The chicago bears vs detroit lions match player stats tell the story of a heartbreaking finish at Soldier Field, where Jake Bates drilled a 42-yard field goal as time expired to give Detroit a 19-16 victory. Jared Goff threw for 331 yards with one touchdown, while 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.
Table of contents
- Final Score and Key Performers
- Quarterback Performance Comparison
- Ground Game Breakdown
- Receiving Corps Performance
- Defensive Statistics and Impact Plays
- Special Teams Performance
- Team Statistics Overview
- The Comeback That Fell Short
- The Final Drive
- Playoff Implications and Season Context
- Individual Milestones and Records
- Injury Report
- Looking Ahead
Final Score and Key Performers
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Lions | 3 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 19 |
| Chicago Bears | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 16 |
The game at Soldier Field on January 4, 2026, came down to the wire. Caleb Williams threw two fourth quarter touchdown passes to tie the game at 16, but Detroit’s offense marched downfield in the final moments to set up Bates for the game winner.
Quarterback Performance Comparison
The duel between veteran Jared Goff and rookie sensation Caleb Williams showcased two different approaches to moving the football.
Passing Statistics
| QB | Team | Comp/Att | Yards | TD | INT | Rating | Sacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jared Goff | DET | 27/42 | 331 | 1 | 1 | 86.5 | 3 |
| Caleb Williams | CHI | 20/33 | 212 | 2 | 1 | 86.9 | 1 |
Goff bounced back from a brutal performance the previous week where he threw two interceptions and lost three fumbles. The four-time Pro Bowler spread the ball around to seven different receivers, keeping the Bears defense off balance throughout the afternoon.
Williams finished with 212 passing yards, pushing his season total to 3,942 yards and breaking Erik Kramer’s franchise record of 3,838 yards set back in 1995. Despite the historic achievement, the rookie was clearly frustrated with how the offense performed through three quarters.
“We’re going to use this frustration,” Williams said after the game. “We’re going to get on a roll here this week, starting this week and that’s the focus.”
Bears coach Ben Johnson wasn’t hiding his disappointment either.
“They fought their tails off, but came up short,” Johnson said. “We’ve got to play better going forward, we’ve got to coach better going forward as well.”
Ground Game Breakdown
Detroit controlled the clock with a balanced rushing attack, while Chicago struggled to establish any rhythm on the ground.
Rushing Leaders
| Player | Team | Carries | Yards | Average | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jahmyr Gibbs | DET | 19 | 80 | 4.2 | 0 |
| D’Andre Swift | CHI | 10 | 40 | 4.0 | 0 |
Team Rushing Totals
- Detroit Lions: 27 carries for 122 yards (4.5 avg)
- Chicago Bears: 18 carries for 65 yards (3.6 avg)
Gibbs churned out tough yards and also caught a 15-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. The Lions held the ball for over 35 minutes, limiting Chicago’s possessions and keeping Williams on the sideline.
Receiving Corps Performance
Amon-Ra St. Brown put on a clinic, hauling in crucial catches throughout the game and none bigger than his 26-yard reception with under a minute left that set up the winning field goal.
Top Receivers
| Player | Team | Receptions | Targets | Yards | Average | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amon-Ra St. Brown | DET | 11 | 14 | 139 | 12.6 | 0 | 26 |
| Colston Loveland | CHI | 10 | 13 | 91 | 9.1 | 1 | 15 |
| Jameson Williams | DET | 6 | 9 | 82 | 13.7 | 0 | 24 |
| Jahdae Walker | CHI | 4 | 6 | 58 | 14.5 | 1 | 25 |
| Cole Kmet | CHI | 3 | 5 | 34 | 11.3 | 0 | 18 |
| Jahmyr Gibbs | DET | 5 | 6 | 48 | 9.6 | 1 | 15 |
St. Brown’s performance was vintage Detroit offense, working the intermediate routes and moving the chains when it mattered most. His connection with Goff on that final drive proved to be the difference.
