The Chicago Bears had a chance to win the game on the final play, but fell to the San Francisco 49ers on “Sunday Night Football” in Week 17. Afterward, Bears safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson took exception with one play in particular.
However, the broadcast certainly agreed with the outcome.
At any rate, the play would have significantly altered the trajectory of the eventual 42-38 loss in the Bears’ favor.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson Calls Out Penalty After Bears’ Loss to 49ers
Bears’ C.J. Gardner-Johnson Loses 3rd Interception of Season
During the second quarter on a third-and-7, Gardner-Johnson snagged his third interception of the season and the Bears’ third of the game. However, he was flagged for “illegal use of hands” for “hands to the face” on 49ers receiver Ricky Pearsall.
Gardner-Johnson said it was a “BS call” in a post on X after the game, quoting a clip of the infraction.
It cost the Bears 5 yards but also gave the 49ers a new set of downs.
“Right up to the base mask, a little turn off the helmet. The whole thing,” NBC’s Cris Collinsworth said after the call. “It’s not that often the guy who gets the foul gets the interception, too. So he should kick himself.”
Colleague Mike Tirico added, “There is no grabbing the face mask. You can make contact, but not up there. So, that’s a correct call.”
The 49ers scored a touchdown two plays later to go up 28-21 before halftime.
Gardner-Johnson runs the risk of hearing from the league, which regularly fines players for comments made disparaging the officials. Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua was fined $25,000 for two instances of making comments ripping referees.
That Gardner-Johnson spoke about a specific call rather than officials or even officiating in general, as Nacua did, could be a noteworthy factor.
At any rate, keeping the 49ers off the board would have been significant for the Bears.
Gardner-Johnson has been a revelation for a banged-up secondary that remains without Kyler Gordon at his nickel back spot and continues to rotate Jaylon Johnson and Tyrique Stevenson opposite Nahshon Wright at cornerback.
The Bears put forth a historic effort, recording the first game in NFL history to be tied at 7-7, 14-14, 28-28, and 35-35.
They would certainly trade that for the win.
Gardner-Johnson and the Bears will close out the regular season at home against the Detroit Lions. The NFL announced shortly after the conclusion of the loss to the 49ers that the Bears and Lions will play at 3:25 local time next Sunday.
