Bears’ Special Teams: Spectacular Plays, Painful Mistakes, and a Season of Highs and Lows
Bears’ Special Teams: Spectacular Plays, Painful Mistakes, and a Season of Highs and Lows
Bears’ Special Teams: Spectacular Plays, Painful Mistakes, and a Season of Highs and Lows.
The Chicago Bears’ special teams unit endured a turbulent 2024 season, showcasing moments of brilliance while also struggling in crucial situations. Under the direction of special teams coordinator Richard Hightower, the unit delivered some of the most exciting plays of the season but also faced lapses that proved costly in critical games.
The Highs: Flashes of Brilliance
One of the most memorable highlights of the Bears’ season came in Week 18 against the Green Bay Packers. In a game where the Bears were looking to finish strong, they executed a brilliantly designed trick play on a punt return. Most of the coverage unit was drawn toward one side of the field, only for Josh Blackwell to field the punt on the opposite side and sprint 94 yards for a touchdown. The play, which mirrored a famous touchdown from 2011, demonstrated both creativity and execution.
Beyond trick plays, kicker Cairo Santos remained one of the most consistent players on the team. Despite operating in difficult conditions throughout the season, Santos converted over 85% of his field goal attempts, including multiple clutch kicks that sealed victories. His reliability provided stability in a unit that faced inconsistencies elsewhere.
Punter Trenton Gill also delivered an improved performance compared to his previous season. He showed better directional kicking, pinning opponents deep in their own territory more frequently and giving the defense better field position.
Rookie returner Tyler Scott also had some electrifying moments in the kick return game. Though he didn’t break one for a touchdown, his speed and vision allowed him to consistently give the offense a solid starting position. His development could be a bright spot heading into the 2025 season.
The Lows: Costly Mistakes and Missed Opportunities
While the Bears’ special teams had its moments of success, it also suffered from game-changing mistakes. The most glaring example came in a narrow 20-19 loss to the Green Bay Packers. In a critical moment, head coach Matt Eberflus opted to attempt a 46-yard field goal instead of running additional plays to get closer. The kick was blocked, leading to a gut-wrenching defeat that put Eberflus’ coaching future under scrutiny. The decision to settle for a long field goal instead of playing more aggressively highlighted some of the coaching staff’s shortcomings.
Coverage units also struggled at times. A Week 9 game against the Arizona Cardinals exposed vulnerabilities, as the Bears allowed a 53-yard rushing touchdown off a fake punt. The play occurred due to a miscommunication on a pressure attempt, leaving the Cardinals’ ball carrier with a wide-open lane to the end zone. Such lapses in discipline and execution proved to be a recurring theme.
Additionally, punt return protection was inconsistent, leading to multiple blocked or deflected punts throughout the season. One such block in a crucial Week 14 game against the Minnesota Vikings set up the opponent in prime field position, ultimately leading to a go-ahead touchdown.
While Cairo Santos was reliable for most of the year, he did have some key misses, including a 50+ yard attempt in a game against Detroit that could have extended the Bears’ lead. In a season where margins were razor-thin, even a few missed kicks made a difference in the team’s overall record.
Looking Ahead: What Needs to Improve?
As the Bears enter the offseason, addressing inconsistencies in their special teams unit will be crucial. While Richard Hightower’s creative play designs were a positive, the team must improve in fundamental areas such as kick coverage, blocking, and decision-making in critical moments.
One potential focus for the offseason will be finding a more dynamic return specialist. Tyler Scott showed promise, but the Bears could explore other options to generate more explosive plays. Additionally, improving depth on the roster could help coverage units perform better, preventing costly breakdowns on punts and kickoffs.
Cairo Santos remains a strong kicker, but the Bears must ensure they give him the best chances to succeed by improving protection and avoiding situations where they rely too heavily on long field goal attempts.
Overall, while the special teams unit had moments of excitement, the Bears need more consistency if they hope to turn these flashes of brilliance into sustained success. With a few key adjustments, the unit has the potential to be an asset rather than a liability heading into 2025.
