If you walked into a bar in Royal Oak or a deep-dish joint in Chicago last September, the vibes couldn’t have been more different. Detroit was coming off a massive hype train, while the Windy City was pins and needles over Caleb Williams. But by the time the dust settled on January 4, 2026, the Detroit Lions vs Bears rivalry had added another bizarre chapter to a book that’s been writing itself since 1930.
Most people look at the final standings and see a Bears team that took the NFC North crown. That’s true. They went 11-6. But if you look closer, the Lions—who finished a somewhat bumpy 9-8—actually owned the head-to-head. They swept them.
Honestly, the way these two teams play each other defies logic. You have one team winning the division and the other team winning the "I beat you twice" trophy. It’s peak NFC North chaos.
The Week 2 Blowout Nobody Saw Coming
Let’s go back to September 14, 2025. Ford Field was absolutely rocking. The Lions were coming off a Week 1 loss to Green Bay and people were already starting to panic. "Is the magic gone?" they asked.
Then Jared Goff happened.
He didn't just play well; he dismantled the Bears' secondary. Goff threw five touchdowns. Five. Three of those went to Amon-Ra St. Brown, who looked like he was playing against a high school JV squad that afternoon. The final score was a staggering 52-21.
It was a beatdown.
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Caleb Williams, in only his second NFL start, looked every bit the rookie. He wasn't terrible—19 for 30 with two touchdowns—but he was clearly playing catch-up against a Detroit offense that refused to take its foot off the gas. Ben Johnson (the Bears' head coach, not the Lions' OC, which is still confusing for some) admitted later that his team just wasn't ready for that level of intensity.
- Final Score: Lions 52, Bears 21
- Key Stat: Detroit put up 38 points before the fourth quarter even started.
- Standout: St. Brown with 110 yards in the first half alone.
The Regular Season Finale at Soldier Field
Fast forward to January. The situation had flipped. Chicago was the NFC North champion, locked into a high playoff seed. Detroit was fighting for pride and a winning record.
This game was a defensive slugfest for three quarters. The Lions jumped out to a 16-0 lead, and it felt like another blowout was brewing. Jake Bates, the Lions' kicker who has become a cult hero in Michigan, was basically the entire offense for a while, knocking down field goals from 34, 30, and 25 yards.
But then, the fourth quarter happened.
Caleb Williams finally looked like the "Generational Talent" everyone talked about during the draft. He orchestrated a furious comeback, rifling a 25-yard TD to Jahdae Walker and then a 1-yarder to Colston Loveland. The Bears converted two-point tries on both scores.
Suddenly, it's 16-16 with five minutes left.
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How the Lions Stole It (Again)
With the game tied and the momentum completely in Chicago's favor, Jared Goff threw an interception at the Bears' 5-yard line with two minutes left. Most teams would fold there. You’re on the road, you just blew a 16-point lead, and your veteran QB just gave the ball away in the red zone.
The Detroit defense, which had been criticized all season for being "boom-or-bust," actually stood up. They forced a three-and-out.
Goff got the ball back at his own 37 with 1:41 on the clock. This is where the Detroit Lions vs Bears history gets interesting. Instead of playing safe, Goff went right back to Amon-Ra St. Brown for a 26-yard gain down to the Chicago 26-yard line.
Jake Bates stepped up and nailed a 42-yard walk-off field goal. Game over. Lions win 19-16.
Breaking Down the Numbers
Sometimes stats lie, but in this rivalry, they tell a story of total dominance in specific areas. Even though the Bears were the better team over the full 17-game stretch, Detroit found the "cheat code" for the Chicago defense.
Running the Ball
In the second meeting, Chicago entered the game as the #3 rushing offense in the NFL, averaging nearly 150 yards a game. Detroit’s front seven held them to just 65 yards. That’s insane. If you can't run the ball in January at Soldier Field, you're going to have a bad time.
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The Caleb Williams Progress Report
Despite the loss, Williams made history in that finale. He broke Erik Kramer's single-season franchise passing record (3,838 yards) that had stood since 1995. Williams finished the year with 3,942 yards.
He’s the real deal. But he’s 0-2 against Detroit.
The Jahmyr Gibbs Milestone
Jahmyr Gibbs scored a 15-yard touchdown in the second quarter of the finale. That was his 31st career game with a touchdown. To put that in perspective, he tied Barry Sanders and Randy Moss for the most games with a TD in a player's first three seasons. He is the engine of that Detroit offense.
Why the Lions Swept the Division Champs
It basically comes down to matchups. The Lions’ offensive line is built to neutralize the kind of pass rush Chicago tries to generate. Montez Sweat got his 10th sack of the season in the finale, but for the most part, Goff had clean pockets in both games.
Also, the Lions' secondary, while inconsistent against the rest of the league, seems to have a read on the Bears' wideouts. Avonte Maddox had a massive interception in the end zone that essentially saved the game for Detroit in the third quarter.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Offseason
Looking ahead, both teams are in fascinating positions. If you're a fan or a bettor watching the Detroit Lions vs Bears dynamic, here is what actually matters moving forward:
- Watch the Kicker: Jake Bates is a legitimate weapon. In close divisional games, having a guy who can hit from 50+ or nail walk-offs under pressure is the difference between 9-8 and 7-10.
- The "Ben Johnson" Factor: Chicago's head coach Ben Johnson has fixed their offense, but he has to figure out the Detroit riddle. Expect the Bears to prioritize offensive line depth in the 2026 draft to counter Detroit’s interior pressure.
- Goff’s Longevity: Jared Goff finished the season with 32 touchdowns and only 5 interceptions (prior to the final game). He isn't "just a bridge QB." He’s the guy. Detroit’s window is wide open as long as he stays this efficient.
- Chicago’s Defensive Identity: The Bears led the league in takeaways (33) but still lost both games to Detroit. This suggests that while they are "ball hawks," they struggle with disciplined, high-volume passing attacks.
The rivalry is the healthiest it has been in decades. For the first time since the mid-90s, both teams actually have elite quarterback play at the same time. The 2025 season might have belonged to the Bears in the standings, but the Lions proved that on any given Sunday, they still own the head-to-head.
Check the 2026 schedule as soon as it drops in May. These two matchups will likely decide the North again, especially with Green Bay breathing down their necks. Keep an eye on the injury reports for St. Brown and Gibbs specifically, as they remain the "Bears killers" in this current era of the rivalry.