DETROIT – This was a disappointing season for the Detroit Lions, but they ended it on a high note.
Detroit went into Chicago and knocked off Ben Johnson and the Bears for the second time this year to finish with a 9-8 record.
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Dan Campbell’s team came into the year with Super Bowl expectations, and they obviously fell well short. Injuries played a role, but a failure to address an aging offensive line and a nonexistent pass rush were equally to blame.
Now the Lions will look to regroup this offseason and get back to the style of play that made them back-to-back NFC North Division champs in 2023 and 2024.
Sunday’s game might have mattered to the Bears for seeding purposes, but it wasn’t going to change anything for the Lions.
The Lions dominated for three quarters, jumping out to a 13-0 halftime lead and then increasing that to 16-0 heading into the fourth.
But the Bears fought back to tie it with a couple of touchdown drives and two-point conversions.
Detroit put together one final field goal drive, though, and Jake Bates hit a 43-yarder at the buzzer to give the Lions a 19-16 win.