Chicago Bears to Submit Controversial Blocked Field Goal to NFL for Review
The Chicago Bears aren’t letting their latest loss to the Green Bay Packers go quietly. In a dramatic finish that left Bears fans frustrated, the Packers managed to seal their 20-12 victory with a blocked field goal late in the game. However, the Bears have a bone to pick with how things went down. They believe a penalty was clearly missed during that game-ending play. Now, they’re taking matters into their own hands by submitting the play to the league office for further review.
In the cutthroat world of divisional rivalries, it’s no secret that emotions run high between these two NFC North teams. So, when the Bears saw their hopes snuffed out by what they believe to be a wrongly officiated call — or rather, a missed call — they didn’t hesitate to raise concerns. To really understand why this specific play has Chicago fuming and ready to challenge the NFL, let’s dive into what actually happened on the field and the aftermath that followed.
What Happened with the Blocked Field Goal?
Before the fourth quarter reached its intense conclusion, the Bears had a perfect opportunity to tie up the game with a crucial field goal attempt by their kicker, Cairo Santos. The score was 20-12, with a little more than three minutes left on the clock. Santos proceeded to line up for a 40-yard attempt, but it wasn’t meant to be. His kick was blocked by Packers safety Manuel Ford, effectively holding the lead for the Packers and securing the win.
The point of controversy lies in how Ford made that block. The Bears claim that Ford, along with defensive end Preston Smith, committed an illegal block during the play — a penalty that should’ve been flagged. But the referees never blew their whistles. Chicago is now alleging that a blocking violation, specifically involving Smith, could have changed the game’s outcome had it been called.
Despite their frustrations, the Bears were also quick to acknowledge that field goals are never guaranteed. As Bears head coach Matt Eberflus put it, “We want those, but it’s part of the game.”
Chicago’s Official Appeal to the League
The Bears aren’t sitting on their hands, though. On Monday morning, head coach Matt Eberflus confirmed that the team would be sending the video footage of the suspected penalty to the league office, asking for an official review. Such reviews are not unprecedented. Teams often submit controversial plays to the league when they feel wronged by officiating, hoping that future games will involve tighter calls in similar situations.
Coach Eberflus explained the team’s position during an interview on Monday following the game. “We’re looking at the play now, and we believe there was an infraction that wasn’t enforced,” he stated. “These are the moments where we rely on the league to make sure these kinds of mistakes don’t go unnoticed in future matchups.”
Of course, the problem with submitting a review after the fact is that it won’t change the outcome of the game. No matter what the league decides, the Packers’ 20-12 victory stands. Nonetheless, Chicago isn’t doing this just for closure — they hope it brings more awareness to such plays in critical moments moving forward.
A Growing Tension Between the Packers and Bears
There’s plenty of history between the Bears and Packers — in fact, it’s one of the NFL’s longest-running rivalries. With more than 200 games played between the two teams, every matchup tends to have intensity written all over it. But this most recent showdown just added more fuel to an already smoldering fire.
For the Bears, this loss hits particularly hard, especially when there are questions surrounding officiating. “We were ready to take it to overtime or maybe get the win,” said wide receiver Darnell Mooney after the game. “It just felt like the wind was taken out of us with that blocked kick…it’s deflating, man.”
It’s no secret that Chicago has been desperate to turn things around this season, especially when facing strong division opponents like Green Bay. However, the Packers, led by their star QB Jordan Love, continue to consistently get the upper hand.
After a pivotal win capped by that blocked field goal, Green Bay improved its record to 9-3, maintaining a comfortable lead over Chicago, who dropped to 6-6 with their loss.
What’s Next for the Bears and the NFL?
One interesting point in this situation is how the NFL handles team-submitted reviews. Usually, they provide an official response within a few days when teams send footage for review. It’s unlikely that Chicago’s submission will result in a public re-do or even detailed feedback, though it’s possible that the referee crew involved in the game could receive internal notes or evaluations based on how they handled certain plays.
However, most fans know by now that even when teams are right in alleging a missed call, there’s not much in terms of consequences. But for the Bears, it’s not necessarily about getting immediate justice — it’s about highlighting a consistent issue with officiating to ensure it’s addressed in the future.
“This season, there’s been a few calls that feel like they’re going unnoticed,” said Coach Eberflus. The Bears’ coach isn’t shy about emphasizing how razor-thin the margin in NFL games is. “Sometimes that one little moment, that one flag can change everything,” he said.
Looking Back: Other Instances of Submitted Reviews in the NFL
This situation isn’t an isolated incident. Teams submit calls to be reviewed by the NFL regularly, though it rarely changes much in hindsight. To give you an idea of how these reviews play out, here’s a recap of some other notable times when teams took officiating concerns to the league:
- 2018 NFC Championship Game: Perhaps one of the most famous examples, the New Orleans Saints protested an obvious missed pass interference call that potentially cost them a Super Bowl berth. Despite the overwhelming evidence, no replay or reversal was ever made.
- 2019 Browns vs. Seahawks: Cleveland Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens questioned a series of blown calls against his team during their matchup with the Seahawks. Although the league admitted some officiating errors, nothing changed, and their loss stood.
- 2020 Ravens vs. Titans: A controversial unnecessary roughness penalty called late in the game prompted Baltimore to issue a formal complaint about the biased calls.
Where Does This Leave the Bears?
Whether or not the NFL sides with Chicago’s concerns, the Bears are ultimately going to have to move on from the loss. With the team now sitting at 6-6, they remain in the mix for a Wild Card spot but are inches away from falling out of the playoff race. Each game carries enormous weight from here on out, and controversial rulings don’t make things any easier.
For Chicago, the road ahead contains several tough matchups, beginning with their next game against the Detroit Lions, who have looked sharp this season. Competitors like the Minnesota Vikings and New York Jets are also on the horizon, meaning every victory and every missed opportunity will either make or break their postseason hopes. They need to focus on winning games, not just asking for corrections from the league.
Bears players and fans can only hope that this missed penalty doesn’t linger too long in their minds as they face the final stretch of this season. Moving forward, the biggest takeaway seems to be getting recognition from the league offices and growing awareness of the importance officiating plays in game outcomes.
Stay tuned for any updates on what the NFL may decide regarding the Bears’ submission — though it’s extremely unlikely that any major changes come into effect. Regardless of the verdict from New York, the Bears have plenty of work to do on the field if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Key Takeaways from the Bears-Packers Controversy
To wrap up, here are the critical points to take away from this story:
- Chicago Bears are submitting a review to the NFL for a missed penalty on their game-sealing blocked field goal attempt against the Green Bay Packers.
- The Bears believe Packers’ Preston Smith and Manuel Ford committed infringing play during the field goal block.
- The Bears are hoping the NFL will acknowledge the missed call, although it’s unlikely to change the game’s outcome.
- Rivalry tensions continue to flair between the Bears and Packers as both teams are vying for playoff positioning.
- The Bears still have a long road ahead if they’re to make a playoff push, even beyond this controversy with game officiating.
With the division tight and the season nearing its conclusion, it will be interesting to see how the Bears bounce back from this frustration on the field.
Originally Written by: Jordan Dajani
