The regular-season finale at Soldier Field had everything you’d expect from an NFC North clash: high stakes, record-breaking milestones, and a dramatic finish that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle.
While the Chicago Bears ultimately fell 19-16 to the Detroit Lions on Sunday, the afternoon was a rollercoaster of emotions that served as a perfect, if stressful, prelude to the postseason.
A Tale of Two Halves
For the first three quarters, it looked like the Bears’ offense had stayed home.
I know, I know… what else is new?
The Lions dominated the time of possession and jumped out to a 16-0 lead, fueled by the steady leg of Jake Bates and a 15-yard touchdown strike from Jared Goff to Jahmyr Gibbs.
The Bears’ rushing attack, which entered the game ranked third in the league, was uncharacteristically stifled, held to a season-low 65 yards.
Frustration was mounting in the stands, as well as in my living room, until the fourth quarter began, and the “Monsters of the Midway” finally woke up.
Caleb Williams Makes History
Despite the loss, January 4, 2026, will be remembered as the day Caleb Williams officially rewrote the Bears’ history books.
Early in the fourth quarter, Williams fired a 25-yard touchdown pass to rookie Jahdae Walker. That throw didn’t just ignite the comeback; it pushed Williams past Erik Kramer’s 1995 record for the most passing yards in a single season in franchise history.
Williams finished the day with 212 passing yards, bringing his season total to 3,942. While the elusive 4,000-yard mark remains a mountain yet to be climbed by a Bears QB, Williams has solidified himself as the future of the franchise.
The Comeback and the Clincher
The momentum shifted entirely after the Walker touchdown. Following a successful two-point conversion by Kyle Monangai, the Bears’ defense forced a quick punt.
Williams then orchestrated an 88-yard drive, culminating in a 1-yard touchdown toss to tight end Colston Loveland, who had a career-high 10 catches. A gutsy two-point conversion pass to Cole Kmet tied the game at 16-16 with just over five minutes remaining.
Soldier Field was deafening, especially after Kevin Byard intercepted Goff deep in Bears territory to halt a potential Detroit response. However, the Bears couldn’t capitalize on the takeaway.
With 1:41 left, Goff redeemed himself. A 26-yard completion to Amon-Ra St. Brown (who torched the secondary for 139 yards) set the stage for Jake Bates. As time expired, Bates drilled a 42-yard field goal, handing Detroit the season sweep and a 9-8 finish.
Looking Ahead: The Postseason Beckons
The loss stung, but the bigger picture remains bright for the Bears. Thanks to a Philadelphia loss earlier in the day, the Bears (11-6) secured the No. 2 seed in the NFC.
Unfortunately, despite the prospect of playing two games at home if they can win the first one, that Wild Card game is against the hated Packers, who basically controlled both regular season outings. If not for Caleb’s heroics in the touchdown bomb to D.J. Moore in the “Christmas Miracle” game, the Bears would’ve been swept by the Packers and had a 1-5 division record against NFC North foes.
It could be an extremely joyous night at Soldier Field this week, or another depressing chapter in the recent Bears-Packers rivalry.
Next up: The Bears will host the seventh-seeded Packers at Soldier Field this Saturday at 7:00 PM. There is no better way to wash off a regular-season loss than by beating your oldest rival in the playoffs.
