CHICAGO — Chants rang out repeatedly Sunday from the hearty Detroit Lions contingent at Soldier Field, including as time expired in the Lions’ 34-17 victory over the Chicago Bears.
“Jar-ed Goff!” Jar-ed Goff! » fans yelled at the Lions quarterback who led a 475-yard offensive performance.
Minutes later, as Bears players headed into a dark, quickly emptying locker room in the midst of their ninth straight loss, Detroit fans gathered en masse in a corner of Soldier Field, above the tunnel from which the Lions players came out.
The celebrations for the Lions’ 13th win might have been more of a dagger on the Bears’ field if they hadn’t been so anticipated. The Lions, even in the midst of an injury epidemic, have so much of what the Bears lack. On Sunday, this showed in their ability to capitalize on the Bears’ mistakes and jump out to an early 20-0 lead, forcing the Bears to play catch-up throughout the game.
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams threw for 334 yards – the third-most in his rookie season – and two touchdowns against a badly 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’ exit just a footnote in what is now the Bears’ second-longest single. losing streak in team history.
The longest streak occurred in 2022 when the Bears lost 10 games, which extended to 14 straight games at the start of the 2023 season. Bears tight end Cole Kmet, who was on all of those teams , said Sunday that it was difficult to find the good in the performance.
“I’m kind of done with it,” Kmet said. “Two years ago, it seemed like we were trying to find the positive in things. It’s hard for me to be real with myself and find positives when it’s 34-17.
It’s positive that Williams made some big plays, including several to veteran receiver Keenan Allen, who had a game-high nine catches for 141 yards and a touchdown. The other positives, perhaps, are that the Bears only have two games left and the man orchestrating another big offensive performance from the Lions would be a possibility for the Bears head coach to open a once these two matches are completed.
NFL Network reported Sunday that Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, director of the NFL’s top-scoring offense, is “intrigued” by the Bears’ work and is willing to listen to what Bears executives have to say .
This 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 yards to Sam LaPorta. The play was Johnson’s brainchild, Lions coach Dan Campbell said.
“They definitely made some good plays,” Bears nickel Kyler Gordon said. “But I don’t think they were doing anything crazy. It was just execution, just doing your job. Everyone must win their face-to-face match. That’s what it really depends on. It’s a team sport. We all contribute by winning our head-to-head matches.
The Bears’ defense has allowed at least 30 points per game in each of their last three losses since holding the Lions to 23 points in a loss at Detroit on Thanksgiving Day. 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 much 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 receiver Rome Odunze botched a handoff and Lions defensive lineman Josh Paschal recovered. Afterward, Williams took responsibility for not putting the ball where it needed to be.
The Lions took over at the Bears’ 36-yard line and Gibbs rushed 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 one-yard line — and a 10-0 lead.
Odunze fumbled again four plays in the next possession when he had a 19-yard catch, then was stripped by safety Brian Branch and linebacker Mitchell Agude. Linebacker Ben Niemann recovered it, and after a 34-yard field goal by Jake Bates, the Lions led 13-0.
“It’s just little things. Does not run correctly. We can’t turn the ball over early,” Odunze said. “Those things kind of take away any progress you want to make. The focus was on just scoring points in the first half. When you do these things, it’s difficult to maintain this pace.
Odunze bounced back to make a few big catches later in the game, including two on fourth down on the Bears’ field goals. But the Bears were already down by 20 at both points.
Goff’s biggest play came on the Lions’ drive after Bates’ basket. Lions receiver Jameson Williams flew past cornerback Tyrique Stevenson and safety Jonathan Owens and caught Goff’s 82-yard pass in stride. With Owens struggling to keep up, Williams headed into the end zone to take a 20-0 lead for the Lions.
When Goff was asked what the key to that touchdown was for Williams, he replied, “He runs fast. »
“Our connection continues to grow,” Goff said. “He’s obviously one of the best deep threats in our league, even if he’s not perfect. Last week and this one weren’t perfect, but for him to make this play today and finish it in the end zone, that’s what he’s capable of, and I hope he is. any further.
This was another difference between the teams on Sunday.
The Lions, while looking ahead, talked about building their immediate future, for what awaits them as the playoffs approach. The Bears and Caleb Williams only have the 2025 season to build on for now.
“There are so many different situations that happen throughout games that you can learn from and I have learned from this year,” Williams said. “I think every snap for me and for this team is valuable.”
Braxton Jones and Teven Jenkins leave injured
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 appeared to be in immediate pain. The entire Bears sideline took to the field to support Jones while Bears personnel put an air blast on his left leg and carried him away.
It was Jones’ first game back after missing the previous week with a concussion. Bears interim coach Thomas Brown said after the game that he was not yet sure if Jones had gone to the hospital.
Bears left guard Teven Jenkins also left in the first half after attempting to play through a calf injury.
Offensive linemen Larry Borom and Jake Curhan replaced Jones and Jenkins.
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