Matt Eberflus address questions regarding his job status, if he’s losing Bears locker room
DETROIT — Matt Eberflus’ late-game decisions were called into question following Thursday’s 23-20 loss to the Detroit Lions.
So was his job status after a sixth straight loss and a clear inability to help the Bears win one-score games.
And then there was postgame locker room chatter of players flummoxed by the fact he didn’t call a late timeout to help players pushing to win or tie the game and complete an inspired comeback attempt.
RELATED CONTENT:
- Instant analysis: Breaking down Bears performance in Thanksgiving loss to Detroit
- Matt Eberflus explains why he didn’t take timeout in final seconds vs. Lions
- Vibe Check: Keenan Allen says Bears players did enough to win, several shocked by no timeout call
It sure seems like Eberflus’ days are numbered, either at the end of the season or possibly earlier than that.
He has faced questions about job security at several points this season, after failed attempts to salvage the season. These seemed more on point, considering the Bears have 10 days before a Week 13 clash with San Francisco. That’s also true because he can’t get a talented team to play winning football.
This is a talented, yet underperforming, roster that hasn’t executed well in key moments. Bears coaches haven’t helped, which is why offensive coordinator Shane Waldron got fired and Eberflus might follow in time.
Eberflus is professional at the podium and understands that questions about his job come following losses.
“I mean this is the NFL and I know where it is and I’m just going to put my best foot forward,” Eberflus said. “I’ll get to work and keep grinding. So, that’s what we do.”
He was also asked directly if he expects to be the Bears coach next week.
“Like I said, I’m going to keep grinding and working,” Eberflus said, “and that’s what I do.”
After some players questioned his decision making at the end of the game, he addressed whether players had lost confidence in him.
“I would just say that we’ve got to pull together,” Eberflus said. “We’ve just got to keep pulling together, keep believing in each other. I know these games are tight, losing by one, losing by three a couple of times, losing by five, losing by – I get that, but we’re right there. We’re right there and we’ve just got to keep plugging along and it’s going to crack. It’s one more crack of the hammer and it’s going to crack, and the guys keep believing, keep fighting and we’re right there.”