The Chicago Bears’ head coach Matt Eberflus finds himself under the microscope after a heartbreaking 23-20 loss to the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving. Despite the setback, which extended the Bears’ losing streak to six games, Eberflus remains steadfast in his belief that he can effectively prepare his team for their upcoming matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.
In a press conference following the Lions game, Eberflus addressed concerns about his job security and the team’s direction. “I’m just going to be working on finishing up this game, doing a good job of evaluating that, our after-action report, as we always do, and then I’ll be working in to San Francisco,” he stated, adding, “I’m confident that I’ll be working on San Francisco and getting ready for that game.”
Questionable Clock Management Draws Criticism
Eberflus faced intense scrutiny for his handling of the final seconds against Detroit. With 32 seconds remaining and one timeout, the Bears ran out the clock instead of attempting to move into field goal range for a potential game-tying kick. Quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked on a designed run play, and the offense failed to snap the ball again until only six seconds remained.
Defending the decision, Eberflus explained, “Our decision at that point was to be on the ball, hold our timeout, and get the play off at 15 to 10 seconds, in that range, throw it into field-goal range there and then call a timeout and then kick the game[-tying field goal] on fourth down. The operation wasn’t fast enough, and we didn’t do a good job of executing there in that moment.”
Collaboration with Offensive Coordinator
Eberflus revealed that he and offensive coordinator Thomas Brown reviewed the tape of the final drive together, discussing the play-calling and execution. “I talked to him about all the details about what the calls in terms of where we were and I thought the operation was good, just the penalties, I thought, put us behind the sticks a couple times there,” he noted.
The head coach took full responsibility for the outcome, stating, “Ultimately all these decisions are my decision. I take full accountability for them and we didn’t get it done. It’s unfortunate for the players, for the fans and again, we’re going to get back to work.”
Preparation for the 49ers
Looking ahead to their Dec. 8 matchup against the 49ers, Eberflus expressed confidence in his ability to prepare the team despite the mounting pressure. The Bears, now 4-8, face an uphill battle as they continue their three-game road trip.
Eberflus’ record in close games has come under fire, as he now holds a 5-19 mark in one-score contests, the worst record by any coach with at least 20 such games in NFL history. However, the coach remains focused on the task at hand, working to rally his players and make necessary adjustments.
A Crucial Juncture for Eberflus and the Bears
As the Bears navigate a challenging rebuilding process, Eberflus’ leadership and decision-making will be closely watched. The team’s performance against the 49ers and in the coming weeks could have significant implications for his future in Chicago.
Despite the mounting pressure, Eberflus remains committed to his process and confident in his ability to steer the Bears in the right direction. As the team prepares for their clash with San Francisco, fans and analysts alike will be eagerly waiting to see if the head coach can deliver a much-needed victory and silence his critics.
