It takes a certain type of coach to waste a career-best game from his quarterback. Matt Eberflus found a way. Everything was clicking for the Chicago Bears for most of Sunday’s tilt against the Denver Broncos. Justin Fields was the central story, throwing for over 300 yards for the first time in his career and adding four touchdowns. Chicago led the game 28-7 at one point. Then, as is often the case with bad teams, they found a way to choke it away. Denver scored 24 unanswered points aided by a brutal fumble return touchdown by Fields in the 4th quarter.
Eberflus’ defense, which had been strong all game, retreated into a soft shell. Predictably, Russell Wilson started gashing them for big gains. However, the defining moment of the game and likely Eberflus’ career came with 2:57 left. The Bears face 4th and 1 at the Broncos 17-yard line. Conventional wisdom says to kick the field goal and take the lead. Eberflus chose to go for it. That in itself wasn’t a terrible decision.
Where it went off the rails is that the Bears called timeout, devised a play, went back onto the field, and chose to run the ball up the middle out of the shotgun. That is an inexcusable coaching gaffe.
Matt Eberflus has no ground left to stand on.
Everything about his coaching tenure has been a disaster. The team is 3-18 under his guidance. The defense allowed 25+ points for the 14th game in a row, a franchise record. Now he’s choked away a 21-point lead in the 4th quarter against one of the worst teams in football. Mental mistakes continue to plague his team in critical moments. Too many penalties and busted coverages. Fields also isn’t free of blame. Despite his fantastic first three quarters, his fumble TD and game-ending interception were brutal mistakes.
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These were the exact things Matt Eberflus was brought in to fix. The fact he hasn’t tells you everything you need to know. His staff isn’t up to the task of elevating this roster. Chicago is 0-4 with a quick turnaround against the Washington Commanders on Thursday Night Football. It isn’t a stretch to think they’ll be 0-5 by Friday. There is zero justification for Eberflus keeping his job anymore. He’s failed in every single category. Fields is probably gone as well. The only unanswered question is whether GM Ryan Poles will join them.
He did say they’re close but he didn’t say to what.
Fields played well because WR’s were running wiiiiiiide open. Anyone would have looked good. See how he looks next week against a real D.
Fields played well. He showed what he needed to for the most part. If the coaching is as bad as we all know it is, why put so much blame on Fields? He’s not responsible for play calls or designs. The fumble was just a bad play. The INT was killer but it looked like he expected Kmet to already be in the spot and Kmet missed his spot or was slow getting there. This staff lost the game. If they can do that, how do we know they’ve done their best at putting Fields in a position to succeed?… Read more »
GrinBearlt.. 100% accurate sir.
Yes, Flus did. And, so did Getsy and Fields. I’d trade Fields to the Falcons and go with the rookie. Fields doesn’t know how to win any more than the coaches do.