The Chicago Bears’ turnaround in 2025 has been one of the NFL’s biggest surprises. Under first-year head coach Ben Johnson, Chicago has surged to the top of the NFC standings and enters Week 18 with an 11–5 record and control of the No. 2 seed in the conference.
Standing in their way are the Detroit Lions, a familiar opponent for Johnson and one that, despite being eliminated from playoff contention, would love nothing more than to disrupt Chicago’s postseason positioning. While the Lions no longer have anything tangible to play for, the Bears still do—and Johnson knows his defense faces a major challenge if Amon-Ra St. Brown takes the field.
Ben Johnson Praises Former Star Pupil
Before becoming Chicago’s head coach, Johnson spent six seasons in Detroit, including his time as offensive coordinator when St. Brown developed into one of the league’s elite receivers. Under Johnson’s guidance, St. Brown blossomed into a consistent nightmare for opposing secondaries, earning three Pro Bowl nods and two First-Team All-Pro selections in his first four seasons.
Even though Detroit’s offense hasn’t looked the same since Johnson left, St. Brown has remained highly productive in 2025. Across 16 games, he’s recorded 106 receptions, 1,262 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns, a performance strong enough to earn him a fourth consecutive Pro Bowl selection—even as team success has been hard to come by.
Recently, St. Brown has been dealing with ankle and knee issues, leaving his status for the season finale uncertain. Despite that, Johnson fully expects his former standout to suit up and made sure to emphasize just how dangerous he can be.
Johnson had nothing but praise for St. Brown, highlighting his physicality, quickness, reliable hands, relentless work ethic, and mental toughness. He described him as one of the most dedicated players he’s ever coached and made it clear that his impact extends far beyond the stat sheet—both on and off the field.
Bears Focused on Securing NFC Playoff Position
With the NFC North rivalry adding extra intensity, Detroit will be motivated to play spoiler, even without playoff hopes of its own.
For Chicago, however, the goal is simple: win and lock in the No. 2 seed. A loss could open the door to unwanted complications in the standings.
Johnson’s deep knowledge of the Lions gives Chicago an edge, but the presence of St. Brown—especially if he’s healthy enough to play—raises the level of difficulty significantly. Slowing him down will be one of the Bears’ top priorities when the teams kick off Sunday afternoon.
The matchup is scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET, and if Chicago executes its game plan, the Bears should be able to close the regular season with a win and head into the playoffs firmly positioned near the top of the NFC.
