NFL Fans Criticize Bears' Epic Blunder as Caleb Williams Sets Record in Loss to Lions

Featured Columnist IVNovember 28, 2024

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 28: Quarterback Caleb Williams #18 of the Chicago Bears looks to pass during the third quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on November 28, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)

Mike Mulholland/Getty Images

Despite a strong second-half showing from quarterback Caleb Williams, the Chicago Bears dropped their sixth game in a row Thursday, falling 23-20 to the NFC North rival Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit on Thanksgiving Day.

After a sack pushed the Bears to the edge of field goal range with about 30 seconds remaining in the game, the Bears shockingly didn't use their timeout, and the game ended on a long incompletion.

Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
BEARS DIDN'T CALL A TIMEOUT 😳 (via <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NFL</a>) <a href="https://t.co/OpmDcsr0Zs">pic.twitter.com/OpmDcsr0Zs</a>

Williams threw three second-half touchdown passes, plus he set a new single-season rookie record in the loss, going 212 consecutive pass attempts without an interception, which bettered the previous record of 211 held by Kyler Murray:

Chicago Bears @ChicagoBears
🚨 New record 🚨 <a href="https://t.co/6lgj7Eq6Ng">pic.twitter.com/6lgj7Eq6Ng</a>

Williams helped stage a second-half comeback attempt, throwing a pair of touchdown passes to veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen and a third score to D.J. Moore after going into halftime down 16-0, but it wasn't enough to take down a Lions team that improved to an NFL-best 11-1.

A slow start ultimately doomed the Bears, as they had just 53 total yards of offense and a time of possession of 7:06 in the first half.

Football fans and analysts trolled the Bears for their poor first half and the unthinkable manner in which Thursday's game ended after a sixth consecutive loss dropped them to 4-8 on the year:

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FanDuel Sportsbook @FDSportsbook
Shaboozey on the field longer than the Bears offense is CRAZY 💀 (via <a href="https://twitter.com/jjones9?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jjones9</a>) <a href="https://t.co/LAPVsn0KEZ">pic.twitter.com/LAPVsn0KEZ</a>

FanDuel @FanDuel
Let's see if the Bears can get more yards than Shaboozey in the 2nd half 🫡 <a href="https://t.co/GJFAucwSF7">pic.twitter.com/GJFAucwSF7</a>

MLFootball @_MLFootball
SHABOOZEY LITERALLY SPENT MORE TIME ON THE FIELD THAN THE <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BEARS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BEARS</a> OFFENSE. 💀💀💀 * His songs lasted a little over 6 minutes. (📸via <a href="https://twitter.com/Dav1dChabot?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Dav1dChabot</a>) <a href="https://t.co/qvko17YkQp">pic.twitter.com/qvko17YkQp</a>

Kris Abbott @RealKrisAbbott
Shaboozey has created more offense than <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DaBears?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DaBears</a> today in Detroit Rock City. <a href="https://t.co/lMHbwBNKFh">pic.twitter.com/lMHbwBNKFh</a>

Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
WATCHING THE BEARS FINAL DRIVE ❓ <a href="https://t.co/jREQZzamkk">pic.twitter.com/jREQZzamkk</a>

Dave Portnoy @stoolpresidente
The Bears man. What the hell were they doing? I feel bad for all my Chicago friends. Nobody deserves to root for a team like that. Unreal

nick wright @getnickwright
Eberflus not realizing they didn't have a timeout needs to be the final moment of his coaching career with the Bears.

shannon sharpe @ShannonSharpe
WTF was that Bears? Use your final timeout after the sack. You still have 34 secs left. Situational football by hd coach is awful

JJ Watt @JJWatt
What in the absolute world was that by the Bears?!? The end of game management by them multiple times this year is absolutely BAFFLING.

Field Yates @FieldYates
Caleb Williams was sacked with 32 seconds left on the clock. The Bears ran 1 more play before the game ended. And walk back into the locker room with a timeout in their back pocket.

