Updated September 19, 2026. There is no Lions-Bears game today. The most recent meeting was Week 18 of the 2025 season, on January 4, 2026. Stats below are based on CBS Sports and Associated Press game data. Other providers can differ slightly on tackle and yardage details.
What Was the Final Score and Who Played Best?
The Detroit Lions beat the Chicago Bears 19-16 on January 4, 2026, at Soldier Field. Jake Bates kicked a 42-yard field goal as time expired, after the Lions had blown a 16-point lead in the fourth quarter. The Bears had already clinched the NFC North title. Detroit finished 9-8 and missed the playoffs, while Chicago finished 11-6.
The best individual performances came from Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, Bates, and, for Chicago, Caleb Williams and Colston Loveland.
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Lions | 3 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 19 |
| Chicago Bears | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 16 |
Detroit Lions Player Stats
Goff threw for more than 300 yards, and St. Brown was his top target.
| Player | Stats |
|---|---|
| Jared Goff (QB) | 27-of-42, 331 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Jahmyr Gibbs (RB) | 19 carries, 80 yards; 3 catches, 33 yards, 1 TD (15 yards) |
| David Montgomery (RB) | 8 carries, 42 yards; 1 catch, 13 yards |
| Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR) | 11 catches, 139 yards (15 targets) |
| Jameson Williams (WR) | 6 catches, 74 yards |
| Kalif Raymond (WR) | 3 catches, 52 yards |
| Jake Bates (K) | 4-of-5 field goals (34, 30, 25, 42 yards), 1-of-1 extra points |
Goff’s day mattered in context. The game was described as his bounce-back after the worst outing of his season. St. Brown had 110 of his yards in the first half, and Bates missed a 53-yard try wide left to end the half.
Chicago Bears Player Stats
Williams passed for two touchdowns, and Loveland was the leading target.
| Player | Stats |
|---|---|
| Caleb Williams (QB) | 20-of-33, 212 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT; 1 rush for 1 yard |
| D’Andre Swift (RB) | 10 carries, 40 yards; 1 catch, 8 yards |
| Kyle Monangai (RB) | 6 carries, 14 yards, plus a successful 2-point conversion run |
| Colston Loveland (TE) | 10 catches, 91 yards, 1 TD (13 targets) |
| Jahdae Walker (WR) | 2 catches, 36 yards, 1 TD (25 yards) |
| Luther Burden III (WR) | 3 catches, 35 yards; 1 carry, 10 yards |
| Cole Kmet (TE) | 2 catches, 16 yards, plus the tying 2-point conversion catch |
Williams’ 212 yards pushed him to 3,942 for the season, a Bears franchise record that passed Erik Kramer’s 3,838 from 1995. Chicago remains the only team without a 4,000-yard passer.
How Did the Defenses Perform?
Detroit’s defense controlled three quarters, while Chicago’s forced the game-changing turnover.
Lions defenders:
- Jack Campbell: 11 total tackles (4 solo, 7 assisted).
- Aidan Hutchinson: 1 sack, 6 total tackles.
- Avonte Maddox: an interception in the end zone in the third quarter that kept the Bears scoreless at that point.
- Daniel Thomas: 7 total tackles.
Bears defenders:
- Kevin Byard: an interception, his league-leading seventh of the season, taking a tipped ball at the Chicago 5.
- Tremaine Edmunds: a team-high 7 tackles.
- Andrew Billings and Gervon Dexter Sr.: one sack each.
- Montez Sweat and Grady Jarrett: half a sack each.
How Do the Team Stats Compare?
Detroit dominated the box score, but Chicago won the fourth quarter.
| Category | Lions | Bears |
|---|---|---|
| Total net yards | 433 | 270 |
| First downs | 26 | 16 |
| Net rushing yards | 122 | 65 |
| Net passing yards | 311 | 205 |
| Time of possession | 35:45 | 24:15 |
| Third-down conversions | 6-13 | 4-11 |
| Red zone efficiency | 1-4 | 1-1 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
The gap in yards and possession shows why the Lions led 16-0. The red zone line shows why it was only 16-0: Detroit took three field goals from inside Chicago territory, and Bates was needed again at the end.
What Were the Key Plays?
