It’d be merely a footnote anyway, but the Packers’ blocked field goal to beat the Bears on the final play Sunday was reviewed by the NFL and determined to be a clean play. The league informed the Bears this week in response to their inquiry, a source said.
The Bears trailed 20-19 with three seconds left when Cairo Santos tried for the game-winner from the 46-yard line, and Packers defensive tackle Karl Brooks blocked it for the Green Bay victory. Brooks and defensive lineman T.J. Slaton made contact with Bears long snapper Scott Daly as they pushed through the line of scrimmage, but neither was deemed to be in violation of the rules.
Bears coach Matt Eberflus acknowledged his team needed “to be firmer inside,” but said Monday he would submit the play for review “because they were on our long snapper.”
Special teams coordinator Richard Hightower declined to say Thursday whether the league had gotten back to the Bears in part because, “Quite honestly, it doesn’t change the result.”
The loss dropped the Bears to 4-6 and bumped the Packers to 7-3.