The Chicago Bears were in position to end their three-game losing streak last Sunday, with kicker Cairo Santos needing to kick a 46-yard field goal as time expired to beat the Green Bay Packers.
Santos’ kick was blocked by Karl Brooks and the Packers held on for a 20-19 victory, handing the Bears their fourth straight loss and dropping them to 4-6 on the season.
Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said Monday they were going to submit the blocked kick to the league, saying he thought there should have been a penalty against the Packers because “they were obviously on our long snapper.”
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Karl Brooks of the Green Bay Packers blocks a field goal attempt by Chicago Bears Cairo Santos during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Chicago. The Packers won 20-19. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
NFL rule prohibits players from lining up directly in front of the long snapper or contacting the long snapper while his head is still down immediately after the snap.
Eberflus thought Packers defensive lineman TJ Slaton immediately made contact with Bears long snapper Scott Daly and the referees should have thrown a flag.
If the officials decide that a defender illegally touches the long snapper with his head down, it is an unnecessary 15-yard roughness call. The Bears would have had a chance to attempt another field goal.
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Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus listens to reporters during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
According to the Chicago Sun-Timesthe NFL league officials office informed the Bears that the Packers played cleanly on the blocked field goal attempt.
Although there was contact between Slaton and Daly, the NFL deemed Slaton’s contact legal, as players are allowed to contact the long snapper as long as his head is not down.
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Chicago Bears kicker Cairo Santos (8) reacts after a missed field goal during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
It wouldn’t have mattered if the NFL agreed with Eberflus and deemed the contact illegal, because there is no replay. The call would have instead been recognized as a missed call by the league, and the Bears would still have a 4-6 record.
The Bears hope to snap their losing streak when they face the 8-2 Minnesota Vikings in an NFC North battle on Sunday.
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