The Chicago Bears were dealt a disappointing 24-14 defeat at the hands of the Green Bay Packers, and there were a number of factors that contributed to the loss. Whether it was the offense managing only two touchdowns or some questionable calls by the refs that left fans in an uproar.
While the refs aren’t the reason the Bears lost to the Packers, they did play a role in stopping momentum Chicago was building during the game.
The most egregious error was a missed offsides call against the Packers. Fields saw it and believed he had a free play on his hands, so he chucked the ball deep. It was intercepted by Packers safety Darnell Savage.
But the offsides call never came. Instead, it was ruled an interception and stalled momentum for a Bears team looking to take a two-possession lead.
“I think everybody in the stadium thought that was a free play,” Fields said after the game.
But that was far from the extent of the poor officiating.
It was poor ball spots. It was Justin Fields calling a timeout and the refs calling a delay of game. It was Aaron Rodgers grabbing Mario Edwards’ facemark after a play and Edwards getting called for unsportsmanlike conduct. It was a missed unnecessary roughness on Fields. It was a questionable holding call that negated a touchdown. Heck, it was even Rodgers getting away with taunting following his 6-yard touchdown run.
As you can imagine, Bears fans were irate with the officiating.
We all know who really owns the bears.. the refs.. https://t.co/zKkadF9td4 pic.twitter.com/AmLbDKR7m2
— 🤨 (@BearsTw1tter) October 17, 2021
Both Bears and Packers fans can agree these Refs have been 🗑
— Alex Humphrey (5-1) (@Alex_Humphrey_7) October 17, 2021
The refs gotta be on the packers payroll because this was not a 1st and was the 3rd call that screwed the bears pic.twitter.com/10sW3tdVH9
— Kobey678 (@Mike84277240) October 17, 2021
I'm not a "blame the refs" kind of guy but this Bears game has been ridiculous. Justin Fields called timeout and got hit with a delay of game call instead. I can't even…
— The Reverend KFidds (@KFidds) October 17, 2021
Bears vs refs pic.twitter.com/08DDl8p6IP
— BIG4SZN (@drosesburner) October 17, 2021
Packer Refs are back. https://t.co/D2exCIqYwa
— The Irish Bears Show (@IrishBearsShow) October 17, 2021
For anyone asking how did the refs not give the Bears a timeout? Here’s how pic.twitter.com/SCkJdrPi0E
— EJ (@itsmine49) October 17, 2021
I don't mind the Bears losing as long as it's fair and there were some bone headed missed calls by the refs. And it played a huge part of that lost.
— Gregory Bell II (@TheDisciple92) October 17, 2021
I’m sorry these refs hate the bears
— Max Haid (@maxhaid10) October 17, 2021
Rodgers yelled “I still own you” after his TD. It wasn’t to the crowd. It was to the refs. #Bears pic.twitter.com/y6qn8jP1jK
— Tim Stone (@Turkface) October 17, 2021
This ref crew here in Chicago is having a BAD day. #Bears #Packers
— Zack Pearson (@Zack_Pearson) October 17, 2021
The NFL’s best duo is back.
The Packers and refs absolutely took over in today’s game Vs. the Bears. pic.twitter.com/M9pdrnvOOo
— Max Markham (@MaxMarkhamNFL) October 17, 2021
That's a really weak holding call to take a much-needed Bears TD away.
These refs today…
— Johnathan Wood (@Johnathan_Wood1) October 17, 2021
Bears have made some mistakes but, the refs have had a huge impact on this game. #DaBears
— Daniel Goodwin III (@DanGoodwinIII) October 17, 2021
It'd be one thing if the #Bears were just flat out losing but to know the refs have a heavy hand in this current score just makes it 10x worse.
— Erik Lambert (@ErikLambert1) October 17, 2021
So far today, the refs:
-No call on Packers defense being offside on a free play INT.
-No call on Rodgers grabbing Mario Edwards’ facemask
-Call a personal foul on Edwards for reacting to it.
-No call on Fields getting tossed around after the play was over. #Bears
— Aalap Desai (@ADesai410) October 17, 2021
This has been an ugly game so far here in Chicago. And not just for the Bears and Packers. These refs appear to be confused on everything.
— Zack Pearson (@Zack_Pearson) October 17, 2021
Packers: Go offside.
Bears turnover on free play.
Refs:Packers: Rodgers grabs DL facemask
Bears DL points 👉
Refs: Taunting
GB TD off the penalty.Packers: Hit Justin Fields in the head while sliding
Refs:Bears: Call timeout
Refs: Delay of game
Bears moved from FG range pic.twitter.com/2A3noB39XD— Max Markham (@MaxMarkhamNFL) October 17, 2021
Rodgers: “I own you”
Refs: unsportsmanlike conduct on the bears
— Max Haid (@maxhaid10) October 17, 2021
The #NFL refs are terrible and helped hand the Packers that win. They did the Bears dirty!! 😠
— Leah 💙 (@LeahDulce44) October 17, 2021
The refs should have said that to the Bear fans. https://t.co/NKq73O6i81
— Wyatt Cornelius (@TheCornelius7) October 17, 2021
Not holding ref! #Bears pic.twitter.com/Adzog78MVC
— Wilsonee 🇺🇸 (@wilsonee) October 17, 2021
Appreciate my packers friends who been hitting me up acknowledging the refs were giving them that game..even tho they think rodgers wouldnt leave cause its to easy for him in the north i personally cant wait till we get that breaking news rodgers has been traded so i can frame it
— 🤨 (@BearsTw1tter) October 17, 2021
These refs are god awful. How do you miss the quarterback calling a timeout? Are you even watching the game?!?#Bears #FireTheRefs
— Aaron Heim (@HeimTime88) October 17, 2021
*Refs trying not to throw a flag on the Bears every single play* pic.twitter.com/WhCVcNVJBS
— Naeem (@Notorious_Eem) October 17, 2021
I think a chimp can officiate better than these refs for Bears vs Packers. @NFLOfficiating
— Wyatt Cornelius (@TheCornelius7) October 17, 2021
You know what, I wasn’t going to blame the refs but they are straight up changing this game. That was a textbook block, no holding at all. #GBvsCHI
— Bears Fan Pete (@Bears_Fan_Pete) October 17, 2021
Always hate blaming the refs but really disappointed in the missed offsides call. He threw it because the Packers were offsides. Even if it was false start, wouldn’t have been an INT. Really shifted the game.
— Lets go Bears (@letsgochibears) October 17, 2021
There are bad calls by refs in every game. This was going to be a tight one and the refs were awful. There were over 5 awful calls all against the Bears. I'm not mad the Bears lost but the refs were a joke. The NFL needs to do better. #NFL #Bears #Packers
— Nick Markoutsakis (@Sfakia81) October 17, 2021
This loss hurt more than the typical bears packers game. Really felt like they should’ve won but the refs did everything they could to keep momentum on the packers side. Almost impossible to beat a top 5 qb plus the zebras
— TheRealShamil (@ShamillTheReal) October 17, 2021
The nfl needs to conduct an investigation on the officials. You cannot turn a blind eye after this game…
— Suz (@Suzy_Rumsey) October 17, 2021
This has been one of the worst officiated games I have seen in a long time. This is the NFL how can it be this bad #DaBears
— matt newton (@mattnewts) October 17, 2021
