CHICAGO (FOX 2) - After being officially eliminated from the playoffs on Christmas Day, the Lions still had to close out the season with a game against the NFC North Champion Chicago Bears.
Earlier this year, Detroit had their way with the Bears, but since then the season has gone in opposite directions for both teams. The Lions struggled and came into the game 8-8, while the Bears excelled and won the division with an 11-5 record coming into the day. None of that mattered Sunday as the Lions closed out the season with a victory to preserve their fourth straight winning season.
Jared Goff led five scoring drives, Jake Bates kicked a 42-yard field goal as time expired and the Detroit Lions regrouped to beat the NFC North champion Chicago Bears 19-16 on Sunday after blowing a 16-point lead in the fourth quarter.
The Lions, playing for nothing but pride, dominated the first half, leading 13-0 at halftime. But the Bears roared back in the fourth quarter, scoring two touchdowns and two 2-point conversions to tie the game at 16, after trailing 16-0 to start the final quarter.
With 5:24 to play, the Lions took the ball in a tied game and drove down the field before a costly turnover gave the ball back to the Bears with 2:11 to play. After a punt, the Lions were left with under a minute to score. They went on a quick drive and Bates hit the game-winning field goal.
The Bears (11-6) stumbled into the playoffs with back-to-back losses, though they secured the No. 2 seed in the NFC with Washington beating Philadelphia. Chicago will host Green Bay in a wild-card game next week and would have home-field advantage in the divisional round if it beats the Packers.
Caleb Williams set the franchise’s single-season passing record and threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes.
Goff shook off his worst game of the season by throwing for 331 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The four-time Pro Bowler completed 27 of 42 passes after setting season highs with two interceptions and three fumbles and matched one by getting sacked five times last week at Minnesota.
St. Brown had 139 yards on 11 receptions. Gibbs ran for 80 yards and had a touchdown catch. Avonte Maddox intercepted Williams in the end zone in the third quarter, and the Lions closed a season that began with Super Bowl hopes on a winning note.
Williams threw for 212 yards, giving him 3,942 this season to surpass Erik Kramer’s franchise mark of 3,838 in 1995. Chicago remains the only team without a 4,000-yard passer.
Colston Loveland caught 10 passes for 91 yards and a touchdown. Kevin Byard had his league-leading seventh interception.
The Bears trailed 16-0 in the opening minute of the fourth quarter when Williams connected with Jahdae Walker for a 25-yard touchdown and broke Kramer’s record. A 2-point conversion run by Kyle Monangai cut it to 16-8.
After the Lions punted, Chicago went 88 yards for a touchdown, with Williams finding Colston Loveland in the end zone from the 1. A lunging Cole Kmet then hauled in the 2-point conversion pass in a crowd, tying it at 16 and whipping the crowd into a frenzy.
The Lions then had the ball at the Chicago 35 when Goff attempted to zip a pass to St. Brown. The Bears’ Jaquan Brisker tipped the ball and Byard picked it off at the 5.
Injuries
Lions: WR Tom Kennedy (rib) was hurt returning a punt in the third quarter.
Bears: The Bears held out LT Ozzy Trapilo (knee/quad) after he was limited in practice during the week. ... LB Ty Summers (foot) left after he was injured on the opening kickoff.
Up next
Lions: Start the offseason.
Bears: Host Green Bay in a wild-card game next weekend.