Bears Secure No. 2 Playoff Seed Despite Frustrating 19-16 Loss to Lions at Soldier Field
Caleb Williams breaks franchise passing record as Chicago clinches first home playoff game since 2018, will face Packers on Saturday
CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears locked up the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs Sunday despite a disappointing 19-16 home loss to the Detroit Lions, setting the stage for a primetime Wild Card showdown against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field.
The Bears’ playoff positioning was secured when the Washington Commanders upset the Philadelphia Eagles 24-17 later Sunday afternoon, guaranteeing Chicago home-field advantage throughout the Wild Card and Divisional rounds.
Johnson Fires Warning Shot After Sluggish Performance
First-year head coach Ben Johnson didn’t mince words when addressing his team’s lackluster offensive showing in the season finale, making it clear that Sunday’s performance won’t cut it in the postseason.
“I was not pleased with the offense today,” Johnson said emphatically during his postgame press conference. “We can’t dig ourselves in a hole like that. I was disappointed with the offense as a whole. I let those guys know that. And we’ll be better for it.”
The defeat marked Chicago’s second straight loss after falling to the San Francisco 49ers 42-39 in a shootout the previous week. What made Sunday’s setback particularly alarming was the offense’s complete inability to generate any points through three full quarters, trailing 16-0 entering the fourth.
Williams Makes History Amid Team Struggles
Despite the team’s disappointing performance, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams etched his name in the Bears’ record books during a furious fourth-quarter comeback attempt. Williams connected with wide receiver Jahdae Walker for a 25-yard touchdown pass just 44 seconds into the final quarter, breaking Erik Kramer’s 30-year-old franchise record of 3,838 passing yards set in 1995.
Williams finished the 2025 season with 3,942 passing yards, falling just 58 yards short of becoming the first Bears quarterback in franchise history to reach the 4,000-yard milestone. The Bears remain the only NFL franchise that has never had a 4,000-yard passer.
“I need to win the game,” Williams said tersely when asked about his record-breaking achievement. “We didn’t execute the way we needed to. That number is the number. So be it.”
The 24-year-old signal-caller acknowledged the team came out flat from the opening kickoff and took full accountability for the slow start.
“We came out a little flat, and I think we’ve got to work on having urgency from the jump and get that going,” Williams admitted. His biggest takeaway? “Not good enough to win.”
Fourth-Quarter Rally Falls Agonizingly Short
Trailing 16-0 entering the final period, Chicago mounted a furious rally that fell just short of completing another dramatic comeback. After Williams’ record-breaking touchdown to Walker, the Bears tied the game at 16-16 when tight end Colston Loveland plunged in from one yard out, followed by Cole Kmet’s successful two-point conversion with 2:11 remaining.
The defense gave the offense a golden opportunity when veteran safety Kevin Byard — who led the entire NFL with seven interceptions this season — picked off Lions quarterback Jared Goff after the ball deflected off safety Jaquan Brisker’s hands.
However, Chicago’s offense sputtered when it mattered most. Williams threw an incompletion to receiver Luther Burden on first down, was flagged for intentional grounding on second down, then checked down for 15 yards on third-and-20. Facing fourth-and-5 from their own 31-yard line, Johnson elected to punt with 2:23 left on the clock.
“We had three timeouts, and we felt like we were going to get the ball back,” Johnson explained regarding the controversial decision.
The gamble backfired spectacularly. Detroit methodically marched 39 yards downfield before Jake Bates drilled a 42-yard field goal as time expired, denying Chicago any chance for a response.
Defensive Concerns Mount Heading Into Postseason
While Johnson focused his postgame frustration on the offense, the Bears’ defense has shown troubling vulnerability over the final three weeks. Chicago has surrendered a staggering 1,313 yards over that stretch, including 433 yards to Detroit on Sunday.
Despite these alarming defensive statistics, Johnson maintained the responsibility fell squarely on the offense.
