Stop if you’ve heard this before. Questionable decisions by head coach Matt Eberflus led to the Chicago Bears squandering another end-of-game moment that would’ve gotten a win. A few weeks ago, it was his defensive calls against Washington that led to the Hail Mary. This time, it was his decision to settle for trying a 46-yard field goal despite having 35 seconds left, a timeout, and it being 2nd down. Cairo Santos’ kick was blocked, allowing the Green Bay Packers to escape 20-19.
That alone was bad enough. It got ten times worse when even Packers players revealed they were surprised the Bears didn’t run at least one more play to get the kick closer. All it did was give them a crucial extra millisecond for their unit to go for the block, which would’ve been much harder on a shorter kick.
Eberflus was asked about it after the game. His explanation was as lame as you’d expect. Basically, Green Bay was loading the box against the run, and he didn’t want to risk a turnover. Never mind that it was 2nd down, and he could’ve let his young quarterback, who’d complete 74% of his passes, try a short throw to pick up a few more yards. Green Bay had allowed three straight completions prior to that play.
Matt Eberflus stayed true to who he is.
He’s a defensive coach. His entire focus is on limiting mistakes, which is why guys like him are often risk-averse. They prefer playing it safe. Another way to put it is that he plays not to lose. Anybody who knows the NFL will tell you that playing not to lose is how you always lose. Being so conservative in crucial moments tells players that he lacks a killer instinct. He won’t take risks unless given no other choice. It is why he allowed that easy 13-yard completion against Washington before the Hail Mary and why he opted for a tougher field goal try despite every metric saying he should run at least one more play.
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This is why he keeps coming up short in tight games. His lack of situational awareness doesn’t help. Matt Eberflus didn’t even have the courtesy of putting the ball on the right hashmark, which Santos typically prefers. His lack of knowledge of the little things has characterized his entire coaching tenure. If and when Eberflus is fired in just under two months from now, that passive nature will be one of the primary reasons.
FACT: Flus’ poor decisions have cost the Bears numerous wins. If the Bears were on the 20 yard line with 35 seconds left, I’d still run another play to make sure the spot is on the side of the hash the PK likes. The Bears could have easily run another play and gained 5-10 yards so Santos could elevate the ball more instead of kicking it on a line to get blocked. It’s all about choices. I’d rather be bold and lose then a chicken shit and lose. The article is correct in pointing out that Flus has made a… Read more »
When asked if he’d do the same thing again, Matty Hits said yes. Just like the Washington game, when he had a chance to say that he could have called a TO in the end, he said no we didn’t need a timeout there, when his genius OC called for a OL to score from the 1, when asked if he’d do it it again, Matty Hitts said it’s just 1 yard we needed there, anybody seeing the pattern of insanity.? Just like the wrong definition of insanity that people have adapted as factual, insanity is doing the same things… Read more »
So Flus said he’d like it to be that they had the ball on the 15 yard line but “it is what it is”. See Matty Hits, it is what it is because you didn’t try to get to the 15. Do you understand this? It your call if you wanted to get closer and you said no. That’s what is. . Sure, statistically speaking, there could have been a sack, fumble and the highest probability of an incomplete pass. Those were all on the table the entire drive but your rookie QB overcame a lot. 36 left and a… Read more »
hbr1: FLUSH Flus! I’d love to hear that from irate fans at the next home game.
Flus is a poser. A defensive coordinator posing as a head coach. It’s way past time to move on. The fat lady sang her last song last year yet this guy is still hanging on like creeping crud and keeps coming back no matter how hard you try to get rid of it.