Bears Recreating 'Refrigerator' Perry Play Backfires in Crucial Moment vs. Commanders

The Bears attempted to hand the ball off to offensive lineman Doug Kramer Jr. in the fourth quarter. | CBS

The Chicago Bears were one yard away from taking the lead in the fourth quarter over the Washington Commanders on Sunday when disaster struck.

On third-and-goal from the Commanders' 1-yard line, Bears backup center Doug Kramer Jr. reported as eligible and lined up in the I-formation behind quarterback Caleb Williams. The rookie tried to hand it off to Kramer for a big man plunge, but it bounced off his chest and landed right into a pile of Commanders defenders.

A brutal turnover with the game on the line.

This CANNOT be how the Bears envisioned this play going pic.twitter.com/MGqjJQZiZM

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) October 27, 2024

The play drew comparisons to the days of William "the Refrigerator" Perry, a 335-pound defensive lineman who scored two rushing touchdowns on similar plays during the Bears' magical 1985 season.

Chicago eventually took the lead in the fourth quarter on Roschon Johnson's 1-yard touchdown plunge, but the Bears lost in dramatic fashion as Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels found Noah Brown on a Hail Mary as time expired to steal an 18–15 win.

As Chicago falls to 4–3, coach Matt Eberflus likely will want the "Refrigerator" Perry play call back.

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