Bears HC Matt Eberflus Defends Not Calling Timeout on Botched Final Play of Thanksgiving Loss to Lions
In the wake of the Chicago Bears’ disappointing 25-20 loss to the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day, head coach Matt Eberflus found himself defending his decision not to call a timeout on the final play of the game.
The Final Play
With just 1:31 remaining on the clock and the Lions facing a 4th-and-goal from the Bears’ 2-yard line, quarterback Jared Goff threw a low pass intended for tight end Brock Wright. The pass was tipped by Bears defensive lineman Trevis Gipson, but ultimately fell into the hands of Wright for a touchdown that gave the Lions the lead.
Replays showed that the Bears had a timeout available and could have stopped the clock to give their defense more time to prepare. However, Eberflus opted not to call a timeout, a decision that drew criticism from some fans and analysts.
Eberflus’ Defense
After the game, Eberflus explained his reasoning for not calling a timeout. He said that he wanted to give his defense a chance to make a play without giving the Lions time to adjust their offense.
“I felt like we had a good play called,” Eberflus said. “I wanted to give our guys a chance to make a play. I didn’t want to give them time to get something else dialed up.”
Eberflus also noted that the Lions had been struggling to convert on 4th-and-goal situations all game. The Bears had already stopped the Lions on two previous 4th-and-goal attempts, and Eberflus was confident that his defense could do it again.
Criticism and Analysis
Despite Eberflus’ explanation, some critics have questioned his decision not to call a timeout. They argue that the Bears had a chance to stop the Lions and potentially tie the game, and that Eberflus’ decision to gamble cost them the game.
Former NFL coach Herm Edwards, who is now an analyst for ESPN, said that he would have called a timeout in that situation. “I would have stopped the clock,” Edwards said. “I would have given my defense a chance to catch their breath and get lined up properly.”
Statistical Analysis
According to NFL data, teams that call a timeout before a 4th-and-goal play are more likely to stop the offense. In the 2022 season, teams that called a timeout before a 4th-and-goal play stopped the offense 60% of the time. Teams that did not call a timeout stopped the offense just 40% of the time.
Conclusion
Whether or not Matt Eberflus made the right decision not to call a timeout on the final play of the Bears’ loss to the Lions is a matter of debate. There are valid arguments to be made on both sides of the issue.
Ultimately, it is up to each individual fan to decide whether or not they agree with Eberflus’ decision. However, the statistics show that teams that call a timeout before a 4th-and-goal play are more likely to stop the offense.