Eddy Pineiro strolled from the sideline to the middle of the field at Sunday’s two-minute warning. Even though his defense was on the field, the Bears kicker wanted to test the wind. At the 41, he threw a clump of Soldier Field turf in the air. Right to left, he told himself.
One minute and 55 seconds later, down one, the kicker had his chance to win the game. After an afternoon of offensive ineptitude, the Bears somehow managed to drive to give him at 41-yard game-winning attempt. They might have gotten him even closer, too, but head coach Matt Nagy called a kneeldown with 43 seconds left rather than run the ball.