GhettoGronk @TheGhettoGronk
The Bears when it comes to losing close games in the most embarrassing ways possible <a href="https://t.co/kb5Qp6h9os">pic.twitter.com/kb5Qp6h9os</a>

If not for their inability to cash in on their first-half red zone trips, the Lions may have been able to put the Bears away in the first half.

Instead, they had to settle for three field goals, plus they lost a fumble in the red zone, and their only touchdown over the first 30 minutes was a three-yard pass from quarterback Jared Goff to tight end Sam Laporta:

NFL @NFL
Goff to LaPorta for a Thanksgiving tuddy! 🦃 📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CHIvsDET?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CHIvsDET</a> on CBS/Paramount+ 📱: Stream on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFLPlus?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFLPlus</a> <a href="https://t.co/tcGqUrCowX">pic.twitter.com/tcGqUrCowX</a>

The Bears showed signs of life on the first drive of the second half with Williams hitting Allen for a 31-yard touchdown to give them their first points of the day:

NFL @NFL
Caleb steps up in the pocket and throws a strike to Keenan for 6 🔥 📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CHIvsDET?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CHIvsDET</a> on CBS/Paramount+ 📱: Stream on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFLPlus?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFLPlus</a> <a href="https://t.co/PcoqjgG4yZ">pic.twitter.com/PcoqjgG4yZ</a>

However, the Lions answered on the next drive with LaPorta's second touchdown catch of the day from one yard out:

NFL @NFL
A second helping for LaPorta! 🦃🦃 📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CHIvsDET?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CHIvsDET</a> on CBS/Paramount+ 📱: Stream on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFLPlus?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFLPlus</a> <a href="https://t.co/OhCZYBGqT5">pic.twitter.com/OhCZYBGqT5</a>

A third consecutive touchdown drive of the half was then authored by Williams, who hit Allen from nine yards out, although the Bears missed the two-point conversion, so they remained down by two scores:

NFL @NFL
Keenan with ANOTHER ONE. 📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CHIvsDET?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CHIvsDET</a> on CBS/Paramount+ 📱: Stream on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFLPlus?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFLPlus</a> <a href="https://t.co/cGU2l0zuTd">pic.twitter.com/cGU2l0zuTd</a>

Williams drew the Bears even closer with 5:36 left in regulation, throwing his third touchdown pass of the day on a 31-yard throw to Moore:

NFL @NFL
An absolute dime from Caleb for his 3rd TD of the second half 🎯 📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CHIvsDET?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CHIvsDET</a> on CBS/Paramount+ 📱: Stream on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFLPlus?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFLPlus</a> <a href="https://t.co/LcNxYBryWU">pic.twitter.com/LcNxYBryWU</a>

Chicago forced a Detroit three-and-out on the next drive and had a chance to potentially tie the game or take the lead, but the game ended with Chicago's horrible clock management, calling Matt Eberflus' future as head coach further into question.

Although the season has gotten away from the Bears in terms of their record, Williams has shown flashes of brilliance in recent weeks and turned in another strong performance with 256 passing yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions on 20-of-39 passing, plus 39 rushing yards.

Even though a playoff berth is now unlikely this season, the Bears can perhaps rest assured that they have their franchise quarterback in the 2024 No. 1 overall draft pick.

As for the Lions, they have plenty to clean up before hosting the NFC North rival Green Bay Packers next Thursday, but their offense had a complete showing on Turkey Day as usual.

Goff threw for 221 yards, two touchdowns and no picks, while the running back duo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery combined for 175 rushing yards,

Chicago putting a scare into Detroit may prove to be the best thing for the Lions since it will force them to refocus ahead of a game against Green Bay that could have massive implications toward winning the division.

Meanwhile, the Bears will attempt to get back on track in their next game on Dec. 8 when they go on the road to face the struggling San Francisco 49ers.

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