Five moments decided the game:
- Gibbs’ 15-yard touchdown catch (second quarter). It was Detroit’s only touchdown, and it tied Barry Sanders and Randy Moss for the most games with a touchdown in a player’s first three NFL seasons.
- Maddox’s end-zone interception (third quarter). It stopped a Bears drive at the Detroit goal line.
- Williams to Walker (fourth quarter). A 25-yard touchdown plus a two-point conversion cut it to 16-8.
- Williams to Loveland, then Kmet (fourth quarter). An 88-yard drive ended with a 1-yard touchdown and a lunging two-point catch to tie it at 16.
- Goff to St. Brown, then Bates. A 26-yard pass over the middle with about 30 seconds left set up the 42-yard winner.
What Do the Numbers Tell Us? (Analysis)
Three observations stand out beyond the box score:
- Red-zone failure nearly cost Detroit the game. The Lions went 1-for-4 in the red zone while outgaining Chicago by 163 yards. That is the difference between a comfortable win and a 16-point lead almost evaporating.
- Chicago’s offense only came alive late. The Bears had no points through three quarters, then scored on consecutive fourth-quarter possessions. Williams’ passing total was modest, but his two touchdown throws came when the game was on the line.
- The Lions won the season series. Detroit’s 52-21 win on September 14, 2025 at Ford Field, where Goff threw five touchdowns, three to St. Brown, plus the Week 18 win, made it a sweep. The Lions currently hold a four-game win streak in the series, while the Bears lead the all-time series 105-82-5.
When Do the Lions and Bears Play in 2026?
They meet twice: on Thanksgiving Day and again in January 2027.
| Date | Matchup | Venue | Kickoff | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Nov. 26, 2026 | Bears at Lions | Ford Field, Detroit | 1:00 p.m. ET | CBS |
| Sun, Jan. 3, 2027 | Lions at Bears | Soldier Field, Chicago | 3:25 p.m. CT (4:25 p.m. ET) | FOX |
Times and networks are based on current listings and can change.
6. FAQ Section
Chicago Bears vs Detroit Lions match player stats today?
There is no Bears-Lions game today (September 19, 2026). The latest meeting was January 4, 2026, when Goff threw for 331 yards and Williams for 212 in the Lions’ 19-16 win. The next game is November 26, 2026.
Chicago Bears vs Detroit Lions match player stats on ESPN?
ESPN publishes full box scores for both games. For the September 14, 2025 game, ESPN lists a 52-21 Lions win. To see the Week 18 box score, search “Lions vs Bears January 4 2026” on ESPN. Some numbers, especially tackles, may differ slightly from the CBS Sports figures used here.
Lions vs Bears 2026: when and where do they play?
They play twice. Bears at Lions on Thursday, November 26, 2026 at Ford Field, and Lions at Bears on Sunday, January 3, 2027 at Soldier Field.
Lions vs Bears 2025: what happened?
The Lions swept the season series. Detroit won 52-21 on September 14, 2025 and 19-16 on January 4, 2026. The second game ended on Jake Bates’ 42-yard field goal as time expired.
What time is the Lions vs Bears game in 2026?
The Thanksgiving game kicks off at 1:00 p.m. ET on November 26, 2026, on CBS. The January 3, 2027 game is listed at 3:25 p.m. CT (4:25 p.m. ET) on FOX. Times can change if the NFL flexes a game.
Where can I buy Lions vs Bears 2026 tickets?
Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, the teams’ official ticket pages, and resale sites such as Vivid Seats. Recent resale listings showed Thanksgiving tickets starting around $336 and January tickets around $206, with an average near $299. Resale prices change often, so compare before buying and use verified sellers.
Is there a Lions vs Bears game today?
No. The next scheduled meeting is Thursday, November 26, 2026, at Ford Field.
Could the Bears-Lions game be flexed?
It is possible, but nothing has been announced. The NFL can move late-season games into different time slots. The January 3, 2027 game is currently listed on FOX at 3:25 p.m. CT. Check NFL.com or the teams’ schedules for updates closer to the date.
Author Bio: Hamid Ali writes about the NFL, with a focus on game recaps, player stats, and schedule breakdowns. He builds his articles from official box scores and team data, and updates them when schedules or results change.
Author Name: Hamid Ali
Email: johanharwen314@gmail.com
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