The Chicago Bears dropped a frustrating 24-14 loss to the Green Bay Packers, where there were a number of factors that contributed to the loss. Whether it was the offense’s inability to put up more than 14 points or some questionable calls by the officiating crew, the result was another loss to the Packers.
There were a number of calls by the officiating crew that left Bears fans frustrated. But the biggest one was the missed offsides call on the Packers, where Bears quarterback Justin Fields took a deep shot on what he thought was a free play.
The pass was intercepted by Packers safety Darnell Savage, but it shouldn’t have mattered given the offsides. The only problem was the refs missed the offsides, and the result was a turnover that might’ve changed the course of the game.
“I think everybody in the stadium thought that was a free play,” Fields said after the game.
Well, everybody except the refs, that is.
Bears QB Justin Fields was asked if he thought his interception in the endzone was a “free play”.
“I think everybody in the stadium thought that was a free play.” #Bears.
— Mark Grote (@markgrotesports) October 17, 2021
Wide receiver Darnell Mooney, who had five receptions for 45 yards and a touchdown, pointed to that no-call as the moment where the momentum shifted for the Bears.
“That play took a little momentum from us,” Mooney said, “because we were rolling.”
At the time, Chicago was leading 7-0 in the first quarter, and they were driving with a chance to take a two-possession lead against Green Bay. Instead, the turnover — which gave the Packers the ball on their own 20-yard line — led to a touchdown drive by Green Bay to tie things up 7-7.
While it’s difficult to point to one play as the reason the Bears lost by two scores, it’s also hard to deny that, in a game of momentum shifts, that it changed things for a Bears offense that showed promise.
