Lovie's Clock Mismanagement

Can someone explain why Lovie Smith did not use his final timeout last night with 15 seconds to go and the Vikings facing 4^th and 12 from their own 37 yard line?

 

The Bears only have the best punt returner in the league. And a loss means they are out of the playoffs. Even if Hester can’t return it, the Bears will get one chance for a Hail Mary. Why didn’t the Bears bother to call timeout and attempt any of this?

 

Quite honestly, after the Sharper interception I didn’t pay that much attention to the final minute. In fact, at one point I looked up and thought the Bears did use their final timeout. But looking at the box score, I see now that 1) the Bears had one last timeout and 2) they didn’t use it. If there is any team in the league that would want to try to extend the game anyway they can to get a punt and the ball back, you would think it would be the Bears.

 

My brother and I talked about it this morning. He wasn’t sure the Bears had a TO and is as mystified as me as to why they didn’t use it.

 

Likely the answer is that it is another example of clock management incompetence. And it gives the lie that the NFL is the “most competitive” in the world. How can it be the most competitive when head coaches don’t grasp or execute basic time management?