{"id":205917,"date":"2025-07-14T07:59:14","date_gmt":"2025-07-14T07:59:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/205917\/"},"modified":"2025-07-14T07:59:14","modified_gmt":"2025-07-14T07:59:14","slug":"detroit-lions-offense-too-much-for-bears-to-handle-in-34-17-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/205917\/","title":{"rendered":"Detroit Lions offense too much for Bears to handle in 34-17 win"},"content":{"rendered":"

CHICAGO \u2013 This is the best team in modern Detroit Lions<\/a> history, and now they have the record to prove it.<\/p>\n

Jared Goff threw for 336 yards and three touchdowns and Jahmyr Gibbs added 109 yards rushing as the Lions rebounded from their second loss of the season to pummel the Chicago Bears, 34-17, Sunday at Soldier Field<\/a> in Week 16.<\/a><\/p>\n

With the win, the Lions improved to 13-2 and set a franchise single-season record for victories. Last year, they went 12-5, and in 1991 they went 12-4.<\/p>\n

The Lions remain in control of the No. 1 seed in the NFC with two games left in the regular season. Both the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings entered Sunday with 12 wins. The Eagles lost on a last second game-winning drive by Jayden Daniels in the fourth quarter, while the Vikings play the Seattle Seahawks in the late-afternoon window.<\/p>\n

Along with the franchise record for victories, the Lions became just the sixth team in NFL history to win at least 13 games three or fewer seasons after they had 13 or more losses. Four of the five previous teams to accomplish the feat \u2013 the 1984 San Francisco 49ers, the 2019 49ers, the 1992 Dallas Cowboys and the 1998 Atlanta Falcons \u2013 reached the Super Bowl.<\/p>\n

Only the 1999 Indianapolis Colts, in Peyton Manning’s second season, failed to win their conference.<\/p>\n

Here are three observations from Sunday:<\/p>\n

RECAP: Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears score: Recap, highlights from 34-17 win vs NFC North foe<\/a><\/p>\n

Sonic boom<\/p>\n

The Lions will miss David Montgomery if he can\u2019t return from his knee injury for the playoffs,<\/a> but Gibbs is more than equipped to play as a lead back the rest of the season \u2013 and the Lions are at their best when he\u2019s in the backfield.<\/p>\n

Gibbs touched the ball on 20 of the Lions\u2019 first 33 offensive snaps Sunday and finished with 23 carries for 109 yards and four catches for 45 yards. He scored the Lions\u2019 first touchdown on a 1-yard run and had success bouncing plays to the perimeter because of his superior speed.<\/p>\n

Lions running backs coach Scottie Montgomery said during the week he was more worried about taxing Gibbs with a high rep count than a high touch count, but the Lions didn\u2019t seem too concerned with either, Sunday.<\/p>\n

Gibbs had four games with 20-plus touches this season entering Sunday and one game with more than 20 carries. Last year as a rookie, he set previous career-highs of 26 carries (and 31 touches) in a game the Lions played without Montgomery against the Las Vegas Raiders.<\/p>\n

If Montgomery isn\u2019t back for the playoffs, Gibbs could \u2013 and should \u2013 play a similar role to the one he played Sunday. That\u2019s the Lions\u2019 best chance for a deep postseason run.<\/p>\n

Trip hazard<\/p>\n

Ben Johnson broke out another gem of a trick play Sunday, having Jared Goff fake-stumble after taking a snap from Frank Ragnow<\/a> \u2013 and Gibbs stop, drop and roll to the ground as if he was chasing a fumble \u2013 before launching a touchdown pass to an open Sam LaPorta.<\/p>\n

YOU’VE GOTTA SEE THIS: ‘Detroit Lions special’ with fake Jared Goff trip latest Ben Johnson masterclass<\/a><\/p>\n

Goff\u2019s stumble was realistic enough that I thought he got his foot stepped on again, like he did on the Lions\u2019 fourth-and-1 conversion two weeks ago against the Green Bay Packers. He even extended his open hand to fake a handoff as he stumbled to the ground.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard to say how much that fake had to do with LaPorta getting so open behind the Bears defense, but the Lions are so detailed on offense that it couldn\u2019t have hurt.<\/p>\n

I can\u2019t lie, though: My first thought after checking to see if the stumble was real was that the next time Johnson calls a play like that at Soldier Field it will be as head coach of the Bears next fall.<\/p>\n

Johnson is clearly the top head-coaching candidate among current NFL coordinators (with Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn not too far behind), and the Bears for now are the best job that\u2019s open \u2013 and the job could get even more appealing if they fire general manager Ryan Poles after the season.<\/p>\n

Johnson ran a hook-and-ladder to Penei Sewell in the first Lions-Bears game. And if he\u2019s head coach of the Bears next season, you\u2019re bound to see him run some of those trick plays against Detroit.<\/p>\n

Spoil sport<\/p>\n

Can we get to the playoffs already? Or at least to the Lions\u2019 Week 18 game against the Minnesota Vikings, if it means something?<\/p>\n

It was good to see the Lions get back on the winning track Sunday. They needed it after last week\u2019s butt-kicking by the Buffalo Bills. But there\u2019s not a lot to tell from the win and whether the Lions are ready for the type of teams they\u2019re going to face in the playoffs.<\/p>\n

The Bears sleep-walked their way through the first quarter. They lost two fumbles, committed a couple-drive stalling penalties and trailed 20-0 before making it a mildly competitive game. For all their offensive skill talent, they don\u2019t have the type of passing game or quarterback the Lions’ defense will need to stop in the postseason and their defense wasn\u2019t able to force a punt until 5:45 remained in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n

The Lions play the San Francisco 49ers next Monday night game in a game that should be slightly more competitive because the 49ers are better-coached. But like the Bears, the 49ers are playing out the string on a disappointing season. That game will only be revelatory if the Lions lose.<\/p>\n

Such are the spoils of being one of the best teams in the NFL.<\/p>\n

Dave Birkett is the author of the new book, “Detroit Lions<\/a>: An Illustrated Timeline.\u201d\u00a0Order your copy here.<\/a>\u00a0Contact him at\u00a0dbirkett@freepress.com<\/a>. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at\u00a0@davebirkett.<\/a><\/p>\n