Detroit controlled most of the afternoon, but Chicago made the finish tense. The Lions beat the Bears 19-16 at Soldier Field on January 4, 2026, after Jake Bates kicked a field goal as time expired. These Detroit Lions vs Chicago Bears Match Player Stats cover that Week 18 game from the 2025 NFL season. Below, you will find the passing, rushing, receiving, defensive, and special teams numbers for both sides, along with an explanation of how a 16-point lead became a close finish.
Match Date, Final Score and Quarter Breakdown
The match took place in Chicago on Sunday, January 4, 2026. Although the calendar had moved into a new year, this was the final regular-season game of the 2025 season. Detroit scored three points in the first quarter, 10 in the second, three in the third, and three in the fourth. Chicago scored all 16 of its points in the final quarter. The Detroit Lions vs Chicago Bears Match Player Stats therefore need to be read alongside the scoring timeline.
The Lions led 13-0 at halftime and 16-0 after three quarters. Chicago then produced two touchdown drives and added a successful two-point conversion after each one. That tied the score at 16-16. Detroit answered with the final scoring drive and won by three points. The quarter scores show why the result felt much closer at the end than it had during the opening half.
Quarterback Passing Stats for Both Teams
Jared Goff completed 27 of 42 passes for 331 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. His passer rating was 86.5, and his longest completion gained 30 yards. Caleb Williams completed 20 of 33 passes for 212 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. His rating was 86.9, with a longest completion of 27 yards. In the Detroit Lions vs Chicago Bears Match Player Stats, Goff led in passing yards, while Williams threw more touchdown passes.
Their similar passer ratings should not hide the different shape of their performances. Goff completed about 64.3% of his attempts, compared with 60.6% for Williams. Detroit gained more ground through the air, but Chicago turned two late drives into touchdowns. Goff was sacked twice for 15 yards, while Williams was sacked once for seven. Detroit also allowed a separate sack involving David Montgomery, bringing the Lions’ team total to three sacks allowed for 20 yards.
| Player | Team | Completions/Attempts | Passing Yards | Touchdowns | Interceptions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jared Goff | Lions | 27/42 | 331 | 1 | 1 |
| Caleb Williams | Bears | 20/33 | 212 | 2 | 1 |
Detroit Lions Rushing Box Score
Jahmyr Gibbs carried the ball 19 times for 80 yards. He averaged 4.2 yards per carry, and his longest run gained 14 yards. David Montgomery added 42 yards on eight carries, averaging 5.3 yards per attempt, with a longest run of nine yards. Neither player scored a rushing touchdown. Together, they accounted for all 27 Detroit rushing attempts and all 122 of the team’s rushing yards.
Gibbs handled the larger workload, while Montgomery gained more yards per carry. That difference is useful when comparing running backs. An average shows how much ground a player gained per attempt, but the number of carries shows the size of his role. Gibbs also contributed as a receiver, giving him 113 yards from scrimmage. Montgomery finished with 55 yards from scrimmage. Those totals combine rushing and receiving yards, rather than counting rushing production alone.
Detroit Lions Receiving Box Score
Amon-Ra St. Brown led Detroit with 11 catches for 139 yards from 15 targets. His longest catch gained 30 yards. Jameson Williams caught six of eight targets for 74 yards, with a longest gain of 23. Kalif Raymond caught all three of his targets for 52 yards, including a 24-yard gain. The Detroit Lions vs Chicago Bears Match Player Stats show that St. Brown was the leading receiver in the game by both catches and yards.
Gibbs caught three passes for 33 yards from five targets, including Detroit’s only touchdown, a 15-yard reception. Isaac TeSlaa caught his only target for 18 yards, while Montgomery caught his only target for 13. Anthony Firkser caught two of three targets for two yards, with a longest gain of six yards. Every Detroit receiver other than Gibbs finished without a touchdown. The seven pass catchers combined for 27 receptions and 331 yards, matching Goff’s passing totals.
Chicago Bears Rushing Box Score
D’Andre Swift led Chicago with 40 yards on 10 carries. He averaged 4.0 yards per attempt, and his longest run gained 10 yards. Kyle Monangai added 14 yards on six carries, averaging 2.3 yards, with a longest gain of six. Luther Burden III gained 10 yards on one carry, while Caleb Williams added one yard on one attempt. The Bears finished with 65 rushing yards from 18 attempts and no rushing touchdowns.
