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The Chicago Bears have seen their fair share of mid-season collapses, but the recent downward spiral has been shockingly swift and severe. As of October 13th, the Bears were basking in the glory of a 4-2 record, having just dominated the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. Fast forward a month, and the team has plummeted to 4-5 following a humiliating 19-3 defeat to the New England Patriots at home. Offensive Coordinator Shane Waldron has been fired, quarterback Caleb Williams appears broken, and players are vocal about their dissatisfaction with the team's management. All eyes are now on head coach Matt Eberflus.

The situation begs the question: how did things deteriorate so rapidly? According to Mike Sando of The Athletic, who reached out to league executives for their insights, one pointed to a specific incident as pivotal. The executive believes that Eberflus lost the locker room due to his handling of a crucial Hail Mary play against Washington. "Their offense is so bad," one executive commented. "Eberflus is already on the edge because of his answer on the Hail Mary. He is going to have to act on Waldron to take some of the heat off, or they could all be swept out."

The disastrous moment came with 25 seconds left in the game against Washington. Leading 15-13, the Bears needed just one defensive stop to secure a comeback win. Instead, Eberflus called an overly soft coverage, allowing Washington an easy gain of 13 yards. Worse, he ignored his players' advice for tighter coverage and did not call a timeout when cornerback Tyrique Stevenson appeared out of position on the final Hail Mary attempt.

Eberflus' inability to acknowledge his own mistakes further alienated the team. After the game, several defensive players revealed they had urged Eberflus to tighten coverage, knowing it was crucial to prevent a simple first down that would set Washington up for a game-winning play. His refusal to own up to the missteps sent a clear signal to the team: their head coach lacked the situational awareness and accountability needed in critical moments.

Morale both on and off the field has since plummeted, with players openly questioning Eberflus' competence. The dismissal of offensive coordinator Shane Waldron seems a desperate attempt by Eberflus to shift blame and regain control, yet it appears too little, too late. The respect lost in that fateful game in Washington is unlikely to be restored, and the odds of Eberflus turning the situation around are slim.

As the team continues to unravel, it seems increasingly likely that Eberflus will pay the ultimate price for his failures. His tenure with the Bears may well end with this season, and the mistakes made in Washington will undoubtedly haunt him as he faces the fallout.