The Chicago Bears’ 20-19 defeat against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday marked a heartbreaking end to an intense NFC North clash. With only seconds remaining, the Bears, down by a single point, had an opportunity to win the game with a 46-yard field goal from Cairo Santos. But the kick was blocked, sealing another crushing defeat for the Bears and dropping their record to 4-6 on the season. While head coach Matt Eberflus stood by the decision to have Santos attempt the field goal, he also raised serious concerns about the way the Packers lined up for the kick, leading to a potentially illegal block that the Bears believe should have drawn a penalty.
In his post-game comments, Eberflus was adamant that he trusted Santos’ ability from 46 yards and was comfortable with the decision. However, the blocked field goal was not just a painful result for the Bears—it also highlighted the continued struggles in key areas such as special teams protection and game management. Eberflus also noted that the team would be sending video of the final play to the NFL league office, alleging that the Packers had violated the league’s rules on long snapper protection, which could have led to a penalty flag being thrown.
The loss to the Packers follows a tumultuous week for the Bears, which saw offensive coordinator Shane Waldron fired after a disappointing performance. Interim play-caller Thomas Brown had taken over the reins of the offense, and there were some positive signs in the Bears' offensive play, but the overall result was still another setback for a franchise struggling to find its footing.
When the Bears found themselves in position to attempt a game-winning field goal with just seconds left on the clock, many fans and analysts alike questioned whether it was the right call. The Bears had moved the ball into field goal range, but the question remained: should they have taken one more play to gain a few more yards to make the kick easier?
Even with the uncertainty, Coach Eberflus remained firm in his decision. He expressed confidence in Santos' ability to make a 46-yard kick, noting that the real challenge lay in the blocking. The head coach stressed that while distance was not an issue, the team needed to improve the protection to give their kicker a better chance at success.
Santos has proven to be a reliable kicker over his career, with an 88.1% success rate on field goals in recent seasons. Nevertheless, the 46-yard attempt was seen as a calculated risk, with Eberflus believing that it was within reason. He clarified that the failure didn’t stem from the distance but from the breakdown in the blocking unit, which allowed Packers defenders to disrupt the play.
The decision to attempt the field goal without taking another snap to try and shorten the distance was undoubtedly a gamble. However, with a kicker of Santos' caliber, it's not an unreasonable risk, especially when you consider the difficulty of trying to execute a successful play in a high-pressure situation with the clock winding down. Yet, as we saw, even the most reliable kickers can be undone by poor protection or an aggressive defensive effort.
While the missed field goal was devastating enough, Eberflus' comments regarding the Packers' conduct during the attempt added an extra layer of controversy to the loss. The Bears felt that the Packers’ defensive line, which successfully blocked the kick, had lined up illegally—specifically, they were "on our long snapper," according to Eberflus.
The NFL has specific rules regarding long snapper protection. Defenders are prohibited from lining up directly over or near the long snapper during a kick attempt. The concern raised by Eberflus was that the Packers were too close to the Bears’ long snapper on the play, creating an unfair advantage and contributing to the block.
Eberflus explained that certain situations regarding their alignment should have been called. He added that they plan to send the video to the league office for review, believing there is a valid case to be made.
In his comments, Eberflus was careful to avoid outright blaming the officials or insinuating malice on the part of the Packers. However, his frustration was evident, and the Bears plan to pursue an official review of the play. It’s worth noting that no penalty flag was thrown on the field, meaning the officials did not see any violation of the rules during the play. But Eberflus and the Bears are holding out hope that the league office might provide further clarity or, in the unlikely event, review the situation in the form of a fine or other disciplinary action against the Packers.
Sunday's defeat to the Packers added to the ongoing struggles of the Bears in their 2024 season. After entering the season with high hopes of rebuilding and improving, the Bears have now dropped to 4-6, a record that leaves them in a tough position to contend for a playoff spot. The missed field goal was the latest in a series of frustrating outcomes, including issues on both offense and special teams that have kept the Bears from achieving consistency.
Adding to the pressure was the firing of offensive coordinator Shane Waldron earlier in the week. Waldron’s departure followed a lackluster performance from the Bears’ offense, which had struggled to move the ball consistently and put points on the board. With interim play-caller Thomas Brown stepping in, the offense showed some signs of improvement, but it was clear that more work needs to be done to create a balanced, effective attack.
Despite the shake-up at offensive coordinator, Eberflus is clearly aware that his team’s issues go beyond one area of the game. The missed field goal and the blocked kick, combined with the team’s failure to execute in critical moments, have raised questions about the Bears' ability to handle high-pressure situations, especially late in games.
As the Bears try to recover from this latest disappointment, it’s clear that Eberflus has his work cut out for him. The team will likely continue to focus on improving its special teams unit and addressing any flaws in its protection schemes to avoid further issues with field goal attempts. Additionally, with the offense under new leadership, there’s hope that Thomas Brown can bring some fresh energy and creativity to the group.
For now, Eberflus and the Bears will have to deal with the fallout from Sunday’s heartbreaking loss. Whether or not the league takes action on their complaint about the Packers' conduct during the blocked kick remains to be seen, but the Bears' primary focus will likely be on how to bounce back and finish the season strong. At 4-6, their playoff hopes are on life support, and every game from here on out will be crucial.
Despite the frustration and setbacks, Eberflus’ decision to stand by his kicker and take issue with the officiating shows that he is focused on accountability—both on the field and with the league. The Bears will need that same focus and determination as they move forward in the second half of the season.
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