Despite being officially eliminated from postseason contention, the Detroit Lions entered Week 18 determined to finish the season with pride. Against their longtime NFC North rival, the Chicago Bears, Detroit closed the 2025 campaign with a hard-fought 19–16 victory that carried emotional weight, even if it meant little in the standings.
Much like their earlier meeting in Week 2, the Lions once again found a way to outlast Chicago. This time, the difference came down to a clutch 42-yard field goal from Jake Bates as time expired, silencing the Soldier Field crowd and ending the Bears’ hopes of a dramatic late comeback.
The win did nothing to alter Detroit’s fate. A devastating loss to the Vikings on Christmas Day had already ensured the Lions would miss the playoffs. Still, inside the locker room, players insisted there was something left to prove. That message became clear in the moments immediately following the final whistle.
Quarterback Jared Goff gave voice to that mindset during his on-field interview with Tom Rinaldi, standing alongside Amon-Ra St. Brown. “It’s about pride,” Goff said. “The leaders and good players who are going to be here next year. To come out and play the way we did today, that has to mean something.”
The comments carried added significance after Goff faced heavy criticism for his play in the Lions’ previous two losses. On Sunday, he responded with one of his strongest performances of the season, completing 27 of 42 passes for 331 yards and a touchdown while guiding five separate scoring drives.
Detroit’s offense showed balance throughout the afternoon. Jahmyr Gibbs powered the ground game with 80 rushing yards on 19 carries, while St. Brown dominated the passing attack, hauling in 11 receptions for 139 yards on 15 targets.
The victory also highlighted the bitter context surrounding the Lions’ season finale. After winning the NFC North in each of the previous two years, Detroit was officially dethroned by Chicago. Adding to the frustration for Lions fans was the fact that the Bears accomplished it under head coach Ben Johnson, Detroit’s former offensive coordinator.
Johnson’s decision to leave and join a division rival continues to sting, but the Lions leave 2025 with a 9–8 record. It marks their fourth consecutive winning season. No playoff berth followed, but the Week 18 performance served as a reminder that the foundation remains intact, and that pride still matters in Detroit.
