Coach Eberflus' Defense: Did It Cost the Bears the Game?

The final moments of Sunday's game between the Commanders and Bears left everyone buzzing, especially the Hail Mary pass that sealed the victory for the Commanders. But let's rewind to the crucial play before that: the Commanders needed to get closer to the end zone. They were at their own 35-yard line with just six seconds left and no timeouts. Here's where things got interesting. The Bears chose to play a 'prevent defense, ' which means they gave up a big chunk of the field to the Commanders' Terry McLaurin. He caught a pass, stepped out of bounds, and gained 13 yards in just four seconds. Everyone could see this coming. Tony Romo, the commentator, even drew the exact route that McLaurin would run before the snap. The play gave the Commanders a chance to get within range for the Hail Mary. Why did the Bears give them that chance? Coach Matt Eberflus explained that they were focused on preventing a touchdown, not a short gain. But that short gain made all the difference. It put the Commanders in a position to attempt the game-winning Hail Mary. If the Bears had played their normal defense, they might have tackled McLaurin inbounds, ending the game right there. Instead, the prevent defense opened the door for the dramatic finish. This raises questions about the strategy. Was it a massive letdown by the Bears' defense? Or was it a tactical misstep that cost them the game?