Detroit Lions show Chicago Bears what they’re lacking in handing them 9th straight loss

CHICAGO — The chants rang out a few times Sunday from the hearty Detroit Lions contingent at Soldier Field, including as the clock ran down on the Lions’ 34-17 win over the Chicago Bears.

“Jar-ed Goff! Jar-ed Goff!” the fans yelled for the Lions quarterback who spearheaded a 475-yard offensive performance.

Minutes later, as Bears players headed to a glum, quick-emptying locker room amid their ninth straight loss, the Detroit fans gathered en masse in a corner of Soldier Field over the tunnel where Lions players exited.

The celebrations of the Lions’ 13th win might have been more of a dagger on the Bears home field if they weren’t so expected. The Lions, even amid a plague of injuries, have so much of what the Bears are lacking. On Sunday, that showed up in their ability to capitalize on Bears mistakes and surge ahead early to a 20-0 lead, forcing the Bears to play catch-up the whole game.

Bears quarterback Caleb Williams threw for 334 yards — the third-highest output of his rookie season — and two touchdowns against the heavily injured Lions defense. But the Bears lost two first-quarter fumbles, gave up an 82-yard touchdown pass and totaled 10 penalties in the game — five in each half — to make Williams’ outing just a footnote in what is now the Bears second-longest single-season losing streak in team history.

The longest streak came in 2022 when the Bears lost 10 games, which extended into 14 consecutive games at the start of the 2023 season. Bears tight end Cole Kmet, who was on all of those teams, said Sunday it was hard to find the good in the showing.

“I’m kind of done doing that,” Kmet said. “Two years ago, it felt like you’re trying to find positives to things. It’s hard for me to be real with myself and find positives when it’s 34-17.”

It is positive that Williams made some big plays, including several to veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen, who had a season-high nine catches for 141 yards and a touchdown. The other positives, perhaps, are that the Bears have only two games left and that the man orchestrating yet another big Lions offensive showing is reportedly a possibility for the Bears head coaching opening when those two games are over.

NFL Network reported Sunday that Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, director of the NFL’s top scoring offense, is “intrigued” by the Bears job and is willing to listen to what Bears leaders have to say.

That report came before Goff threw for 336 yards and three touchdowns — including a wild, viral play in which Goff and running back Jahmyr Gibbs both faked a fumble before Goff threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Sam LaPorta. The play was Johnson’s brainchild, Lions coach Dan Campbell said.

“They had a couple good plays for sure,” Bears nickel Kyler Gordon said. “But I don’t think they were doing nothing crazy. It was just execution, just doing your jobs. Everyone has got to win their one-on-ones. That’s what it really depends on. It’s a team sport. We all contribute by winning our one-on-ones.”

The Bears defense has allowed at least 30 points per game in each of their last three losses since they held the Lions to 23 points in a loss in Detroit on Thanksgiving. That loss, of course, was the final straw for head coach Matt Eberflus, who was fired the next day.

The rematch with the Lions was far more lopsided.

The Bears held the Lions to a field goal on Detroit’s first drive. But the defense had just two plays off the field before Williams and wide receiver Rome Odunze botched a handoff and Lions defensive lineman Josh Paschal recovered. Afterward, Williams took responsibility for not placing the ball where it needed to be.

The Lions took over at the Bears 36-yard line, and Gibbs rushed for 23 yards on the next play. Gibbs, who had 109 rushing yards in the game, eventually rushed for a 1-yard touchdown — on his third try from the 1-yard line — and a 10-0 lead.

Odunze fumbled again four plays into the next possession when he took a catch 19 yards and then was stripped by safety Brian Branch and linebacker Mitchell Agude. Linebacker Ben Niemann recovered it, and after a Jake Bates 34-yard field goal, the Lions were ahead 13-0.

“It’s just the little things. Not executing properly. We can’t turn the ball over early,” Odunze said. “Those things kind of remove any progress that you want to have. There’s been a big emphasis on just putting up points in the first half. When you do those things, it’s hard to get that rhythm going.”

Odunze bounced back to have some big catches later in the game, including two on fourth down on Bears scoring drives. But the Bears already trailed by 20 at both of those junctures.

Goff’s biggest play came on the Lions’ drive after the Bates field goal. Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams flew by cornerback Tyrique Stevenson and safety Jonathan Owens and caught Goff’s 82-yard pass in stride. With Owens struggling to keep up, Williams cruised into the end zone for a 20-0 Lions lead.

When Goff was asked what the key to that touchdown was for Williams, he said: “Just runs fast.”

“Our connection continues to grow,” Goff said. “He’s obviously one of the best deep threats in our league, even when it’s not perfect. Last week and this one wasn’t like the perfect look, but for him to make that play today and then finish it in the end zone, that’s what he’s capable of, and going to be more of that hopefully.”

That was another difference between the teams on Sunday.

The Lions, while looking ahead, were talking about building for their immediate future, for what is to come as the playoffs near. The Bears and Caleb Williams have only the 2025 season to build for now.

“There’re so many different situations that happen throughout games that you can learn from and that I’ve learned from this year,” Williams said. “I think every snap for myself and for this team is valuable.”

Braxton Jones and Teven Jenkins leave with injuries

Left tackle Braxton Jones suffered what appeared to be a serious left ankle injury midway through the second quarter.

Jones was injured on one of Odunze’s fourth-down conversion catches and looked to be in immediate pain. The entire Bears sideline went onto the field to support Jones while Bears staff put an air cast on his left leg and carted him off.

It was Jones’ first game back after missing the previous week with a concussion. Bears interim coach Thomas Brown said following the game he wasn’t sure yet if Jones had gone to the hospital.

Bears left guard Teven Jenkins also left in the first half after trying to play through a calf injury.

Offensive linemen Larry Borom and Jake Curhan filled in for Jones and Jenkins.