The Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions played a wild game on January 4, 2026, at Soldier Field in Chicago. The game ended with a walk-off field goal, and the final score was Detroit 19, Chicago 16. This game was the last game of the regular season for both teams, and it gave fans a lot to talk about. In this article, we will look at the full player stats from this exciting matchup, and we will explain what each stat meant for both teams.
How the Game Ended
The game came down to the final seconds. Detroit kicker Jake Bates made a 42-yard field goal as time ran out, and this kick gave the Lions the 19-16 win. Before that final kick, Detroit had built a 16-0 lead going into the fourth quarter. It looked like the Lions were in full control. But Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams did not give up. He threw two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, and the Bears also converted two two-point conversions. This brought the score to 16-16 and set up a tense finish. Detroit then drove the ball downfield one more time, and Bates delivered the winning kick with no time left on the clock. Jake Bates drilled a 42-yard field goal on the final play, giving the Detroit Lions a 19-16 win over the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on January 4, 2026, closing a disappointing regular season on the only winning note available to a team that had arrived in the fall expecting a Super Bowl run.
The Quarterback Battle: Goff vs. Williams
This game showed two very different quarterbacks going head to head. Detroit’s Jared Goff played a steady, controlled game. He completed a lot of passes and moved the ball well through the air. Chicago’s Caleb Williams, a rookie having a great season, showed his fighting spirit in the fourth quarter, even though the Bears fell short in the end.
Goff had a strong bounce-back game after a rough performance the week before. Jared Goff threw for 331 yards with one touchdown in this contest. He also threw one interception during the game, but he kept his composure and helped Detroit control the pace. Goff spread the ball around to many different receivers, which kept the Bears defense guessing.
Caleb Williams also had a memorable day, even in a losing effort. Williams finished the year with a Bears franchise-record 3,942 passing yards, breaking Erik Kramer’s 3,838 set in 1995. This means that after this game, Williams had thrown for more yards in a single season than any other quarterback in Bears history. That is a big deal for a player in only his second year in the league. In this specific game, Williams threw for 212 yards, giving him 3,942 this season to surpass Erik Kramer’s franchise mark of 3,838 in 1995. Williams also threw two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, which almost brought Chicago back from a big deficit.
Detroit’s Offensive Stars
Detroit’s passing game had many bright spots in this game, and the numbers tell the story clearly.
Amon-Ra St. Brown was the top receiver on the field. Amon-Ra St. Brown hauled in 11 catches for 139 yards to lead the Lions’ comeback after Chicago erased a 16-0 fourth quarter deficit. His 11 catches were a huge part of Detroit’s ability to keep drives going and control the clock. He worked well on short and medium routes all game long, which helped Goff move the chains again and again.
Jameson Williams gave the Lions offense a different kind of threat. He is known for his speed, and he used it in this game to stretch the field. He finished with 74 receiving yards, which added a vertical passing threat that opened up space for other players.
Jahmyr Gibbs also had a strong role in this game. Gibbs ran for 80 yards and had a touchdown catch. This shows that Gibbs was useful both as a runner and as a receiver. His touchdown catch was actually Detroit’s only touchdown of the whole game, which made it an important play in the final result.
Chicago’s Offensive Stars
Even though Chicago lost the game, some players had good individual performances that fans will remember.
Colston Loveland had a big game catching passes from Williams. Colston Loveland caught 10 passes for 91 yards and a touchdown. His touchdown catch was part of Chicago’s fourth-quarter comeback attempt, and his 10 catches showed that he was a reliable target for Williams throughout the game.
Chicago’s passing attack was more limited overall in terms of total yards compared to Detroit, but the Bears made their yards count when it mattered most, especially in the final quarter when they scored two touchdowns to tie the game.
Defensive Standouts
Defense also played a big role in deciding this game, especially for Detroit.
Aidan Hutchinson kept up the pressure on Chicago’s offensive line all game long. Aidan Hutchinson has tied Ezekiel Ansah (2015) for 2nd on the Lions single-season defensive sacks list with 14.5. This means that after this game, Hutchinson had one of the best single-season sack totals in team history. His pressure on Williams made it harder for Chicago to move the ball early in the game.
