(Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Coming off a bye week, the Chicago Bears‘ offense seemed to forget how to play football. Caleb Williams had a dismal game before rallying to have an impressive fourth quarter and leading the Bears to a 15-12 with 25 seconds left. And that’s when stupidity and incompetence ran amuck.
Out of all the frustrating late game losses in the Matt Eberflus regime, Sunday’s 18-15 loss to the Washington Commanders was the worst. The game featured what I believe is the stupidest play I’ve ever seen on a football field. And it was aided and abetted by a staggering amount of coaching ineptitude.
Tyrique Stevenson with a gaff for the ages
It’s not just that Stevenson tipped a Hail Mary pass to Noah Brown for the Commanders’ win, it was his conduct before the play. Stevenson was taunting Commanders’ fans as the play was unfolding. He eventually realized the play was unfolding and sprinted to the ball to misplay it.
It was a remarkable display of athleticism coupled with football stupidity. And I’m so sick of Bears football stupidity.
The Stevenson apology
After the game Stevenson apologized for his conduct and said he now realized the game wasn’t over until the final whistle. Stevenson is 24 years old and has probably played the game most of his life. How could he be that dumb about his profession?
Stevenson seems to be a guy that plays with an edge and likes to chirp. How about more game and less mouth? It’s just one game, but in a 17-game season, one game is huge. One win could very well be the difference between making the playoffs and not making the playoffs.
And what was Eberflus doing?
What Stevenson pulled was a disgrace to the team. I’m not sure that Eberflus has enough self-awareness or guts to admit it. Stevenson’s brain cramp is a reflection of a lack of team discipline. There should at least be accountability for that lack of discipline. I mean over and above Stevenson saying, “My bad.”
But the play before the Hail Mary was also disturbing. The Commanders picked up about 15 yards to set up the Hail Mary. It seems that post game, Eberflus thought the extra 15 yards were irrelevant. ESPN’s Bob Green said that was one of the five dumbest things he’s ever heard anyone say. Not just in sports, but on any subject.
To illustrate the difference the extra 15 yards made, after taunting Commanders fans for half the final play, Tyrique Stevenson would have had to tip the ball 20 yards instead of five tards to get the ball to Noah Brown. I’m not sure he could have pulled that off.
The players seem to be getting restless
D. J. Moore said he could see why those on the outside would wonder what was going on with the offense. Kole Kamet called out the team for lack of discipline. Caleb Williams told Eberflus the corners needed to be up on the play before the Hail Mary.
GM, Ryan Poles has assembled some really good playing talent, but Matt Eberflus seems seriously over his head as a head coach. Last season, when the Bears weren’t vying for a playoff slot, it didn’t matter so much. This year it does.
It’s like Poles has a great racehorse but insists on using a 300-pound jockey to ride it. As a Bears’ fan, enough with the 300-pound jockeys.
