Every NFL head coach is expected to make intelligent decisions, often determining the difference between winning and losing. The best ones are those who can read situations during a game and correctly assess what to do. GM Ryan Poles insisted Matt Eberflus was more than qualified for this job when the Chicago Bears hired him in 2022. The overwhelming evidence suggests otherwise. Another example popped up last Sunday as they fell again to the Green Bay Packers, this time on a blocked field goal in the final seconds.
The initial criticism of Eberflus was his decision to kick on 2nd down despite having 35 seconds left and a timeout. Why not try to get the ball closer for Cairo Santos? However, former Bears kicker Robbie Gould had another problem with the entire sequence. It had to do with choosing to kick from the left hash despite Santos often preferring the right.
Eberflus was asked about this at his Wednesday press conference. Did the Bears confer about doing that to make the operation a little easier for their kicker? His answer was predictable and disappointing.
Matt Eberflus continues to show his lack of grasp for details.
This has become a crushing reality to many about the Bears head coach. He doesn’t seem to take great stock in the little things mattering. That is why he shrugged off the 13-yard reception his defense allowed in Washington that set up the Hail Mary. It’s also why he didn’t see anything wrong with settling for a longer field goal, even though he had time to get closer while ignoring the chance to get his kicker as comfortable as possible. Meanwhile, his counterparts say those little things were crucial to winning the game.
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If you’re looking for why Matt Eberflus isn’t qualified to be a head coach in the NFL, there you go. He doesn’t have the presence of mind on how small details can lead to big outcomes. Even his young quarterback, Caleb Williams, has mentioned this exact thing multiple times. Little things lead to big things. The fact a 23-year-old rookie has more awareness than his 54-year-old coach says it all.