Chicago’s smaller rushing total is an important part of the Detroit Lions vs Chicago Bears Match Player Stats. Detroit gained 57 more yards on the ground and ran the ball nine more times. However, Monangai’s successful two-point run belongs in the scoring summary, not in his normal rushing totals. A conversion happens after a touchdown and is recorded separately. Counting it as another rushing touchdown would give readers an incorrect view of both his performance and Chicago’s scoring.
Chicago Bears Receiving Box Score
Colston Loveland was Chicago’s main receiving option. He caught 10 of 13 targets for 91 yards and one touchdown, with a longest gain of 27 yards. Jahdae Walker caught two of three targets for 36 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown. Burden caught three of four targets for 35 yards, with a longest gain of 13. Loveland supplied the most catches and receiving yards for the Bears, while Walker delivered their longest touchdown play.
Cole Kmet caught two of three targets for 16 yards, with a longest reception of 19 yards. Monangai caught his only target for 15 yards. DJ Moore caught one of three targets for 11 yards, and Swift caught one of two targets for eight yards. None of those five players caught a touchdown. Chicago’s seven pass catchers combined for 20 catches and 212 yards. Kmet also caught a two-point conversion, which is separate from his two regular receptions and 16 receiving yards.
Defensive Stats, Sacks and Interceptions
Jack Campbell led Detroit with 10 combined defensive tackles, including three solo stops and seven assists. Aidan Hutchinson recorded six combined tackles and Detroit’s only sack, taking Williams down for a seven-yard loss. Daniel Thomas also made six combined tackles. Avonte Maddox finished with four combined tackles and an interception in Detroit’s end zone. That interception kept Chicago scoreless during the third quarter, making it a key moment in the Detroit Lions vs Chicago Bears Match Player Stats.
For Chicago, Tremaine Edmunds, Jaquan Brisker, and Kevin Byard III each recorded eight combined defensive tackles. Byard intercepted Goff and returned the ball 21 yards after Brisker deflected the pass. Andrew Billings and Gervon Dexter Sr. each recorded one sack. Montez Sweat and Grady Jarrett shared another, giving each half a sack. Both teams finished with one interception. Chicago also had one fumble but recovered it, so neither side lost possession through a fumble.
Field Goals, Punts and Return Stats
Jake Bates made four of five field-goal attempts and his only extra-point attempt, scoring 13 of Detroit’s 19 points. His successful field goals came from 34, 30, 25, and 42 yards. He missed from 53 yards. Cairo Santos attempted no field goals or extra points because Chicago went for two after both touchdowns. Detroit punter Jack Fox kicked twice for 93 yards, averaging 46.5 yards, with a longest punt of 59. Chicago’s Tory Taylor punted four times for 178 yards, averaging 44.5, with a longest punt of 54.
Raymond returned three punts for 33 yards, with a longest return of 14. Tom Kennedy returned two kickoffs for 40 yards, with a longest return of 23. For Chicago, Devin Duvernay returned three kickoffs for 76 yards and one punt for 15 yards. His longest kickoff return gained 27 yards. Josh Blackwell added a 30-yard kickoff return. Neither team scored a return touchdown. These numbers complete the special teams picture beyond the final field goal.
Team Totals, Third Downs and Penalties
Detroit finished with 433 total net yards, compared with Chicago’s 270. The Lions produced 26 first downs, while the Bears managed 16. Detroit held possession for 35 minutes and 45 seconds, leaving Chicago with 24 minutes and 15 seconds. These Detroit Lions vs Chicago Bears Match Player Stats support the view that the Lions controlled more of the game, even though the final margin was only three points.
Detroit converted six of 13 third downs, a success rate of 46.2%. Chicago converted four of 11, or 36.4%. The Bears also converted one of two fourth-down attempts, while Detroit attempted none. The Lions committed six penalties for 35 yards, compared with four penalties for 25 yards by Chicago. Detroit ran 72 offensive plays against Chicago’s 52. More sustained possessions gave the Lions more chances to build their yardage total, but those chances did not always produce touchdowns.
| Team Stat | Detroit Lions | Chicago Bears |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 19 | 16 |
| Total Net Yards | 433 | 270 |
| Rushing Yards | 122 | 65 |
| First Downs | 26 | 16 |
| Third-Down Conversions | 6/13 | 4/11 |
| Time of Possession | 35:45 | 24:15 |
How Chicago Turned a Shutout Into a Tie
Chicago’s first touchdown came early in the fourth quarter when Williams found Walker for a 25-yard score. Monangai then ran in the two-point conversion, cutting Detroit’s lead to 16-8. On the next touchdown drive, the Bears moved 88 yards in 12 plays. Williams finished that possession with a one-yard touchdown pass to Loveland, then connected with Kmet for two more points. The game was tied with 5:25 remaining.