On the Chicago side, Loveland caught 10 passes and hauled in a 1-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter that gave the Bears hope. The rookie tight end showed why he’s becoming Williams’ favorite target in crucial situations.
Walker’s 25-yard touchdown catch sparked the Chicago comeback, cutting the deficit to eight points early in the fourth quarter.
Defensive Statistics and Impact Plays
The defensive battle featured key moments from both sides, with turnovers playing a crucial role in the outcome.
Tackles Leaders
| Player | Team | Total | Solo | Assists | TFL | Sacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Campbell | DET | 11 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Kevin Byard III | CHI | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Tremaine Edmunds | CHI | 7 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| T.J. Edwards | CHI | 6 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Jaquan Brisker | CHI | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Campbell was all over the field for Detroit, logging 11 total tackles and continuing his Pro Bowl caliber season. The third-year linebacker out of Iowa has been a tackling machine all year.
Sacks and Pressure
| Player | Team | Sacks | QB Hits | Hurries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aidan Hutchinson | DET | 1.0 | 2 | 3 |
| Andrew Billings | CHI | 1.0 | 1 | 1 |
| Montez Sweat | CHI | 0.0 | 2 | 4 |
Hutchinson recorded his 14.5th sack of the season, tying Ezekiel Ansah’s 2015 mark for second most in a single season in Lions history. The former Michigan standout brought down Williams in the third quarter, continuing his dominance in the NFC North.
Turnovers and Game-Changing Plays
Kevin Byard’s interception with just over two minutes remaining appeared to seal the victory for Chicago. The veteran safety, who led the NFL with six interceptions during the regular season, tipped Goff’s pass intended for St. Brown and picked it off at the Bears 5-yard line.
“It feels good to kind of get back to who we are and see it in live-speed reality,” Goff said about the win despite the late turnover.
However, Chicago couldn’t capitalize. Ben Johnson decided to punt on fourth-and-5 from their own 31, giving Detroit one last chance with 1:41 remaining.
Turnover Summary
- Detroit Lions: 1 (Goff interception)
- Chicago Bears: 1 (Williams interception)
Earlier in the third quarter, Avonte Maddox intercepted Williams in the end zone, preventing Chicago from cutting into Detroit’s lead.
Special Teams Performance
Jake Bates was the hero for Detroit, connecting on all four field goal attempts including the game winner.
Kicking Statistics
| Kicker | Team | FGM/FGA | Long | XPM/XPA | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jake Bates | DET | 4/4 | 42 | 1/1 | 13 |
| Cairo Santos | CHI | 0/0 | – | 0/0 | 0 |
Bates kicked field goals of 34, 30, 25, and the game-winning 42-yarder. His consistency kept Detroit in control throughout three quarters.
Two-Point Conversions
Chicago successfully converted both of their two-point attempts in the fourth quarter. After Walker’s touchdown, Kyle Monangai rushed left tackle for the conversion. Following Loveland’s score, Williams hit Cole Kmet with a perfect pass in traffic to tie the game at 16.
Team Statistics Overview
Detroit dominated possession and total yards, but Chicago’s fourth quarter surge nearly stole the victory.
Overall Team Stats
| Category | Detroit | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| First Downs | 26 | 16 |
| Passing First Downs | 17 | 10 |
| Rushing First Downs | 7 | 4 |
| Penalty First Downs | 2 | 2 |
| Total Yards | 433 | 270 |
| Total Plays | 72 | 52 |
| Yards Per Play | 6.0 | 5.2 |
| Time of Possession | 35:45 | 24:15 |
| Third Down Efficiency | 6/13 (46%) | 4/11 (36%) |
| Fourth Down Efficiency | 0/0 | 1/2 (50%) |
| Red Zone Efficiency | 1/4 (25%) | 1/1 (100%) |
| Penalties | 6-35 | 4-25 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
The Lions controlled the line of scrimmage and kept the Bears offense off the field for most of the game. Detroit’s 163-yard advantage in total offense told the story of the first three quarters.
