The Chicago Bears had a Thanksgiving game to forget against the Detroit Lions, mismanaging their final drive en route to a 23-20 loss.
The Bears, needing a field goal to tie or a touchdown to win, were facing a 3rd-and-26 with the clock running and well under a minute remaining in the fourth quarter. They were on the fringes of field-goal range, and they also had a timeout in their pocket.
It took them a while to get a play ready on third down, and by the time the ball was finally snapped, there were about six seconds remaining. They could have called a timeout before the play to save lots of time but opted against doing so.
The play itself then took too long, with quarterback Caleb Williams missing wide receiver Rome Odunze on a deep ball that wiped out the remainder of the clock. The result was a devastating loss for Chicago.
Here's the full sequence for the end of Lions-Bears. I can't believe this happened…….. pic.twitter.com/dFMgDL2CE9
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 28, 2024
The sports world didn’t hold back in response to the blunder, with many folks taking to social media to react and Bears head coach Matt Eberflus taking a lot of heat.
No timeout. Not spiking if the ball. You get off just one play in the final 26 seconds. Is there any more proof needed for the @ChicagoBears and their fans everywhere that a new coach is needed? That it’s time for a change?
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) November 28, 2024
WTF IS MATT EBERFLUS DOING???
THAT IS MALPRACTICE!!!!
How do you single-handedly ruin the end of a game like that. That was the most idiotic, embarrassing, utter disgrace of clock management I’ve ever seen.
Bears fans should be SICK!!!
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) November 28, 2024
What in the absolute world was that by the Bears?!?
The end of game management by them multiple times this year is absolutely BAFFLING.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) November 28, 2024
Man I feel for you Bears fans.
That was just brutal.Literal coaching malpractice.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) November 28, 2024
I have seen it all with this coaching group. It’s beyond funny. It’s disturbing. https://t.co/oUz30yxjI8
— Eddie A Johnson (@Jumpshot8) November 28, 2024
The Bears haven’t been able to catch a break in weeks. Chicago entered its bye week (Week 7) with a 4-2 record and appeared to have a chance to be one of the biggest surprises of the season in the NFL.
But since their bye, the Bears haven’t won a game. They’ve now dropped six in a row, and many of the losses have come in excruciating fashion. During their losing streak, they’ve had four losses in which the final margin was three points or less.
Chicago now has five regular-season games remaining and can only hope to salvage something in its remaining opportunities. Since they played on Thanksgiving, the Bears will have some extra time to prepare for their next game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 14. A win would likely go a long way toward lifting the spirits of those in and around the organization.
