Lions survive thriller in Chicago, defeat Bears 19-16

Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions didn’t reach their ultimate goal this season, but they finished on a high note Sunday against the team that did.

Goff directed five scoring drives and Jake Bates drilled a 42-yard field goal as time expired, lifting the Lions to a 19–16 victory over NFC North champion Chicago after Detroit surrendered a 16-point lead in the fourth quarter. The win snapped a three-game losing streak and allowed the Lions (9–8) to close a disappointing season with some momentum.

Detroit controlled most of the afternoon behind an efficient performance from Goff, who rebounded from his worst outing of the season a week earlier. He completed 27 of 42 passes for 331 yards with a touchdown and an interception, spreading the ball effectively and keeping the Lions in scoring position throughout the game. Amon-Ra St. Brown led the way with 11 receptions for 139 yards, while Jahmyr Gibbs added 80 rushing yards and a touchdown catch.

The Bears (11–6) rested little and rallied late. Trailing 16–0 early in the fourth quarter, Caleb Williams ignited the comeback with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Jahdae Walker, followed by a two-point conversion run by Kyle Monangai. After a Detroit punt, Williams marched Chicago 88 yards, finishing the drive with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Colston Loveland and a successful two-point conversion to Cole Kmet that tied the game at 16.

Chicago appeared to have momentum after Kevin Byard intercepted Goff at the Bears’ 5-yard line late in the fourth quarter, but the Lions’ defense held. When the Bears punted on fourth-and-5 from the Detroit 31, Goff capitalized. A 26-yard completion to St. Brown set up Bates’ winning kick, which sailed through the uprights as time expired.

Williams finished with 212 passing yards and two touchdowns, setting the Bears’ single-season passing record with 3,942 yards. Loveland caught 10 passes for 91 yards and a score, while Byard recorded his league-leading seventh interception. Chicago’s loss was softened by Washington’s win over Philadelphia, which secured the Bears the No. 2 seed in the NFC despite back-to-back defeats.

Detroit also benefited from key defensive plays, including an end-zone interception by Avonte Maddox in the third quarter that preserved the Lions’ lead during Chicago’s early push.

The Bears won the NFC North in their first season under coach Ben Johnson and will host Green Bay in the wild-card round next weekend. The Lions, meanwhile, head into the offseason still searching for the consistency needed to turn preseason Super Bowl aspirations into postseason reality.

Injuries

Lions: WR Tom Kennedy suffered a rib injury while returning a punt in the third quarter.

Bears: LT Ozzy Trapilo (knee/quad) was held out. LB Ty Summers (foot) was injured on the opening kickoff. S C.J. Gardner-Johnson exited with a concussion on the final drive.

Up next

Lions: Begin the offseason.

Bears: Host the Green Bay Packers in a wild-card game Saturday night.