If you're refreshing your feed and asking what's the score of the lions bears game, the final buzzer has already sounded on a game that honestly felt like two different sports played on the same afternoon.
The Detroit Lions beat the Chicago Bears 19-16 on a walk-off 42-yard field goal by Jake Bates.
It was wild. For three quarters, it looked like Detroit was going to cruise to an easy, albeit boring, shutout. Then the fourth quarter happened. Caleb Williams woke up, the Soldier Field crowd went absolutely nuclear, and a 16-point lead evaporated in about ten minutes of game time.
Lions vs. Bears: How the 19-16 Finish Happened
The final score tells you it was a close game, but it doesn't really capture the weirdness of the "tale of two halves" vibe we got in Chicago. Detroit jumped out to a 13-0 lead by halftime. Honestly, the Bears' offense looked stuck in the mud. Jared Goff was efficient, finding Jahmyr Gibbs for a 15-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter, and Jake Bates was busy kicking field goals like he was at a practice session.
By the time the third quarter ended, it was 16-0. Most people were probably checking out other games or starting their Sunday dinner.
✨ Don't miss: Why Your 1 Arm Pull Up Progression Isn't Working (And How to Fix It)
But then, the fourth quarter hit.
Caleb Williams, who had been struggling all day, suddenly found a rhythm. He rifled a 25-yard touchdown pass to Jahdae Walker. Then they went for two—and got it. Suddenly it's 16-8. After a Lions punt, Williams marched them 88 yards down the field, capped off by a 1-yard toss to Colston Loveland. Another two-point conversion later (a gutsy catch by Cole Kmet), and we were tied at 16-16 with about five minutes left.
The Game-Winning Drive
After the Bears tied it, things got even crazier. Jared Goff threw a terrible interception to Kevin Byard III at the 5-yard line with two minutes left. It felt like the Lions were doing their "classic Lions" thing and handing the game away.
But Detroit's defense—which had been stout against the run all day, holding Chicago to a season-low 65 rushing yards—forced a quick three-and-out.
🔗 Read more: El Salvador partido de hoy: Why La Selecta is at a Critical Turning Point
Goff got the ball back with 1:41 on the clock. He didn't blink. He found Amon-Ra St. Brown for a massive 26-yard gain to get into Chicago territory. That set the stage for Jake Bates. As the clock hit zero, Bates nailed a 42-yarder, giving the Lions a 19-16 win and a season sweep over their division rivals.
What the Score Means for the Playoffs
You'd think a loss like this would be devastating for Chicago, but the NFL is weird. Despite losing, the Bears actually clinched the No. 2 seed in the NFC. They can thank the Washington Commanders for that, who beat the Philadelphia Eagles almost at the exact same time the Lions were celebrating in Chicago.
So, while the Lions get the "W" to finish their season 9-8, the Bears are the ones moving on to the postseason. They'll host the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card round.
Detroit, on the other hand, finishes with their fourth straight winning season under Dan Campbell but will be watching the playoffs from home this year. It's a bittersweet ending for a team that felt they were better than their record.
💡 You might also like: Meaning of Grand Slam: Why We Use It for Tennis, Baseball, and Breakfast
Key Stats from the Lions-Bears Matchup
- Final Score: Lions 19, Bears 16
- Jared Goff: 27/42, 331 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
- Caleb Williams: 20/33, 212 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
- Amon-Ra St. Brown: 11 catches for 139 yards (Total beast mode)
- Jahmyr Gibbs: 80 yards rushing, 1 receiving TD
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Season
Since the regular season is officially over for Detroit, we already know who they’ll be playing next year. Because they finished fourth in the NFC North (yeah, the North was that tough this year), they’ll have a "fourth-place" schedule in 2026. This means they’ll face teams like the Tennessee Titans and the New York Giants.
The Bears have a much tougher road ahead. They've got the Packers next Saturday at 7:00 PM CT. If they want to make a deep run, they can't afford to play the first three quarters like they did today. You can't spot playoff teams 16 points and expect to survive.
If you’re looking to follow the Bears’ playoff run or want to see the full Detroit Lions 2026 schedule, keep an eye on the official NFL bracket updates. The road to the Super Bowl in Santa Clara is officially open.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the Playoff Bracket: If you're a Bears fan, mark your calendar for Saturday at 7:00 PM CT against Green Bay.
- Review the Stat Sheet: Take a look at the rushing defense numbers; Detroit's ability to hold Chicago to 65 yards is a blueprint for how to stop Caleb Williams.
- Draft Prep: Lions fans should start looking at mid-first-round mock drafts, as their 9-8 finish secures them a pick in the middle of the pack for the 2026 NFL Draft.