Sometimes, as their 2023 season reaches its end stages, the Chicago Bears win in spite of themselves. Heck, sometimes they might only win because the opponent literally forces them to.
In the middle of a Bears’ 28-13 blowout win over the Detroit Lions, a critical 38-yard touchdown (on a fourth and 13!) from Justin Fields to D.J. Moore might have been the breaking point. And it probably never happens if Aidan Hutchinson doesn’t jump offsides on a play where the Bears had zero intention of snapping the ball.
Wait, what?
That is correct. According to Chicago tight end Cole Kmet, the Bears had no intention of snapping the ball on a fourth and long. They were just trying to draw someone offside. Understandable. There aren’t many smart plays for fourth and long. But Kmet thought that there was no chance the Lions would come early on that down and distance. Hutchinson proved him wrong, and the rest was history.
Bears TE Cole Kmet couldn't get over Lions DE Aidan Hutchinson jumping offsides on 4th-&-13 to create the free-play TD pass from Justin Fields to DJ Moore. pic.twitter.com/jDoL2EYH7s
— Jason Lieser (@JasonLieser) December 10, 2023
Free play. Fields to Moore on 4th & 13!
📺: #DETvsCHI on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/pWMED8S30C pic.twitter.com/dsjCD7FFPz— NFL (@NFL) December 10, 2023
Talk about a real lack of discipline from Hutchinson in a pivotal situation. This costly mistake may as well have permanently flipped the game in Chicago’s favor. No wonder the Lions have lost two of their last three games in convincing fashion.
This was how Twitter reacted to Kmet's revelation about Hutchinson's offsides call
Bears never intended to snap the ball on their 4th and 13 touchdown. Wow. https://t.co/CrKanMjYd5
— Sam Householder (@SamHouseholder) December 11, 2023
Equal parts hilarious and horrific https://t.co/8FKV7Iw249
— The Cap Is a Myth (@The_Cap_is_Fake) December 11, 2023
God I love this. https://t.co/G3BxLrugZp
— Syp (@AFSyp) December 10, 2023
— Cameron (@CammmmFryzel) December 11, 2023
Most people are still perplexed Fields got Hutchinson to jump offsides today. I do wonder if this is a case of muscle memory taking over.
What shows up in practice is what shows up on the field. Detroit’s offense almost always goes for it on 4th down. And that’s who he… https://t.co/wb0lHS4KfB
— Kirsten Tanis (@kct2020) December 11, 2023
Stop the Honolulu Blue Koolaid drinking…this is the reality of this @Lions team🤦🏻♂️ #OnePride https://t.co/L3un36KJJB
— Walt Groszek (@wwgroszek) December 10, 2023
aidan hutchinson sure does talk a lot for a guy who's done nothing for 2 months https://t.co/0C1CyD4gWW
— beej (@beej2991) December 10, 2023
— ryan (@F1ELDSDAY) December 10, 2023
As a die hard Lions fan I am starting to think Hutch is all hype without a strong supporting cast. He needs a Robin to his Batman!! We need James Houston aka Superman!! His states Rookie year would have been better than Hutch if he would have been able to start the whole season
— Anthony Ruttenburg (@Anthony_Ruttenb) December 10, 2023
