The Chicago Bears faced a heartbreaking 23-20 defeat against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day due to late-game clock mismanagement. Coach Matt Eberflus defended his decision not to call a timeout in the final moments of the game, leading to the Bears missing out on a chance to complete a come-from-behind victory.
With 36 seconds remaining and trailing by three points, the Bears had the opportunity to tie or defeat the Lions after mounting a strong second-half comeback. However, the team’s late-game operation fell short as the clock ran out before they could attempt a game-tying field goal.
Eberflus explained that the plan was to rerack the play at 18 seconds, throw the ball inbounds, and get into field goal range before calling a timeout. Despite the strategy, the Bears did not execute their plan effectively, resulting in a missed opportunity to force overtime.
Quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked for a 6-yard loss with 32 seconds remaining, and instead of calling a timeout before the final play, the Bears allowed the clock to wind down. This decision left the team with limited time for a last-ditch effort to score.
Players like Cole Kmet and DJ Moore expressed shock and disappointment over the way the game ended, emphasizing the need to improve late-game execution and decision-making. Despite a valiant effort in the second half, the Bears fell short once again in a close contest, dropping their record to 4-8 for the season.
The loss marked Eberflus’ record to 5-19 in one-score games, highlighting the team’s struggles in tight matchups. Moving forward, the Bears will need to address their late-game management issues and improve their performance in critical situations to secure more victories in the future.
