GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Still catching your breath from the stress — or laughter — of last week’s Lions win? You can relive it now and catch one of Dan Miller’s best radio calls.
The Detroit Lions posted their latest installment of Calls of the Game last night, featuring a dumbfounded Miller who looked on just like every Lions fan as the Bears inexplicably let the clock run out on Thursday.
Even after reflection, it’s hard to make sense of what happened. Down 23-20 in the final minute of the game, Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams took a second-down sack that pinned the Bears at Detroit’s 41-yard line.
Yes, the sack likely pushed them out of field goal range, but with 32 seconds and one timeout left, the Bears still had options: Primarily, take your timeout, try to pick up some yardage and, at minimum, give your kicker a chance to tie the game.
Instead, now-former Bears head coach Matt Eberflus kept the timeout in his pocket and his rookie quarterback took his time getting the team organized. The ball was eventually snapped with six seconds left. A down-field pass to Rome Odunze sailed over his head, hitting the turf with the clock expired.
Just like CBS’ broadcast crew of Jim Nantz and Tony Romo, Miller was befuddled by the Bears’ plan of attack, monitoring the clock with exasperated confusion.
“Williams with 10 seconds to go in the game. Williams with 7, Williams with 6. He takes the snap. This could be the final play of the game. (He) throws it deep down field, it is up for grabs and incomplete,” Miller said.
“That’s it! That’s it! That’s it! What in the world were the Bears thinking? This game is over!”
The Lions escaped with a 23-20 win to improve to 11-1. The Bears fell to 4-8 and extended their losing streak to six games. Eberflus was fired the following morning.
