CHICAGO — The Detroit Lions finally brought an exhausting and uneven season to a close, and they did so with a dramatic finish on the road.
Although Detroit entered the finale already out of playoff contention and locked into a last-place finish in the NFC North, the Lions still managed to end on a high note. A 42-yard kick by Jake Bates as time ran out lifted Detroit to a 19–16 victory over the Chicago Bears, securing a winning record for the fourth consecutive season — something the franchise had not accomplished in over five decades.
The victory, which snapped a three-game losing streak, didn’t come easily. Detroit surrendered a 16-point lead in the fourth quarter before Bates’ walk-off field goal sealed the outcome.
Detroit dominates early, settles for field goals
The Lions controlled the game coming out of halftime, holding a 13–0 advantage and overwhelming Chicago statistically. However, red-zone struggles prevented Detroit from building a larger lead early, as two promising drives ended in short field goals.
The game’s first touchdown finally came late in the second quarter when quarterback Jared Goff connected with Jahmyr Gibbs on a 15-yard scoring pass with 4:46 remaining before halftime.
By the break, Detroit had piled up 11 more first downs than Chicago, outgained the Bears by 168 yards, and held possession for nearly 10 additional minutes.
Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown played a major role in the early surge, hauling in nine catches for 110 yards in the first half as he strengthened his case for postseason honors. On defense, Aidan Hutchinson added another sack to his impressive campaign, reaching 14.5 for the season.
Defense holds firm — until the fourth quarter
Detroit’s defense, coordinated by Kelvin Sheppard, continued its strong performance into the third quarter. After Chicago extended a drive with a defensive penalty, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams attempted a deep shot toward the end zone. Veteran defensive back Avonte Maddox stepped in front of the pass for an interception, preserving the shutout with 7:45 left in the third.
Once again, the Lions offense moved the ball effectively but stalled near the goal line. After Goff missed a wide-open Jameson Williams on third-and-goal, Bates knocked through a 25-yard field goal to extend the lead to 16–0 late in the third quarter. All three of Bates’ early field goals came from close range.
Bears rally with late surge
Detroit entered the final quarter without allowing a red-zone trip, but Chicago finally found momentum. Williams lofted a 25-yard touchdown pass to receiver Jahdae Walker early in the fourth, cutting the deficit in half. Rookie running back Kyle Monangai added the two-point conversion to make it 16–8.
The Bears struck again after Detroit’s failed trick play gave Chicago excellent field position. Despite some early chaos on the drive, Williams calmly dissected Detroit’s coverage, finishing the possession with a one-yard touchdown pass to tight end Colston Loveland. Another successful two-point attempt — this time to Cole Kmet — tied the game at 16–16 with 5:25 remaining.
The 88-yard march marked Chicago’s most sustained drive of the afternoon.
Chaotic finish leads to last-second heroics
Detroit’s attempt to drain the clock nearly unraveled. A series of clock-stopping mistakes, including an intentional grounding penalty and a tipped pass interception by Kevin Byard, gave Chicago another opportunity late.
Williams, however, returned the favor with his own grounding penalty, allowing Detroit to regain possession.
With just seconds left, Goff found St. Brown for a crucial 26-yard gain, setting up Bates for the game-winning kick with 33 seconds remaining. Goff finished with 331 passing yards, while St. Brown ended the day with 11 receptions for 139 yards.
Additional notes
Minnesota’s earlier win over Green Bay confirmed Detroit’s last-place finish before kickoff, completing a dramatic reversal from last season when the Lions won the division.
Detroit’s 9–8 record marks its fourth straight winning season, a milestone not reached since the early 1970s.
Gibbs’ touchdown catch tied him with Barry Sanders and Randy Moss for the most touchdowns by a player through their first three NFL seasons.
Williams broke Chicago’s single-season passing yardage record as a rookie, surpassing Erik Kramer.
Detroit finally rushed for over 100 yards after failing to do so in three straight games.
Veteran Chris Hubbard started at right tackle in place of Penei Sewell, while Malcolm Rodriguez filled in at linebacker for the injured Alex Anzalone.
Defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo appeared in just his second game of the season — both coming against Chicago.
