Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus has defended his team’s clock management following their latest win, calling them “the right way.” A game that had it all: a nail-biting, last-gasp match, and clock management was at its very best in deciding the issue.
In a post-game interview, Eberflus immediately quelled questions by analysts and fans about how the team handled the clock at the end of the game. The Bears had a lead going into the last couple of minutes of the fourth quarter, but with clock-control plays, they ran out some of their precious seconds, thereby eliminating the possibility of the other team making a comeback.
In the game’s final minute, the Bears had the football with the lead. He and his coaching staff at that point would not take their chances on field position; therefore, instead of throwing deep or hoping for a hurried turnover and an incompletion, the Bears would be running. The decision to run the ball was to keep the chains moving and the clock running while not giving the other team a chance to intercept or fumble the ball and thus take the momentum of the game.
Some critics claimed the Bears should have been more aggressive, either by passing down to the ball or by allowing less time for the defense to stop their opponents. According to Eberflus, however, it was a deliberate strategy-their intention was to hold possession of the ball and not allow anything to happen that would provide their opponents with too much remaining time to score.
Management of the clock was always something NFL teams always focused on, especially if the game was close. In a sport where minutes are as important as the yardage gained, the ability to run the clock right becomes the difference between winning or losing the game. Through Eberflus and his crew, the Bears have understood that when going under pressure, one major thing not to forget includes the running of the clock in the game.
The Bears managed to prove that they paid attention to the clock. Quarterback Justin Fields, along with the offense, stayed within bounds to advance the game clock at many critical points throughout the game. Moreover, the Bears’ defense worked well for them, holding the opponent to burn as much time as possible from their timeouts and thus making their comeback extremely difficult.
While some might deem the Bears too conservative at times, Eberflus was adamant about what he believes is most paramount: control of the flow of the game. That is to say, one can get into many tight games and win by simply taking whatever the defense gives you as opposed to overcomplicating things.
Since he took over as the Bears’ head coach in 2022, Eberflus has continually made situational football the utmost emphasis, especially during the game’s final stages. Discipline and smart decision-making must trump flashier, riskier plays, which is evident from how the Bears handle game clock management, with efficiency and minimal mistakes.
As the season wears on, the Bears are sure to face many more games that are close. Time management will be important for them once again under the guidance of Eberflus, whose emphasis on prudent decisions and proper execution at crunch time will make all the difference for this team in crunch time.
With his latest comments, Eberflus again emphasized that he trusts his players to make the right call when the game is on the line. His calm and calculated approach is molding the Bears into a team that prides itself on control, discipline, and intelligent play calling—exactly what the team needs as it looks to continue its push toward a strong finish to the season.