The comeback explains why touchdown totals matter alongside passing yards in the Detroit Lions vs Chicago Bears Match Player Stats. Chicago gained fewer yards overall but made those two possessions count. Each touchdown and conversion was worth eight points, allowing the Bears to erase the full deficit. For readers reviewing the game, the useful lesson is to connect a player’s numbers with the situation. A short touchdown catch can change the score more than a longer reception elsewhere on the field.
How Detroit Won the Final Possession
Byard’s late interception gave Chicago a chance to move ahead, but the Bears could not earn a first down on the following possession. After their punt, Detroit took over at its own 37-yard line with 1:41 remaining. The Lions moved 39 yards in six plays. A 26-yard completion from Goff to St. Brown was the biggest gain of the drive and helped put Bates within range for the winning kick.
St. Brown’s catch shows why a box score becomes more useful when paired with the final drive. His 139 receiving yards describe his total output, while that late reception explains his direct role in the winning score. Detroit reached Chicago’s 24-yard line before Bates made the 42-yard field goal. The kick used the remaining time, leaving Chicago without another possession. Goff, St. Brown, the rushing attack, and the special teams unit all contributed to the finish.
Why Detroit’s Yardage Lead Produced a Close Score
Detroit’s biggest problem was turning promising drives into touchdowns. The Lions reached the red zone four times but scored only one touchdown on those visits. The red zone is the area inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. Chicago scored a touchdown on its only red-zone visit, while Walker’s earlier touchdown came from outside that area. This helps explain how the Bears stayed within reach despite Detroit’s clear advantage in total yards.
The difference between a field goal and a touchdown becomes especially important in a close match. Four successful field goals gave Detroit 12 points, but repeated three-point finishes left room for Chicago’s late response. A useful reading of this result therefore gives credit to both sides. Detroit moved the ball more often and finished the last drive successfully. Chicago limited the damage on several earlier possessions and then used two touchdowns to make the closing minutes competitive.
How to Read These Player Stats Correctly
When checking Detroit Lions vs Chicago Bears Match Player Stats, separate individual passing yards from team net passing yards. Goff threw for 331 yards, but Detroit’s net passing total was 311 after 20 yards of sack losses. Williams threw for 212 yards, while Chicago’s net passing total was 205 after its seven-yard sack loss. This is why the quarterback’s passing figure does not always match the passing number shown in team statistics.
Receiving targets also differ from catches. A target records an intended receiver, while a catch records a completed pass. Neither measure alone explains the quality of every throw or route. Similarly, combined tackles include solo stops and assists, and special teams tackles may appear separately. Always compare the same categories when reviewing players. Keep conversion plays separate from normal offensive statistics, and use the match date to avoid mixing these figures with another meeting between the teams.
What the Result Meant for Both Teams
Detroit ended the 2025 regular season with a 9-8 record. The win also completed a season sweep of Chicago, giving the Lions a positive finish despite missing the playoffs. The result should be viewed in that setting. It was a divisional win to close the season, rather than a playoff victory or a result from the following autumn. Keeping that context clear helps readers understand why January 2026 statistics belong to the 2025 campaign.
Chicago finished 11-6 and remained the NFC North champion. The Bears secured the NFC’s No. 2 playoff seed after Philadelphia lost to Washington. Williams also ended the regular season with 3,942 passing yards, breaking the Bears’ previous single-season mark of 3,838 held by Erik Kramer. That was a season achievement, separate from his 212 yards in this match. Chicago had reasons to value its wider season, but the slow start against Detroit still required attention.
Conclusion
The Detroit Lions vs Chicago Bears Match Player Stats show how control and scoring can tell different parts of the same story. Goff led the passing totals, St. Brown topped the receiving numbers, and Gibbs supplied Detroit’s only touchdown. Williams and Loveland helped Chicago recover late, but Bates decided the result. Detroit’s 19-16 win came from stronger overall yardage, a final defensive stop, and a successful last possession.
(FAQ’s)
1. Who won the January 4, 2026 Lions vs Bears game?
Detroit won 19-16 at Soldier Field.
2. How many passing yards did Jared Goff record?
Goff threw for 331 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
3. Who led the game in receiving yards?
Amon-Ra St. Brown led with 139 yards on 11 catches.
4. What were Caleb Williams’ final passing numbers?
Williams completed 20 of 33 passes for 212 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.
5. How did Detroit score the winning points?
Jake Bates made a 42-yard field goal as time expired.
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