Kevin Byard also had a standout defensive play. Byard’s interception, a 21-yard return after Jaquan Brisker tipped a Goff pass at the Chicago 35, was his seventh of the 2025 regular season and the most by any player in the NFL that year. This interception was a team effort, since Brisker tipped the ball first, and it showed how well Chicago’s secondary worked together on that specific play, even if the final score did not go their way.
Avonte Maddox also made a key defensive play for Chicago. He intercepted a pass from Caleb Williams… wait, that is not right. Let me correct this: Maddox actually played for Detroit and intercepted Chicago’s Caleb Williams in the end zone during the third quarter. Chicago learned that talent alone won’t carry them through January. This interception in the end zone kept Chicago off the scoreboard at an important moment in the game, before the Bears’ late rally began.
Special Teams and Kicking
Special teams played a very important part in this game, especially for Detroit.
Jake Bates had a big day kicking field goals. He made kicks of 34, 30, 25, and finally the game-winning 42-yard field goal. He did miss one attempt from 53 yards, which went wide left near the end of the second quarter. Even with that miss, Bates made every kick that mattered, and his final field goal won the game for Detroit.
On the other side, Chicago did not attempt any field goals during the entire game. This means the Bears had to rely completely on touchdowns and two-point conversions to score points, which they did well in the fourth quarter but could not sustain until the very end.
Team Stats Comparison
Looking at the full team numbers helps explain why Detroit came away with the win, even though Chicago fought back hard.
Detroit had a clear advantage in total offense during this game. Detroit outgained Chicago 433 yards to 270 and held the ball for more than 11 extra minutes across the afternoon. This means Detroit’s offense was on the field much more than Chicago’s offense, which also helped keep the Bears’ defense tired for long stretches of the game.
This advantage in yards and time of possession explains why Detroit was able to control most of the game, even though Chicago made things close with a strong fourth-quarter push.
What This Game Meant for Both Teams
This game was the final game of the 2025 regular season for both teams, and it had different meanings for each side.
For Detroit, this win gave the team a positive way to end a season that did not go as planned. Detroit finished the 2025 regular season at 9-8, missing the playoffs entirely after a year that had opened with the Lions positioned as one of the NFC’s genuine Super Bowl contenders under Dan Campbell. Even though the playoffs were out of reach, beating a division rival on the road gave the team and its fans something to feel good about heading into the offseason.
For Chicago, the story was different. Even with the loss, Chicago closed at 11-6 as NFC North champions, secured the conference’s No. 2 seed when Washington beat Philadelphia the same afternoon, and returned to the postseason for the first time since 2020 in Ben Johnson’s first season as he took over as head coach. So while losing this particular game was disappointing, the Bears still had a lot to celebrate, since they won the division and made the playoffs for the first time in several years.
Detroit’s head coach Dan Campbell stayed positive about his team’s future despite the tough season. Chicago’s coach Ben Johnson also spoke about the areas his team needs to improve, even while praising his players for fighting back in the fourth quarter.
Final Thoughts
This Bears vs Lions game had everything fans want to see: a big early lead, a dramatic comeback attempt, individual records being broken, and a walk-off kick to decide the winner. Jared Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown led Detroit’s offense to a strong overall performance, while Caleb Williams set a new Bears franchise passing record even in a losing effort. On defense, Aidan Hutchinson and Kevin Byard were the standout performers for Detroit, helping the Lions hold on for the win.
Even though the final score was close, the full player stats show that Detroit deserved the win based on total yards, time of possession, and clutch plays in key moments. For Chicago, this game was a tough way to end the regular season, but the bigger picture, winning the NFC North and returning to the playoffs, gave fans plenty of reasons for hope going forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Chicago Bears vs Detroit Lions game on January 4, 2026?
The Detroit Lions won the game 19-16. Jake Bates kicked a 42-yard field goal as time expired to secure the win for Detroit at Soldier Field.
Who had the best stats in the Bears vs Lions game?
Jared Goff led all passers with 331 yards for Detroit, and Amon-Ra St. Brown had 11 catches for 139 yards. For Chicago, Caleb Williams threw for 212 yards and two touchdowns, and Colston Loveland caught 10 passes for 91 yards and a touchdown.
Did this game affect the playoff picture for either team?
Yes. Detroit finished the season 9-8 and missed the playoffs. Chicago finished 11-6, won the NFC North, and earned the No. 2 seed in the NFC, marking their first playoff appearance since 2020.
