Bears to File Complaint With NFL Over Game-Losing Blocked Field Goal

Sour grapes? Maybe. A coach very much on the hot seat trying to take a swing at keeping his job? Yes, probably some of that, too. Either way, Bears coach Matt Eberflus clearly is not going to take his team's disheartening loss to the Packers, which came thanks to Green Bay's last-second blocked field-goal try by the Bears to give the Pack a 20-19 win.

It turns out, the Packers' approach to blocking the kick was not entirely kosher according to NFL rules. The player who was credited with blocking the kick, Karl Brooks, was given a sort-of "tush push" by defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness, helping him to make the block.

Players are not allowed to give leverage to other players on an attempted kick block. But after the game, Van Ness pretty much admitted that is what he'd done.

"I was on the same side with Karl, and I knew that he was going to pressure that inside A gap, so I just got behind him and I pushed him as hard as I could," Van Ness said after the game.

On Monday, Eberflus met with the media and noted that there was much wrong with the Packers defense on the final play, and that he would be filing a complaint with the league about it.

NFL Network reporter Tom Pelissero noted Eberflus's concerns on Twitter/X: "#Bears coach Matt Eberflus says they’ll turn in Sunday’s game-sealing blocked field goal to the league office because the #Packers “were on our long snapper” and felt a penalty could’ve been called. No flag was thrown."

Bears fans should not get their hopes up--the league might acknowledge Eberflus's complaint, but it certainly won't do anything about it. The Brears are now 4-6, while the Packers have moved to 7-3.

Karl Brooks, was given a sort-of "tush push" by defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness, helping him to make the block.

Players are not allowed to give leverage to other players on an attempted kick block. But after the game, Van Ness pretty much admitted that is what he'd done.

Why are players allowed to do it some of the time but not all the time?

If it's allowed for the offense, then why not STs?

Originally Posted by: beast 

Players are not allowed to give leverage to other players on an attempted kick block.

But after the game, Van Ness pretty much admitted that is what he'd done.

Why are players allowed to do it some of the time but not all the time?

If it's allowed for the offense, then why not STs?

Originally Posted by: beast 

What is it that compels players to open their mouths and say stuff that is not beneficial to the team? I guess I grew up in an age where the player or coach denied everything being against the rules even on their deathbeds. It was frustrating not knowing for sure but then I realized if you are not in the locker room, you don't need to know.

Originally Posted by: wpr 

My guess is he didn't know it was against the rules. Which is probably a coaching issue.

Originally Posted by: Zero2Cool 

It’d be merely a footnote anyway, but the Packers’ blocked field goal to beat the Bears on the final play Sunday was reviewed by the NFL and determined to be a clean play. The league informed the Bears this week in response to their inquiry, a source said.

The Bears trailed 20-19 with three seconds left when Cairo Santos tried for the game-winner from the 46-yard line, and Packers defensive tackle Karl Brooks blocked it for the Green Bay victory. Brooks and defensive lineman T.J. Slaton made contact with Bears long snapper Scott Daly as they pushed through the line of scrimmage, but neither was deemed to be in violation of the rules.