“We can’t afford to have a phase — one of our three phases — play like we did today,” Johnson said. “So we’re going to have to pick it up. Like I said, I get fired up just thinking about it right now, and I know our guys do too.”
Historic Division Title With Unusual Distinction
The Bears (11-6) claimed the NFC North championship for the first time since 2018 despite posting an unusual 2-4 record in divisional games. This places them in rare company, joining only three other teams since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger to win their division with a losing intradivision record:
- 1971 San Francisco 49ers (2-4 in NFC West)
- 1982 Green Bay Packers (1-2 in NFC Central during strike-shortened season)
- 2010 Kansas City Chiefs (2-4 in AFC West)
The Bears clinched the division in dramatic fashion last week with a thrilling 22-16 overtime victory over the Packers at Soldier Field, capped by Williams’ 46-yard touchdown strike to DJ Moore.
Playoff Rematch Set: Bears vs. Packers Saturday Night
Chicago will host the seventh-seeded Green Bay Packers (9-7-1) on Saturday, January 10 at 7 p.m. CT (8 p.m. ET) at Soldier Field. The game will stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video and will be televised locally on Fox 32 in Chicago and on local stations in Green Bay and Milwaukee.
This marks the Bears’ first home playoff game since the 2018 season when they lost to the Eagles in the Wild Card round following the infamous “double doink” missed field goal. It’s also Chicago’s first playoff appearance since 2020, when they lost at the Saints as a wild card team.
The matchup represents the third meeting this season between the bitter NFC North rivals. The Packers won the first encounter 28-21 at Lambeau Field in Week 14 when cornerback Keisean Nixon intercepted Williams in the end zone. The Bears got revenge three weeks ago with their overtime thriller at Soldier Field.
This will be just the third playoff meeting between the storied franchises. The Packers won the most recent postseason clash in the 2010 NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field en route to winning Super Bowl XLV. The Bears won the first playoff meeting 33-14 in 1941 at Wrigley Field.
What’s At Stake
If the Bears defeat the Packers, they’ll advance to the Divisional Round and host another playoff game at Soldier Field on January 17 or 18. Their opponent would be determined by Wild Card weekend results — the lowest remaining seed would face the top-seeded Seattle Seahawks (13-4), while the other team would travel to Chicago.
The Bears are three wins away from reaching Super Bowl LX, which will be played February 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Johnson’s Message: Execute or Go Home
The first-year head coach, who came to Chicago from the Detroit Lions where he served as offensive coordinator, made it clear that individual achievements and fortunate seeding mean nothing without improved execution.
“We went 0-2 [to start] — frustration was there,” Williams said. “We had losses we felt like we shouldn’t have lost — frustration there. And these past two weeks. We’ve gotta use this frustration.”
Williams showed his faith in his coach by wearing Johnson’s high school jersey into Soldier Field on Sunday. Johnson wore No. 12 as quarterback for the A.C. Reynolds Rockets in Asheville, North Carolina.
The next week will be critical for the young partnership between Williams and Johnson as they prepare for their most important game of the season against another green-and-gold opponent.
With home-field advantage secured and a week to prepare, the Bears must address their recent offensive inconsistencies and defensive lapses if they hope to make a deep playoff run. The margin for error in January is razor-thin, and Sunday’s performance won’t be enough to survive the postseason gauntlet.
Key Stats:
- Caleb Williams: 22-of-30, 212 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
- Bears offensive struggles: 0 points through three quarters
- Kevin Byard: 7 interceptions (led NFL)
- Bears final record: 11-6 (NFC North champions, No. 2 seed)
- Season series vs. Packers: 1-1 (playoff rubber match ahead)
Playoff Schedule:
- Wild Card Round: Saturday, Jan. 10, 7 p.m. CT — Bears vs. Packers at Soldier Field (Prime Video)
- Divisional Round: Jan. 17-18 (if Bears win)
- NFC Championship: Jan. 25
- Super Bowl LX: Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA
