Matt Eberflus Defends Controversial Challenge vs. Vikings
Matt Eberflus faced criticism for his explanation of a challenge flag he threw during the Chicago Bears’ game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. The Bears were trailing 14-10 at the start of the second half, when Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold connected with receiver Jordan Addison for a 69-yard gain. Eberflus challenged the play, believing Addison may have stepped out of bounds before being tackled at the Bears’ 23-yard line. The referees ruled the challenge unsuccessful, confirming that Addison did not step out.
During a press conference on Monday, Eberflus explained that he threw the challenge flag because the play was an “explosive” one. He stated that big plays like this often warrant a challenge, even if the team didn’t have the ideal camera angle to make a definitive call.
While Eberflus’ reasoning might have seemed reasonable given the nature of the play, it also revealed that he challenges plays based more on yardage rather than the likelihood of a successful challenge. This resulted in the Bears losing a timeout, which would have been valuable in a game that ended in overtime with a 30-27 loss for Chicago.
The failed challenge adds to Eberflus’ poor track record with challenges, as he is 0-4 on such calls this season.
