If you were watching the clock bleed out at Soldier Field on January 4, 2026, you know the feeling. It was cold. It was messy. It was classic NFC North football. The Detroit Lions latest score ended up being a 19-16 victory over the Chicago Bears, but that number barely scratches the surface of how weirdly this game played out.
Honestly, it was a game of two completely different halves. The Lions came out swinging, or at least kicking, and looked like they were going to cruise to an easy win to end a somewhat rocky 9-8 season.
Then the fourth quarter happened.
The Game That Refused to End Simply
Detroit walked into the final frame with a 16-0 lead. Jared Goff was efficient, if not explosive, finishing 27-of-42 for 331 yards. He found Jahmyr Gibbs for a 15-yard touchdown in the second quarter, and Jake Bates was busy proving why he's one of the most reliable legs in the league right now. Bates nailed field goals of 34, 30, and 25 yards. It felt safe.
But "safe" isn't a word in the Dan Campbell dictionary.
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Chicago’s Caleb Williams suddenly woke up. He connected with Jahdae Walker for a 25-yard touchdown, then orchestrated an 88-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard toss to Colston Loveland. Two successful two-point conversions later, and suddenly we’re sitting at a 16-16 tie with five minutes left.
The stadium was shaking.
Why the Detroit Lions Latest Score Matters More Than You Think
You might look at a 19-16 final and think it’s just another Week 18 game between division rivals. It wasn't. For Detroit, this win was a massive "get right" moment after a brutal three-game losing streak in December. Losing to the Rams, Steelers, and Vikings in consecutive weeks had the fanbase—and likely the locker room—spiraling a bit.
- Jahmyr Gibbs was a monster, putting up 113 total yards.
- Aidan Hutchinson notched another sack, tying Ezekiel Ansah for the second-most sacks in a single season in Lions history (14.5).
- Jake Bates stayed perfect, hitting a 42-yarder as time expired to seal the 19-16 win.
It was a bittersweet ending. Despite the win, the Vikings beat the Packers earlier that day, which officially locked Detroit into fourth place in the NFC North.
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Looking at the 2025-2026 Season as a Whole
When we talk about the Detroit Lions latest score, we have to talk about the context of the whole year. This team was 9-8. They were 2-4 in the division. That hurts, especially when you consider how high expectations were following their recent playoff runs.
The defense showed flashes of brilliance, especially with Hutchinson and the emergence of younger secondary pieces, but the consistency just wasn't there. Offensively, losing the rhythm in the red zone during that December stretch is ultimately what kept them out of the postseason.
"It feels good to kind of get back to who we are and see it in live-speed reality," Jared Goff said after the game.
He's right. Seeing the Lions execute a two-minute drill to set up a game-winning field goal felt like the 2024 version of this team. It was a reminder of what they can be when the pressure is at its highest.
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The Fallout: Coaching Changes and Roster Moves
Winning the season finale wasn't enough to save everyone’s job. On January 6, 2026, just two days after the Bears game, the Lions fired offensive coordinator John Morton.
Morton was only there for one season. The offense put up yards—Goff's 331-yard performance against Chicago is proof of that—but the scoring dipped significantly compared to the Ben Johnson era. Reports are already circulating that the Lions are looking at former Detroit QB David Blough as a potential candidate for the OC role.
What Happens Now?
The Lions are officially in "rebuild the momentum" mode. Because they finished fourth in the NFC North, their 2026 schedule is actually looking a bit more manageable on paper. They’ll face the fourth-place teams from the AFC South (Titans), NFC East (Giants), and NFC West (Cardinals).
Here is what the immediate future looks like for the Lions:
- Staffing the Offense: The search for a new OC is priority number one. Dan Campbell is reportedly weighing the pros and cons of taking over play-calling duties himself, though that’s a move fraught with its own risks.
- Free Agency: The team has 28 free agents to deal with, including veteran leaders like Alex Anzalone.
- Draft Prep: The win against Chicago moved their draft position slightly, but they still have a solid mid-round slot to address the pass rush and interior offensive line.
The Lions aren't going anywhere, but the 19-16 score to end the season was a loud reminder that the margin for error in the NFL is razor-thin. If you want to keep tabs on the roster changes, keep an eye on the NFL Scouting Combine starting February 23. That’s when the real work for the 2026 season begins.
For fans, the next big date is March 11, when the new league year officially starts and the trading window opens. That’s when we’ll see if Brad Holmes has another "villain" move up his sleeve to get this team back to the top of the North.