In terms of putting feet in one’s mouth, Matt Eberflus has had a banner season for the last-place Chicago Bears. Earlier this year, the coach fielded nearly 20 consecutive questions about Chase Claypool. Then, with Justin Fields’ health weirdly in question but also not in question (?), Eberflus delivered us some incredible word salad about the quarterback’s status.
As the Bears took on the Carolina Panthers in a Thursday night snoozer (hey, Jason Kelce!), Eberflus changed things up. He said the Bears have something “up our sleeves” in a halftime interview. With the giddiest smile on his face, one could only imagine what Eberflus was referring to.
The imagination runs wild!
Unless we’re missing something, it was probably referring to a (checks notes) one-yard “Tush Push” with starting tight end Cole Kmet as the ball carrier. (Note: the Bears went three-and-out on the possession just before.)
Boring, but it would be unsurprising, coming from Eberflus:
— ✶Ⓜ️𝕒𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕤 ▶️ ✶ (@_MarcusD3_) November 10, 2023
Cole Kmet and the #Bears convert on the tush push❕ pic.twitter.com/zZOXX5msTU
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) November 10, 2023
Uh, if this was indeed his intent, what did Eberflus think this play would be? Even on a successful conversion, I’m not sure a short-yardage conversion really warranted mention to the national audience at home. It’s not exciting, but Eberflus highlighting a minute detail like that would be par for the course based on his job coaching the woeful Bears.
This was how Twitter reacted to Eberflus's tease
The tricks up Matt Eberflus’ sleeve are officially listed as doubtful
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) November 10, 2023
"We've got some stuff up our sleeves" from Matt Eberflus. We'll see…
— Danny Parkins (@DannyParkins) November 10, 2023
What do you think is up Matt Eberflus' sleeves?👀
What can that man possibly be cooking up? 🤔
— Nicholas Moreano (@NicholasMoreano) November 10, 2023
Guess Matt Eberflus had a 3-and-out up his sleeve.
— Andrew Perloff (@andrewperloff) November 10, 2023
*“We’ve got some tricks up our sleeve,” Matt Eberflus, sporting a goody grin, assures the sideline reporter come out of the half*
*Bears go three-and-out*
— Steve Greenberg (@SLGreenberg) November 10, 2023
The things up Matt Eberflus’ sleeve pic.twitter.com/FUzCnZ5nNL
— Chicago Football Connection (@CFCBears) November 10, 2023
Matt Eberflus is excited about the 2nd half, and the Bears have some stuff up their sleeve. Seems like they should have already used all the up-sleeve stuff.
— Michael (@Schmutzie_) November 10, 2023
Matt Eberflus saying the Bears have “some things up their sleeve” and I assume he just mean their arms.
— Marc Dykton (@MarcD1075) November 10, 2023
If you were bored in the first half, don't worry: Matt Eberflus Bears have some tricks up their sleeves. 🍿
— Arthur Arkush (@ArthurArkush) November 10, 2023