Doing their best impression of Karl Brooks, the NFL blocked the Chicago Bears’ argument that the Green Bay Packers committed a foul on last Sunday’s game-winning blocked field goal at Soldier Field.
Coach Matt Eberflus and the Bears submitted the play to the league for review, claiming the Packers broke a rule by making illegal contact with the long snapper before the block. Had a penalty been called on the field, the Bears would have gained 15 yards and a second chance to kick the game-winning field goal.
No flag was thrown, and the NFL agreed with the decision. According to Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times, the league determined the play to be “clean” after a review.
Brooks blocked the 46-yard attempt as time expired to allow the Packers to escape with a 20-19 win.
Packers defensive lineman T.J. Slaton did make contact with the Bears long snapper, but it came well after the snap and past the window in which the long snapper had time to get his head up and block. Brooks, who beat a block next to Slaton, got his left arm up and blocked the kick.
In the end, the Bears didn’t have the kick blocked because of contact with the long snapper. At least four different players lost their block attempt. Brooks won decisively and made the block. Game over. And now any controversy over the legality of the play is also over.
