DJ Moore gives puzzling response to Bears late-game blunder vs. Lions

DJ Moore‘s knowing side-eye glare spoke volumes more than anything he said beside his locker.

The veteran Chicago receiver appeared to openly question why embattled head coach Matt Eberflus failed to call a timeout in the closing seconds of Thursday’s 23-20 loss to the Detroit Lions, which ended with the Bears inexplicably running out the clock on their own Thanksgiving comeback effort.

“Uh, I don’t think we huddled. We just got right back on the ball and ran a play,” Moore said postgame. “Like I said, I don’t know why we didn’t call a timeout, but we were on the ball so fast it didn’t really matter.”

"Like I said, I don't know why we didn't take a timeout."

DJ Moore on the final play of the game. pic.twitter.com/vxScEmEAjL

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) November 28, 2024

It was the Bears’ sixth straight loss since an inspiring three-game win streak that saw Chicago climb to 4-2 in mid-October following a 35-16 win over Jacksonville in London.

Suffice it to say, there wasn’t much to be thankful for in the Bears’ locker room Thursday evening, especially given the bizarre ending.

Trailing by just a field goal entering the final 3 1/2 minutes of regulation, Chicago rookie quarterback Caleb Williams orchastrated a 10-play drive inside the Lions’ redzone. But with a 2nd-and-20 at the Detroit 25-yard line, Williams was sacked for a six-yard loss with roughly 30 seconds left.

Rather than utilizing their final timeout, Williams snapped the ball as the final seconds ticked away, throwing one final 41-yard prayer toward the end zone. The ball hit the turf as the clock struck 0:00.

The NFL world reacts to the Bears’ loss

Reactions from across the NFL world flooded social media in the moments following the game. Shannon Sharpe called the situational football from Eberflus “awful,” while former All-Pro pass rusher JJ Watt said he felt for Chicago fans before saying Thursday’s effort was “literal coaching malpractice.”

If the Bears would have called for timeout, they would have been able to draw up a gameplan to try at the very least to try and tie or win the game. The sack made it 3rd & 26 and with the team’s receivers down field, by the time they were set and the play was called, it was clear when Williams took the snap that it would be the final play of the game.

Williams also could have spiked the ball with as many as 10 seconds left on the clock — more than enough time for a an extra play.

However, that isn’t what happened and the Bears dropped to 4-8 on the season and are now on a six-game losing streak. 

Barkley Truax contributed to this report.