The Chicago Bears’ struggles continued on Thanksgiving Day, adding another chapter to the long-running narrative of dysfunction that has plagued the franchise. Former head coach Matt Eberflus, now fired, added fuel to the fire with his poor game management, leading to one of the most humiliating moments in recent Bears history.
What made matters worse was that Eberflus’ crucial mistake played out in front of a record number of viewers, amplifying the embarrassment on a national scale.
On a typical NFL Sunday, unless you’re playing in one of the nationally televised games, your viewership might hover around a few million. But on Thanksgiving Day, when football is as much a part of the tradition as turkey and stuffing, the stakes are higher—both on the field and in terms of who’s watching.
The Bears had the unenviable task of taking the field against the resurgent Detroit Lions, and what unfolded was nothing short of a disaster for Eberflus and his team.
A Comeback Squandered
The Bears found themselves in a tough spot, trailing the Lions 16-0 as they headed into the fourth quarter. However, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams showed grit and determination, engineering a spirited comeback that brought the Bears within striking distance of either tying or taking the lead.
The Bears’ offense had the momentum, and the game was suddenly within reach. It seemed like Chicago had a chance to redeem itself in front of a massive audience—until everything went wrong.
On the final drive of regulation, with the Bears needing smart clock management and calm leadership, a series of missteps led to a catastrophic sequence of events. Confusion on the sidelines and questionable play-calling set the tone for a breakdown in communication.
Ultimately, with time ticking away, the Bears squandered their opportunity to score. In the aftermath, it was clear that the blame lay largely with Eberflus, whose indecisiveness and poor game management led to a complete collapse.
Yes, Caleb Williams could have handled certain aspects of the situation better, perhaps showing more situational awareness. But in the end, it is the head coach’s responsibility to ensure the team is prepared, focused, and in position to execute.
Instead, the Bears were left floundering, with Williams looking to the sidelines for guidance that simply wasn’t there. The mistakes on the field were a direct reflection of the disarray off it.
The Fallout: Eberflus Fired and Millions Watching
The Bears’ Thanksgiving Day loss marked their sixth consecutive defeat, a streak that has only added to the frustration of a fanbase tired of waiting for meaningful progress. The very next day, the franchise made a decisive move, firing Matt Eberflus—a decision that was not entirely unexpected, given the growing impatience with his leadership. What made the whole situation even worse for Eberflus was the fact that his career-defining blunder was witnessed by a record number of viewers.
According to Pro Football Talk, the early Thanksgiving Day game featuring the Lions has always drawn significant viewership, largely because of the tradition of tuning in on a holiday when most people are gathered around the television.
But with the Lions transforming into a legitimate contender this season, the audience was even larger than usual. The CBS broadcast of the Bears-Lions game averaged 37.5 million viewers, making it the most-watched game ever in the opening Thanksgiving Day window.
This represented an 11-percent increase from last year’s Packers-Lions game, underscoring the growing interest in watching Detroit play.
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That meant 37.5 million people witnessed what will likely be remembered as one of the most embarrassing moments in Matt Eberflus’ coaching career—a coaching blunder so costly that it effectively sealed his fate.
It’s one thing to make a mistake, but it’s another to make it with tens of millions of people watching, turning what might have been a forgettable error into a defining moment. For the Bears, it was a colossal failure in one of the most-watched games of the year, showcasing not just individual mistakes, but systemic issues that have plagued the franchise for years.
A Rough Thanksgiving for Chicago
For Chicago Bears fans, the Thanksgiving Day game was a microcosm of everything that has gone wrong with the franchise over the last several years. There was hope—hope that Caleb Williams could orchestrate a comeback, hope that maybe, just maybe, the team would rise to the occasion and give the fanbase something to be proud of.
Instead, the Bears fell short once again, and it was the head coach who bore the brunt of the blame.
The decision to fire Eberflus was both inevitable and necessary. Throughout his tenure, he struggled to find consistency, and his inability to effectively manage the game against Detroit on such a big stage was the final nail in the coffin.
The Bears have been in a perpetual state of rebuilding for what feels like decades, and the latest chapter with Eberflus at the helm did little to change that narrative.
Looking Ahead: Where Do the Bears Go from Here?
With Eberflus now out, the question becomes: what’s next for the Chicago Bears? The franchise has a young and talented quarterback in Caleb Williams, who showed flashes of brilliance even in defeat.
But the Bears need much more than talent at quarterback to turn things around—they need a clear vision, strong leadership, and a culture of accountability, none of which have been present during their recent struggles.
The search for a new head coach will undoubtedly be crucial to determining the future direction of the franchise. Whoever takes over will inherit a team with potential but also with significant challenges, including rebuilding a culture that has been defined by losing and dysfunction.
It’s not just about Xs and Os—it’s about instilling confidence, discipline, and a sense of direction that has been sorely lacking.
For Caleb Williams, his development will depend largely on the kind of support system the Bears put in place around him. He has the physical tools and the leadership qualities to be a franchise quarterback, but without proper coaching and a competent front office, even the most talented players can struggle to succeed.
The Bears need to do everything in their power to ensure that Williams is put in a position to thrive—not just for his sake, but for the sake of a fanbase that has waited far too long for a team they can believe in.
Thanksgiving Day’s Bitter Lessons
The Bears’ Thanksgiving Day loss was more than just a defeat—it was a public demonstration of the challenges that have held the franchise back.
Matt Eberflus’ inability to manage the game effectively led to a missed opportunity to pull off an inspiring comeback, and it did so in front of an audience of nearly 40 million people.
The fact that it was witnessed by a record number of viewers only served to make the moment more painful, both for Eberflus personally and for the Bears as a whole.
In the end, Thanksgiving 2024 will be remembered not for the turkey or the festivities but for the moment the Bears once again fell apart in front of millions. It was a moment that highlighted the need for change—a need that the organization has at least partially addressed by moving on from Eberflus.
But for Chicago, the journey to respectability is far from over. The Bears must now turn the page and look to the future, hoping that the next chapter will be written with more care, competence, and perhaps a little bit of redemption.
