Thomas Brown Explains Late Game Decisions: I Changed My Mind
Bears’ interim coach Thomas Brown clarifies his late-game choices, insisting he wasn’t confused but simply changed his mind during a crucial moment.
Chicago, Bears, Thomas Brown, Matt Eberflus, NFL, Seahawks
Chicago: So, Thomas Brown stepped in as the Bears’ interim coach after Matt Eberflus got the boot for some pretty rough game management. But on Thursday night, he had his own head-scratching moments during the final drive.
With the Bears down 6-3 and just over two minutes left, they were set to go for it on fourth-and-inches. But then, bam, a false start penalty pushed them back to fourth-and-5. Brown sent the punting team out, but then he called a timeout and switched back to the offense.
They managed to get the first down, but burning a timeout in a tight game? Not the best move for a head coach. After the game, he was asked about the confusion over whether to punt or go for it.
Brown insisted, “It wasn’t confusion at all, I just changed my mind.” He felt it was the right call to keep the offense on the field.
Whether it was confusion or just a change of heart, it cost them a timeout when they really needed to save them. The silver lining? They did convert that fourth-and-5 and got into field goal range at the Seahawks’ 40-yard line. But then they wasted another timeout after an incomplete pass. Brown said he just wanted to make sure they had the right play.
He mentioned wanting better communication and quicker snaps, saying they didn’t want to waste plays. But the drive ended with four straight passes, and the last one got picked off on fourth down, sealing their fate. When asked why he didn’t trust his kicker for a 58-yard field goal, he thought the range was more like 52 to 55 yards, so he opted to go for it.
He also faced questions about why they didn’t run the ball to gain a few extra yards for a better field goal attempt. Brown explained that his play calling was influenced by the Seahawks’ zero coverage defense.
Honestly, his answers didn’t really boost confidence that he knows how to handle late-game situations like a head coach should. The Bears are likely on the lookout for a new head coach who can do what neither Eberflus nor Brown managed to do: put Caleb Williams in a better spot to win.