Gibbs, Williams both go for more than 150 all-purpose yards as Lions top Bears to improve to 13-2
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 22: Jahmyr Gibbs #26 of the Detroit Lions carries the ball against the Chicago Bears during the second quarter at Soldier Field on December 22, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The Lions improved to 13-2 to remain the top team in the NFC with a victory over division rival Chicago. The Lions led 20-0 in the first quarter and never looked back, coasting to a 34-17 victory.
Jahmyr Gibbs led the way on the ground with 109 yards, while also snagging four passes for 45 yards through the air as well. Jameson Williams paced the team in the air with 143 yards, and his lone carry put him at 150 total yards for the game.
Jared Goff threw for 336 yards and three touchdowns, and the Detroit Lions remained on top of the NFC with their franchise-record 13th win.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 22: Jahmyr Gibbs #26 of the Detroit Lions celebrates his rushing touchdown against the Chicago Bears with Tim Patrick #17 and Amon-Ra St. Brown #14 during the first quarter at Soldier Field on December 22, 2024 in Chicago
The Lions didn't punt until late in the fourth quarter once the game was already out of reach.
The Lions also set a single-season record for scoring with 493 points.
The Lions took control early against the Bears (4-11), and they even flexed their dominance by executing a trick play in which Goff intentionally stumbled while dropping back. With Detroit players yelling "Fumble!" and Gibbs pretending to dive for the ball, Goff threw to Sam LaPorta for a 21-yard touchdown that made it 34-14.
It was just the sort of performance Detroit was looking for coming off a 48-42 loss to Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. That stopped a franchise-best win streak at 11 games and dropped the Lions into a tie atop the conference with Philadelphia and NFC North rival Minnesota.
Caleb Williams threw for 334 yards and two touchdowns following a string of shaky performances for the Bears, who lost their ninth in a row and drew more boos from their frustrated fans.
Goff delivered another strong showing a week after becoming the first NFL player to lose while throwing for 400-plus yards and five TDs with no interceptions. The three-time Pro Bowler completed 23 of 32 passes without an interception and had Lions fans chanting his name.
Along with the deep ball to Jameson Williams and the throw to LaPorta, Goff also threw to Amon-Ra St. Brown for an 8-yard TD in the second quarter.
Gibbs scored on a 1-yard run in the first quarter and caught four passes for 45 yards. He joined Barry Sanders and Billy Sims as the only Lions running backs with at least 1,500 yards from scrimmage and 15 TDs.
The Lions improved to 7-0 on the road.
The Bears lost to Detroit for the fifth time in six games. Unlike the matchup on Thanksgiving Day — when then-coach Matt Eberflus mismanaged the ending and got fired the next day — they never really challenged in this one.
Caleb Williams at least had a better outing after he looked physically and mentally beaten in a lopsided loss at Minnesota. The No. 1 overall draft pick was 26 of 40.
Keenan Allen caught nine passes for a season-high 141 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown near the end of the first half.
Rome Odunze added 77 yards receiving, and Cole Kmet had a touchdown catch.
The Lions haven’t lost consecutive games since dropping five in a row early in the 2022 season. And they weren’t about to let the Bears change that.
They outscored Chicago 13-0 in the first quarter and struck again early in the second. Jameson Williams beat Jonathan Owens down the middle on a play-action pass and Goff hit him in stride. It was Williams’ fourth TD of 50 yards or more this season.
Injuries
Bears: LT Braxton Jones (ankle) exited early in the second quarter after he was hurt blocking on a pass. The Chicago sideline emptied, with players forming a semicircle as medical personnel tended to Jones before he was carted off the field.
Up next
Lions: Visit San Francisco next Monday night in a rematch of last year’s NFC championship game.
Bears: Host Seattle on Thursday night.