If you weren’t sure whether the relationship between head coach Matt Eberflus and quarterback Caleb Williams was showing signs of strain, the post-game pressers after the loss in Detroit left no doubt. The Chicago Bears had just written another chapter in their tortured six-game losing streak by squandering the last 30 seconds of the game just outside field goal range because they refused to use their final timeout. Williams spent 20 seconds trying to get the offense set up after a sack on 2nd down. This forced him to take a deep shot to Rome Odunze, which fell incomplete. Game over.
Eberflus was asked why he didn’t use the timeout. Rather than offer a coherent explanation, he boiled it down to Williams’s lack of presence of mind to get the offense situated in time. Never mind it was the quarterback throwing three touchdowns in the second half and driving from his own 1-yard line to even be in that position.
Let’s just say Williams wasn’t about to shoulder the blame for what happened. He was asked about the clock management and refusal to call a timeout. He made it clear he spent 20 seconds waiting for the play call to come in. There were 13 left by the time he got everyone set, forcing him to change the call to an end zone shot. In his mind, he had no authority to call the timeout. That was Eberflus’ decision.
“In that situation, I’m living with the call and I let the coaches and everybody make that decision depending on whether it’s time, depending on whether it’s the guys running back and they’re far down the field. Whatever that situation is, that’s going to be Coach’s call. Maybe in the later years of my career, but right now, I get the call, I’m trying to lead the guys to win and I’m trying to get everybody lined up and from there I’m trying to make a play for the Chicago Bears.”
The rookie has been a good soldier most of the season, taking accountability for his mistakes. However, his patience is all but exhausted. Williams has led four comebacks in the 4th quarter this season. He gave the Bears the lead in Washington, set them up to win against Green Bay, forced overtime against Minnesota, and had a chance to do it again in Detroit. Each and every time, a baffling miscalculation or decision by Eberflus led to a loss. The quarterback refuses to take the heat for his coach’s idiocy any longer.
Don’t get it twisted. Caleb Williams won’t call on the Bears to fire the head coach. That isn’t his decision to make. However, he is well within his right to defend himself when he’s unfairly criticized. If not for him, each of the Bears’ past six games would’ve been blowout losses. Williams’ ability to rally the team in the 4th quarter has become a trend of late. Sadly, so is Eberflus’ ability to squander it in new, creative ways.
