Every time you look over at the pitiful Chicago Bears, they seem to be making an avoidable mistake sowed by Matt Eberflus’ incompetent leadership. Sunday’s battle with the Minnesota Vikings was no different.
With a Bears’ offensive possession stalling just before the red zone, Eberflus elected to have Chicago kicker Cairo Santo attempt a 48-yard field goal. You may remember that the Green Bay Packers blocked a Santos 46-yard kick for the game to stun the Bears in Week 11. Naturally, you would have expected the Bears to change something about their blocking scheme to prepare for opposing teams who see this on film. (Or Eberflus doesn’t punt on fourth-and-4 from midfield. Either or.)
Nope. Special teams coordinator Richard Hightower didn’t change a thing, and the Vikings basically blocked the kick in the exact same way from almost the same place on the field:
Vikings block the field goal 🙅♂️
📺: #MINvsCHI on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/iipT5wPdDc— NFL (@NFL) November 24, 2024
Oh, by the way, the Bears have now had three field goals blocked in the same season, their most in a single year since 2012:
From @ESPNStatsInfo: The Bears have had 3 field goals blocked this season, the most in the NFL and their most in a season since 2012 (also 3). https://t.co/aYXk3mdjZJ
— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) November 24, 2024
The Bears feel like a team with talent and a modicum of promise, with a coaching staff seemingly hell-bent on doing nothing to prepare them properly. Somehow, it’s late November, and Eberflus still has his job.