SPORTS

Coach’s Blunder: The 13 Yards That Cost the Game

Chicago, USATue Oct 29 2024
Chicago Bears coach Matt Eberflus is facing criticism after a surprising comment. After their loss to the Washington Commanders, he said the play just before the game-winning Hail Mary "doesn’t really matter. " This comment didn’t sit well with sports analysts like Mike Greenberg. Greenberg called it one of the "dumbest" things he’d ever heard. The play in question happened when Jayden Daniels threw a short 13-yard pass to Terry McLaurin with only six seconds left in the game. This put the Commanders in range for the Hail Mary pass that won them the game. The Bears' defense had let McLaurin catch the ball without any defenders nearby. They had left too much space, making the Hail Mary possible. Analysts like Damien Woody and Rex Ryan were also puzzled. Greenberg pointed out that those 13 yards were as crucial as the Hail Mary itself. He added that Eberflus’s comment raised questions about his coaching abilities. The Bears will try to recover next week against the Cardinals, while the Commanders face the Giants.

questions

    Did the Bears purposely sabotage their chance to win to make a statement about the play-calling?
    Was there a conspiracy to allow the Commanders to win by not covering the receivers properly?
    Why did Coach Eberflus downplay the importance of the play preceding the Hail Mary?

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