Chicago put itself at a disadvantage almost immediately, failing to establish any rhythm early in the game. On five of their opening possessions, the Bears either punted three times, turned the ball over on downs once, or threw an interception, digging a hole they struggled to escape.
Offensive momentum finally arrived on their sixth series, when the Bears moved 60 yards on seven plays. That drive was capped by quarterback Caleb Williams connecting with rookie Jahdae Walker on a 25-yard scoring strike. The touchdown also placed Williams at the top of the Bears’ single-season passing list, as he eclipsed Erik Kramer’s long-standing franchise record of 3,838 yards set in 1995.
Despite the milestone, Williams fell short of another historic mark. He did not reach 4,000 passing yards for the season, finishing the game 20-of-33 for 212 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
Chicago’s offensive limitations were evident elsewhere as well. The ground game produced just 65 total rushing yards, with D’Andre Swift accounting for 40 of them.
On the defensive side, the Bears were unable to make timely stops despite holding Detroit to 19 points. Lions quarterback Jared Goff consistently exploited short and intermediate routes, completing 27 of 42 passes for 331 yards. Detroit also found success on the ground, adding 122 rushing yards.
After regaining possession following the two-minute warning, the Lions methodically moved into scoring position. Kicker Jake Bates sealed the game with a 42-yard field goal as time expired.
Chicago now turns its attention to the postseason, where it will host the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Wild Card round.
Adam Jahns:
Ending the regular season with a loss isn’t ideal, but the Bears are still playoff-bound. That matters most. With Ben Johnson leading the way, there’s confidence the team can reset quickly.
Adam Hoge:
This wasn’t the type of performance you want heading into the postseason. Chicago looked lifeless for much of the game and failed to capitalize on a critical defensive takeaway late.
Mark Carman:
At least the Bears showed some fight late to avoid a complete collapse. Caleb Williams experienced the full roller coaster on the final drive. Defensive health is a concern, especially with Jaylon Johnson clearly limited and Tyrique Stevenson nowhere to be found. Still, it’s playoff time.
While the loss wasn’t ideal, it doesn’t affect Chicago’s playoff positioning. The Bears remain the No. 2 seed in the NFC and could host two postseason games if they defeat Green Bay next weekend.
That said, opposing teams appear to be finding consistent answers against Chicago’s defense, something the coaching staff must address quickly before the playoffs begin.
