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The question of what's the score for the Detroit Lions usually comes with a bit of anxiety if you’re from Michigan. If you missed the final whistle on January 4, 2026, or you're just trying to wrap your head around how the season wrapped up, here is the short version: The Detroit Lions beat the Chicago Bears 19-16 at Soldier Field to close out their schedule.
It was a weird one. Honestly, it was a game that summarized the entire 2025-2026 campaign—flashes of absolute brilliance followed by a collapse that nearly gave the fanbase a collective heart attack.
The Final Score Breakdown
The Lions walked into Chicago as underdogs. The Bears were already the NFC North champions, looking to secure a high seed, while Detroit was basically playing for pride and a better draft slot.
For three quarters, Dan Campbell’s squad looked like world-beaters. They jumped out to a 16-0 lead. Jake Bates was busy, knocking through field goals of 34, 30, and 25 yards. Jared Goff also connected with Jahmyr Gibbs for a 15-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
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Then, the fourth quarter happened.
Chicago’s Caleb Williams woke up. He threw two touchdown passes in the final frame—one to Jahdae Walker and a 1-yarder to Colston Loveland. With two successful two-point conversions, the Bears tied it up 16-16 with about five minutes left.
But this is the 2026 version of the Lions. They didn't fold. Goff marched them 39 yards in under two minutes, setting up Jake Bates for a 42-yard game-winning field goal as time expired.
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Key Stats from the Season Finale
- Jared Goff: 27/42, 331 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT.
- Jahmyr Gibbs: 80 rushing yards, 33 receiving yards, 1 TD.
- Amon-Ra St. Brown: 11 catches for 139 yards (because of course he did).
- Jake Bates: 4-for-5 on field goals, including the walk-off.
Why the Score Matters for Detroit’s Future
Even though they won, the Lions finished the season with a 9-8 record. Because the Minnesota Vikings swept them earlier in the year, Detroit ended up in fourth place in the NFC North.
It’s a bit of a bitter pill.
Last year, the expectations were "Super Bowl or bust." Instead, they missed the playoffs entirely. The defense, led by Aidan Hutchinson (who still put up 14.5 sacks this year), was sporadically dominant but struggled to close out games in December.
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The immediate fallout? Offensive coordinator John Morton was fired just nine days after the final game. The front office is clearly feeling the heat.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Since the regular season is over, the "score" for the Lions is now all about the offseason and the draft. Because they finished fourth in the division, their 2026 schedule is actually going to be slightly "easier" based on the NFL’s scheduling formula.
2026 Home Opponents
- Chicago Bears
- Green Bay Packers
- Minnesota Vikings
- New Orleans Saints
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- New England Patriots
- New York Jets
- Tennessee Titans
- New York Giants
2026 Road Opponents
- Chicago, Green Bay, Minnesota (The usual suspects)
- Atlanta Falcons
- Buffalo Bills
- Carolina Panthers
- Miami Dolphins
- Arizona Cardinals
The Lions are currently locked into a mid-round draft pick, which Brad Holmes will likely use to address the secondary. Despite the 9-8 finish, the core of this team—Goff, Sewell, Hutchinson, and St. Brown—is still among the best in the league.
Basically, the window isn't closed, but it's definitely getting a little drafty in here.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the Draft Order: Keep an eye on the official NFL Draft order released after Wild Card weekend to see exactly where Detroit lands (currently projected around pick 15-18).
- Watch the Coaching Search: Monitor who Dan Campbell hires as the new Offensive Coordinator, as this will define how Jared Goff is used in the final years of his current contract structure.
- Offseason Dates: Mark March 2026 on your calendar for the start of NFL Free Agency, where the Lions are expected to have roughly $30 million in cap space to play with.