4 things we heard from the Chicago Bears, including confusion on 4th down and Jaylon Johnson’s pass interference calls

Chicago Bears coach Matt Eberflus and two players met with reporters at Halas Hall on Monday after their 30-27 overtime loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.

The Bears are making a quick turnaround before Thursday’s game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Team meetings and a tour were scheduled to take place on Monday afternoon before training resumed on Tuesday in preparation for the league leaders’ 10-1 win.

Here are four things we learned from Eberflus and his players.

1. Wide receiver DJ Moore expects a discussion about the botched fourth-down play later Monday.

The Bears had not yet held their team meeting when Moore met with reporters, but he expected to find out exactly what went wrong when the Bears decided to tie it on fourth-and-4 at the 27-yard in the third quarter line to try.

Kicker Cairo Santos initially ran onto the field but then came back, and a brief confusion led to the play being called later than desired. Quarterback Caleb Williams said he misunderstood offensive coordinator Thomas Brown’s statement and threw an incomplete pass to Keenan Allen.

“Everyone was pretty confused because I think we got the wrong play call,” Moore said. “I mean, Caleb said that yesterday. But that moment was like a ‘What’s going on?’ moment that we could have avoided.”

Eberflus said Sunday evening that he needed to do a better job of communicating the plans to everyone so that the call wouldn’t come too late.

Week 12 Photos: Minnesota Vikings 30, Chicago Bears 27 (OT)

2. Cornerback Jaylon Johnson relayed what the officials told him about his two pass interference penalties.

While Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison broke through with eight catches for 162 yards, star receiver Justin Jefferson managed a total of two catches for 27 yards.

But Jefferson prompted two pass interference calls from Johnson.

The first was a 35-yard penalty midway through the second quarter that wiped out a Jonathan Owens interception. The Vikings scored two plays later. Johnson said the officer told him he pulled Jefferson’s jersey.

“I’m not saying I didn’t take his jersey off quickly,” Johnson said. “I don’t think it was enough to stop him from getting the ball and even though he pushes away from me, I don’t see it as me just stopping him from getting the ball. But he called it.”

The second came in the third quarter, a more questionable 10-yard penalty on a drive in which the Vikings failed to score.

“I was in position,” Johnson said. “He made contact at the top of the route. (The officer) said I threw him off balance. Of course he will be unbalanced. These run into each other.

“In the end, the calls didn’t reach me. They have their reasons for calling it that, and it is what it is.”

Johnson said frustration naturally grew after the Bears defense gave up 452 yards against the Vikings. He pointed out that their run defense — which allowed running back Aaron Jones to rush for 106 yards — and their inability to stop explosive plays were the two most glaring problems.

“I don’t walk around with a smile on my face,” Johnson said. “There is nothing to be happy about. I mean, obviously my frustration is at its peak. Everyone’s frustration is great.”

3. Matt Eberflus again pointed out the “technique” on the second blocked field goal in two weeks.

A week after the Green Bay Packers blocked Santos’ potential game-winning field goal, Vikings defender Jerry Tillery blocked Santos’ 48-yard attempt in the second quarter.

Like the Packers’, the block came against the left side of the Bears line, but slightly further out.

“I just think it’s the technology,” Eberflus said. “It’s about getting your foot down, leaning up and staying lower. We just have to do a better job.”

Eberflus said the technology issue was highlighted in practice last week. Santos said Sunday night he was also reviewing his surgery.

4. Eberflus was pleased with the way Caleb Williams handled the Vikings defense.

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Before Sunday’s game, there was a lot of talk about how Williams would handle the Vikings’ pressure, and Eberflus felt the rookie quarterback handled the tough test brilliantly, as he threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns to go along with three sacks could take.

“Last week was a big challenge in terms of frontal variation and coverage variation,” Eberflus said. “The pressure looks and then it drops out. Pressure looks and then pressure. And then being able to deal with it, get the ball out in a timely manner and be able to check the defense when needed, which is really good too.

“And then it was possible to hit the ball down the field because that’s where the open spaces were based on what they presented to us throughout the season and then yesterday as well. Really good job with the throws from tight windows and placing the ball. The decision making was really good.”

Williams was particularly effective in the fourth quarter as he led three shots on goal and helped the Bears force overtime.

Moore said the offense now needs to prepare for a complete game.

“If we can do that in the first three quarters, it will be great to see the points we score and how many games we win,” he said.