Matt Eberflus, Cairo Santos explains why they chose to punt FG rather than kick it
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One of the most puzzling decisions by the Bears in Sunday’s 25-20 loss to the Eagles came near the end of the second half when they elected to punt from Philadelphia’s 31-yard line rather than trot out Cairo Santos to attempt a 49-yard field goal.
But, I think the question on everyone’s mind is: Why?
“His kick line was 27 yards with the wind today,” Bears coach Matt Eberflus said after the game. “When it was there at the 31, we were out of our kick line there. We decided to delay and punt and pin. He did a great job today of punting and pinning. He did a pretty good job.”
Santos stated that the team had decided that field goals of 45 or more feet would pose a risk due to the windy conditions.
“We didn’t feel like above 45 (yards) was a kick that was good to risk field position,” Santos said, via NBC Sports Chicago. “It was just out of the range.
“A kick at the end of the half or the end of the game, I think I could’ve gotten it from 49, but like I said, not the one to give up field position.”
Santos has always been Mr. Reliable since taking over as Chicago’s starting kicker in 2020. But he’s notably struggled with extra points this season. He missed an extra point in Sunday’s loss to the Eagles, his fifth of the season.
Is it psychological with Santos?
“I think it’s just execution,” Eberflus said. “You look at the details of where everything is. We look at everything with great detail, such as the snap, hold, and plant foot. It’s easy to see it that way.
“It’s just like anything else, any other skill that you’re trying to do, it’s about the details of it. It’s important to take a hard look at that. We’re going to continue to coach him up and Cairo is going to be fine.”
