“I don’t know if the coaches saw me down there after the big finish in Rome,” Williams said. “Even though I got hit in the neck and face, I just had to get up and run down and catch the ball.”

The Bears ended up using their second timeout on second-and-10 from the Seattle 40-yard line, and a frustrated Williams was seen yelling toward the sideline.

Just like in Detroit, the Bears needed a field goal to tie the game and crossed the 50-yard line with 1:05 left. After wasting 83 seconds of playing time, Chicago failed to attempt a field goal.

Brown confirmed that kicker Cairo Santos’ punt line was between the 34- and 37-yard lines.

After reaching the Seattle 40-yard line, the Bears threw four straight passes, the last of which resulted in Williams throwing his first interception after throwing 353 passes without a turnover (fourth most in NFL history).

“Obviously I think there are times when you can get a better call, want a better call, stuff like that, but we didn’t execute,” Williams said. “I didn’t execute on many different occasions this play and it’s frustrating. But I have to find a way.”

After the game, several Bears players described a chaotic feeling on the sideline as Chicago used two of its three timeouts in situations that didn’t allow the offense to move the ball closer to the end zone.

“There were some wrinkles in there,” Moore said. “The one time where it went completely down and we really didn’t know what to do. But at the end of the day, shoot, it’s up to us. We have to be prepared throughout the game, and I mean , that’s all I can say.”