Bears coach Matt Eberflus on disastrous final sequence in loss to Lions: ‘I like what we did there’

On By Littum

In a season filled with gut-wrenching losses, including a Hail Mary defeat, none was more painful for the Chicago Bears than Thursday’s Thanksgiving loss to the Detroit Lions.

That led to some tough questions for head coach Matt Eberflus after the game.

The Bears looked in good shape to at worst force overtime with first-and-10 at the Detroit 25-yard line with 46 seconds and two timeouts remaining while trailing, 23-20. From there, the Bears lost 16 yards and ran just three plays.

Chicago got a play off after quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked with 32 seconds left on the clock. It was a downfield pass that fell incomplete as time expired. Even if Rome Odunze had caught the ball, the Bears would not have had time to attempt a field goal. The game was over, and the Bears took a timeout with them to the losing locker room.

After the game, Eberflus was repeatedly asked to explain the final sequence and why the Bears didn’t use their final timeout. He told reporters that “I like what we did there” and that he hoped to preserve the final timeout to set up a potential game-tying field goal after driving the final play.

“Our hope was because it was third down on fourth (down) that we would recreate that play in 18 seconds, throw it in bounds, get into field-goal range and call a timeout,” Eberflus said. “That’s where it was. That was our decision-making process on that.

“We were out of field-goal territory. We needed to get some more yards in there, as close as we can get. And then we had to call timeout. That’s why we called the last timeout at the end of ​​the fight.”

Eberflus was then asked why he didn’t call a timeout when the game clock was running under 10 seconds.

“We like the play we had,” Eberflus said. “We were hoping (Williams) would call it — get the ball snapped. And then we would have called time out right there.

“Once it’s under seven there, then you call timeout there, you’re basically throwing the ball into the end zone. Because once it’s under 12, you can’t throw it in without a timeout.”

Eberflus was then asked what he would have done differently in retrospect. That’s when he told reporters: “I think we handled it the right way.”

“I like what we did there,” Eberflus continued. “Again, once it’s under seven … actually under 12 — you really don’t have an option. Because it’s third-and-four and you’ve got to throw it into the end zone.

“I think we handled it the right way. I believe you just repeat the play, get it in bounds and call timeout. That’s why we kept it. It didn’t work out the way we wanted it to.”

DETROIT, MICHIGAN-28. NOVEMBER: Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus looks on during a game between the Detroit Lions and the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving Day in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., Thursday, November 28, 2024. (Photo by Amy Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images)DETROIT, MICHIGAN-28. NOVEMBER: Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus looks on during a game between the Detroit Lions and the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving Day in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., Thursday, November 28, 2024. (Photo by Amy Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Matt Eberflus’ game management was the hot topic after Chicago’s tight 23-20 loss to Detroit. (Photo by Amy Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The Bears clearly didn’t handle it “the right way.” And because of that, during a season filled with game-deciding gaffes by his team, Eberflus was asked about his job security — again.

“I just keep grinding and working, that’s what I do,” Eberflus said.

What else is he going to say at this point?

The mood in the dressing room after the match was understandably sour. A reporter asked Eberflus about players who said he did not offer his normal postgame address to the team. Eberflus denied that was the case, saying he approached the team as usual, calling it “the same operation.”

In the locker room, receiver DJ Moore talked about the late-game meltdown.

“We’ve got to figure out a way to win,” Moore said. “We keep coming back in these games. And we have time to actually win the game and we just slam the bed.”

As for why the Bears didn’t call a timeout on the last play? Moore doesn’t know.

“I don’t think we cowered,” Moore said. “We just got back on the ball and ran a play. Like I said, I don’t know why we didn’t call a timeout.”

When asked why late-game situations keep going wrong for the Bears, cornerback Kyler Gordon didn’t want to talk about it.

“Next question,” Gordon said. “No comment.”

As for the end of Thursday’s game?

“I’m not going to lie to you,” Gordon said. “At least I thought we were going to kick a field goal. It is what it is. It happened.”

Eberflus was asked about players losing confidence in his leadership.

“We have to get together,” Ebeflus said in response. “We just have to keep pulling together, keep believing in each other.”

When asked about his responsibility in Chicago’s failed playoff run, Eberflus took the blame.

“I’m the football coach,” Eberflus continued. “I take the blame, of course. That’s what you do. We didn’t get it done. It starts at the top. It starts right here. Accountability is right here with me. Again, we just have to do better, I have to to make it better.”

It’s not the first time this season that Eberflus has had to deal with late game mistakes. He is running out of chances to explain himself.