Bears Kicker Hints At Being Surprised Over Matt Eberflus’ Blunder

Chicago, IL – The Chicago Bears’ 2023 season got off to a rough start on Sunday, as they lost to the San Francisco 49ers in a game that was marred by a controversial decision by head coach Matt Eberflus.

Controversial Decision

With the Bears trailing 19-10 late in the fourth quarter, Eberflus elected to attempt a 49-yard field goal instead of going for it on fourth-and-1. The kick was wide left, and the 49ers took over on downs.

“I thought we had a good chance to make the field goal,” Eberflus said after the game. “But it didn’t work out.”

Kicker’s Surprise

Bears kicker Cairo Santos was surprised by Eberflus’ decision to attempt the field goal. Santos admits that he was ready to go for it on 4th down, but he went along with the coach’s decision.

“I was a little surprised,” Santos said. “I thought we were going to go for it, but I’m not the coach. I just go out there and kick the ball.”

Outcome

The 49ers took over on downs and ran out the clock, securing a 19-10 victory over the Bears. The loss dropped the Bears to 0-1 on the season.

Reaction

The decision by Eberflus has been met with criticism from fans and analysts. Many believe that he should have gone for it on fourth down, given the Bears’ need for a touchdown and the momentum that they had at the time.

“It was a huge mistake,” said former NFL head coach Tony Dungy. “I can’t believe he didn’t go for it.”

Moving Forward

The Bears will look to bounce back from their disappointing loss when they host the Green Bay Packers in Week 2. Eberflus will need to make better decisions if the Bears want to avoid a 0-2 start.