Jake Bates kicked a 42-yard field goal with no time remaining, lifting the Detroit Lions to a 19-16 win over the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field and capping a wild fourth quarter that saw the Bears erase a 16-point deficit only to lose on the final play.
The Week 18 matchup carried weight beyond playoff seeding. Bears first-year head coach Ben Johnson faced the Lions franchise he left after their 2024 playoff run, watching his new team rally from 16-0 down before Detroit’s offense set up Bates for redemption after earlier missing a field goal.
Chicago entered 11-5 with the NFC North title and No. 2 seed already secured. Johnson chose not to rest starters, seeking momentum heading into the postseason. Detroit sat at 8-8, needing a win and help to reach the playoffs.
Goff Rebounds, Williams Sets Franchise Mark
Jared Goff completed 27 of 42 passes for 331 yards with one touchdown and one interception after throwing five picks the previous week against Minnesota. His performance kept Detroit in control for three quarters before Kevin Byard III’s fourth-quarter interception temporarily shifted momentum.
| Quarterback | C/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | QBR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jared Goff | 27/42 | 331 | 1 | 1 | 66.5 |
| Caleb Williams | 20/33 | 212 | 2 | 1 | 56.7 |
Caleb Williams finished 20 of 33 for 212 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. His performance included breaking Erik Kramer’s franchise single-season passing record of 3,838 yards set in 1995, though the milestone got overshadowed by the loss.
Amon-Ra St. Brown caught 11 passes for 139 yards, including a 26-yard reception on the game-winning drive. Colston Loveland posted a career-high 10 receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown for Chicago.
| Leading Receivers | REC | YDS | TD | TGTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET) | 11 | 139 | 0 | 15 |
| Colston Loveland (CHI) | 10 | 91 | 1 | 13 |
| Jameson Williams (DET) | 6 | 74 | 0 | 8 |
| Kalif Raymond (DET) | 3 | 52 | 0 | 3 |
Detroit’s First-Half Dominance
The Lions outgained Chicago 237-69 in the first half while building a 13-0 lead. Jahmyr Gibbs hauled in a 15-yard touchdown pass from Goff in the second quarter, and Bates connected on field goals of 25 and 35 yards.
Detroit’s ground game controlled possession. Gibbs rushed 19 times for 80 yards while David Montgomery added 42 yards on eight carries. The Lions held the ball for nearly 36 minutes compared to Chicago’s 24.
| Rushing Leaders | CAR | YDS | AVG | LONG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jahmyr Gibbs (DET) | 19 | 80 | 4.2 | 14 |
| David Montgomery (DET) | 8 | 42 | 5.3 | 9 |
| D’Andre Swift (CHI) | 10 | 40 | 4.0 | 10 |
Aidan Hutchinson recorded Detroit’s lone sack, his 14.5th of the season to tie the franchise single-season record. The Lions defense held Chicago to 65 rushing yards on 18 attempts.
Bears’ Fourth-Quarter Rally Falls Short
Chicago trailed 16-0 entering the final quarter before Williams led consecutive scoring drives. He found Loveland for a touchdown and two-point conversion, then connected with Jahdae Walker for another score and successful two-pointer to tie the game at 16.
Chicago’s offense went three-and-out after the turnover. Detroit got the ball back at its own 35-yard line with 39 seconds left. Three completions, including the 26-yarder to St. Brown, moved the Lions into field goal range.
Bates, who had missed a 49-yard attempt earlier, split the uprights from 42 yards as time expired.
| Team Stats | Detroit | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 433 | 270 |
| First Downs | 26 | 16 |
| Third Down | 6-13 | 4-11 |
| Time of Possession | 35:45 | 24:15 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
Johnson’s First Season Transforms Bears
Johnson left Detroit after serving as offensive coordinator during their 15-2 season in 2024. His departure preceded a difficult 2025 campaign for the Lions, who missed the playoffs at 9-8 after Dan Campbell took over play-calling duties midseason.
The Bears improved from 5-12 to 11-6 under Johnson, claiming their first division championship since 2018. His offensive system helped Williams develop into a franchise quarterback while moving Chicago from the bottom five in offensive production to the top five league-wide.
Defensive Standouts
| Tackle Leaders | TOT | SOLO | SACKS | TFL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Campbell (DET) | 11 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Tremaine Edmunds (CHI) | 8 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Jaquan Brisker (CHI) | 8 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Kevin Byard III (CHI) | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Jack Campbell led all defenders with 11 tackles for Detroit. Chicago’s secondary recorded six pass deflections while Andrew Billings and Gervon Dexter Sr. each notched a sack.
Playoff Paths Diverge
Chicago advanced to the playoffs as the NFC’s second seed, hosting a divisional round game the following weekend. Williams’ rookie season produced a franchise passing record and a division title, though questions lingered about the offense’s ability to finish close games after squandering chances following the late interception.
Detroit finished 9-8 and missed the postseason, a stark contrast from the previous year’s 15-2 record and deep playoff run. The Lions’ inability to replace Johnson’s play-calling creativity defined their disappointing campaign, and this loss exemplified a season of missed opportunities.
The Chicago Bears vs Detroit Lions match player stats told the story of two franchises moving in opposite directions, separated by the offensive coordinator who transformed both programs at different times.
