The Bears are going to Bear.
With a chance to at least put up a field goal late in the fourth quarter to tie their “Thursday Night Football” showdown with the Seahawks, the Bears mismanaged the clock before Caleb Williams threw a game-sealing interception in a 6-3 loss at home.
The ugly loss was the Bears’ 12th of the year — and 10th straight, which tied an ignominious franchise record.
It had their fans booing them off the field and, at one point, calling for ownership to sell the team.
The comedy of errors started with a little more than a minute left when Williams, who ran out of the pocket to avoid the Seattle rush, hit receiver Rome Odunze for a 15-yard pass and a first down.
But that’s when the Bears lackadaisically lined up for the next play, allowing more than 20 seconds to run off the clock.
To make matters worse, after Williams threw a pass out of bounds that stopped the clock at 31 seconds, Chicago had to burn its second timeout because the play clock was about to expire on the next play.
Williams appeared to be fuming at his own sideline as the timeout was called.
The crowd began booing as broadcaster Al Michaels said on air that fans were aware of the issues the Bears have had with clock management in the past, which included a brutal loss to the Lions on Thanksgiving.
Williams threw another incomplete pass on third-and-10 before he chucked up a high, arcing pass on fourth-and-10 from the Seattle 40 for an easy interception that sealed the victory for the Seahawks with under 20 seconds left in the game.
It’s just been another tough moment in a season full of them for Williams.
The rookie quarterback extended his NFL-leading total and individual franchise record for sacks to 67.
The Bears broke their previous mark of 66 sacks allowed in 2004, when they used four quarterbacks.
Williams acknowledged the hits are taking their toll. But he also vowed to grow from the experience.
“Frustrating, annoyed but learning I would say,” he said. “I definitely think this is going to be good for me. I’m excited about this last game and excited about the future.”
As the Bears’ free fall continued in spectacular fashion, the Seahawks managed to keep their playoff hopes alive.
The most likely route to the playoffs for Seattle (9-7) is by having the Rams lose to Arizona on Saturday and beating Los Angeles to close the regular season.
The Seahawks were in control of their postseason destiny before losing to Minnesota last week.
“Honestly, we shouldn’t be in this position,” Geno Smith said. “That’s the main thing, is understanding that we’ve got to control our destiny when we can. But yeah, I’m going to be a big Kyler Murray fan on Saturday. If they get it done, they get it done. But we’re going to go into this last week of the season with the same mindset no matter what.”
As for the Bears, their latest loss came hours after it had been reported by NFL insider Albert Breer confirmed the Bears have interest in Pete Carroll — the ex-Seahawks coach — for their vacant head coaching job.
Carroll is said to have interest in the Bears job but he is also planning on keeping his options open.
“I’m told that he has informed all of the teams with openings that he is looking to get back into coaching in 2025. And, additionally, Charissa [Thompson], I am told that the Bears are interested in sitting down and having a conversation with Carroll about their opening,” Breer reported on Prime Video’s pregame show.
The Bears will try to break their losing skid against the rival Packers on Jan. 5.
— with AP
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