Chicago’s inability to convert in the red zone proved costly. Detroit made four trips inside the 20 but only came away with one touchdown, settling for field goals on three occasions.
The Comeback That Fell Short
Down 16-0 entering the fourth quarter, the Bears offense finally came alive. Williams orchestrated two scoring drives that covered a combined 133 yards.
The first touchdown came on a 25-yard strike to Walker at the 8:47 mark. Monangai’s successful two-point conversion made it 16-8.
After forcing a punt, Chicago drove 88 yards for the tying score. Williams found Loveland from the 1-yard line with 5:13 remaining. The quarterback then delivered a clutch two-point conversion pass to Kmet in heavy traffic, sending Soldier Field into a frenzy.
“We were uncharacteristically flat for most of the game,” one local reporter noted. The Bears managed just 54 total yards through three quarters before exploding for 216 in the fourth.
The Final Drive
After Byard’s interception appeared to ice the game, Chicago punted from their own 31 with 1:41 left. Johnson chose not to go for it on fourth-and-5, banking on his defense to hold.
Detroit took over at their 37. On first-and-10 from the 44, Goff faked a handoff and hit St. Brown over the middle for 26 yards, moving the ball to the Chicago 26 with 30 seconds remaining.
Two runs later, Bates trotted onto the field and calmly knocked through the 42-yarder as time expired.
Playoff Implications and Season Context
The Bears finished the regular season 11-6 and secured the No. 2 seed in the NFC after Washington beat Philadelphia. Chicago hosted Green Bay in a wild-card game the following Saturday.
Despite the loss and back-to-back defeats to close the regular season, the Bears earned home-field advantage through the divisional round if they could beat the Packers.
For Detroit, the 19-16 victory provided some consolation after missing the playoffs with a 9-8 record. The Lions entered the season with Super Bowl aspirations but stumbled down the stretch, losing three straight before this win.
“It’s frustrating,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “So that’s what fuels you. We don’t want to be doing that again next year. That’s not where we want to be. We have got to get in.”
“I still believe the nucleus of this team is right,” Campbell added. “I really do. But we are going to need to make a few changes.”
Individual Milestones and Records
Caleb Williams
- Set Bears single-season passing yards record: 3,942 yards (previous: Erik Kramer, 3,838 in 1995)
- Tied Jay Cutler for third in Bears history with 27 touchdown passes in a season
- First Bears quarterback to throw for over 3,900 yards
- Chicago remains the only NFL franchise without a 4,000-yard passer
Aidan Hutchinson
- Recorded 14.5 sacks, tying Ezekiel Ansah (2015) for second most in Lions single-season history
- Continued his DPOY campaign despite Detroit missing playoffs
Kevin Byard
- League-leading seventh interception of the season
- Solidified his status as one of the NFL’s premier ball hawks
Injury Report
The game took a physical toll on both sides.
Detroit Lions
- WR Tom Kennedy (rib) left in the third quarter after being injured on a punt return
Chicago Bears
- LT Ozzy Trapilo (knee/quad) was held out before the game
- LB Ty Summers (foot) injured on the opening kickoff
- S C.J. Gardner-Johnson (concussion) left during the final drive
Looking Ahead
For the Lions, the offseason begins with questions about roster construction and how to get back to the playoffs. With Goff throwing for 4,233 yards and 33 touchdowns on the season, the offense showed it can compete with anyone.
The Bears turned their attention to the playoffs, knowing they needed to clean up the slow starts that plagued them down the stretch. Williams’ record-breaking season gave Chicago hope, but the execution issues in this game served as a warning heading into the postseason.
Both teams walked away from this chicago bears vs detroit lions match player stats showdown with different emotions. Detroit found a small measure of redemption. Chicago learned that talent alone won’t carry them through January.
For complete NFL stats and game analysis, visit Match vs Player Stats for more detailed breakdowns of every game.
Game played January 4, 2026, at Soldier Field, Chicago, IL
Attendance: 57,036
Weather: Partly cloudy, -2°C
Broadcast: FOX
