The Detroit Lions have been a force to be reckoned with this season, dominating opponents and leading the league in point differential.

On Thursday, they came close to suffering a setback but managed to hold off the Chicago Bears, extending their winning streak to 10 games with a narrow 23–20 victory.

Quarterback Jared Goff connected with tight end Sam LaPorta for two touchdown passes, while kicker Jake Bates made three field goals in the first half to help Detroit establish an early lead.

The Lions were on track for a more comfortable win, but the Bears made a late push, leaving the game in doubt until the final moments.

Goff acknowledged the tense finish, asking, “It was a crazy ending, right?” and indeed, it was.

With under a minute left, the Bears had an opportunity to tie the game or even take the lead after advancing into Lions territory. But they failed to capitalize.

Chicago’s quarterback, Caleb Williams, threw an incomplete pass as time expired, following a sack that pushed the Bears back to Detroit’s 41-yard line.

Despite still having one timeout left, Williams couldn’t get the Bears back into position in time to attempt a game-tying kick or a go-ahead touchdown.

He explained after the game, “I’m focused on getting everyone back and getting everyone lined up… we could have taken a timeout, but if we hit that play, no one would be worried about it.”

The Lions (11–1) now hold their best record through 12 games in franchise history, and their 10-game win streak matches a team record set in 1934.

On the other hand, the Bears (4–8) have lost six consecutive games, with four of those defeats coming by a combined total of just 10 points.

Chicago’s head coach Matt Eberflus has struggled in close games, with a record of 5–17 in contests decided by seven points or fewer. His teams have won just 22.7% of those games, ranking last among NFL coaches with at least 20 such games.

“We’re right there,” Eberflus said after the loss, expressing optimism despite the continued struggles.

Detroit controlled the game for most of the first three quarters. They took a 16–0 lead into halftime after Goff connected with LaPorta for a 3-yard touchdown and Bates added a pair of field goals.

Chicago, in contrast, had a rough start, failing to record a first down on their first four possessions and totaling only 32 yards during that stretch.

“We started off pretty hot offensively and defensively,” said Lions head coach Dan Campbell.

The Lions added another touchdown in the third quarter when Goff found LaPorta again, this time with a 1-yard pass to give Detroit a commanding 23–7 lead.

The touchdown drive was set up by a spectacular 15-yard reverse run by Jameson Williams, which included him hurdling over a Bears defender to gain extra yards.

Meanwhile, Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, had a solid game. He completed 20 of 39 passes for 256 yards and threw two touchdowns, one each to Keenan Allen and DJ Moore.

However, he did make his first rookie mistake of the game when he took a low hit from Lions linebacker Jack Campbell on a run.

Williams pulled up instead of stepping out of bounds, resulting in the injury. “Knee is fine, but that play was kind of funky,” Williams said, adding that he didn’t appreciate the hit. “But it is good,” he concluded.

Williams quickly bounced back, leading the Bears to a late charge. He connected with Allen for a 31-yard touchdown and later found him again for a 9-yard score with 5:36 left in the game. However, the Bears’ comeback fell short, and Detroit was able to hold on to the lead.

The Lions had an opportunity to extend their lead but missed a chance when Bates, who had been perfect on field goals to start his career, missed a 45-yard attempt. A 15-yard penalty on Jameson Williams for unsportsmanlike conduct, when he tossed the football at a Bears player on the sideline, stalled Detroit’s drive and set up the missed field goal.

Afterward, Williams apologized to his team for the penalty. “I’m proud of him, the way he handled it,” Goff said in praise of his teammate.

The Lions’ win marked a significant milestone, as they broke a seven-game losing streak on Thanksgiving Day and now look poised to make a deep playoff run. “We’re going to enjoy this,” Campbell said after the game.

In terms of injuries, the Bears were forced to play without several key players, including running back Roschon Johnson, who left the game with a concussion.

Guards Ryan Bates (concussion) and Elijah Hicks (ankle) were also inactive. On Detroit’s side, linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez left the game with a knee injury, and coach Campbell expressed concern that it could be serious.

Defensive linemen Josh Paschal (knee), Levi Onwuzurike (hamstring), and Mekhi Wingo (knee) also suffered injuries, adding to the list of injuries that have plagued the Lions’ defense, including a broken leg suffered by star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson earlier in the season.

Despite these setbacks, the Lions remain a force in the NFC and will look to keep their momentum going as they head into the final stretch of the season.