Gibbs, Williams both go for more than 150 all-purpose yards as Lions top Bears to improve to 13-2
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – DECEMBER 22: On December 22, 2024, in Chicago, Illinois, Jahmyr Gibbs #26 of the Detroit Lions carries the ball during the second quarter at Soldier Field against the Chicago Bears. (Image via Getty Images/Michael Reaves))
With a victory over division rival Chicago, the Lions increased to 13-2 and maintained their position as the NFC’s best team. The Lions cruised to a 34-17 victory after taking a 20-0 lead in the first quarter.
In addition to leading the field with 109 yards, Jahmyr Gibbs caught four passes for 45 yards in the air. With 143 yards, Jameson Williams led the team in the air, and his lone carry brought his game total to 150 yards.
With their franchise-record 13th victory, the Detroit Lions maintained their lead in the NFC, led by quarterback Jared Goff, who threw for 336 yards and three touchdowns.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – DECEMBER 22: On December 22, 2024, in Chicago, Tim Patrick #17, Amon-Ra St. Brown #14, and Detroit Lions #26 celebrate a rushing score against the Chicago Bears during the first quarter at Soldier Field.
The game was already out of reach when the Lions finally punted late in the fourth quarter.
With 493 points, the Lions also set a single-season scoring record.
Against the Bears (4-11), the Lions established control early on. They even demonstrated their superiority by executing a trick play in which Goff purposefully slipped while dropping back. Gibbs pretended to lunge for the ball as the Detroit players yelled “Fumble!” Goff then threw to Sam LaPorta, who scored a 21-yard touchdown to make it 34-14.
The effort was just what Detroit needed after losing to Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills 48–42. The Lions were now tied for first place in the conference with Philadelphia and NFC North rival Minnesota after ending an 11-game winning streak that was the franchise’s greatest.
After the Bears lost their eighth straight game and garnered additional jeers from their irate supporters, Caleb Williams passed for 334 yards and two scores.
A week after he became the first NFL player to lose while throwing for 400+ yards and five touchdowns without being intercepted, Goff put on another impressive performance. The three-time Pro Bowl player had Lions supporters singing his name as he completed 23 of 32 passes without being intercepted.
In the second quarter, Goff also threw to Amon-Ra St. Brown for an 8-yard touchdown, in addition to the deep ball to Jameson Williams and the throw to LaPorta.
Gibbs scored on a 1-yard run in the first quarter and caught four passes for 45 yards. The only Lions running backs with at least 1,500 yards from scrimmage and 15 touchdowns are him, Barry Sanders, and Billy Sims.
On the road, the Lions improved to 7-0.
For the fifth time in six games, the Bears fell short against Detroit. They never truly challenged in this game, unlike the Thanksgiving Day showdown when then-coach Matt Eberflus botched the conclusion and was fired the following day.
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.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – DECEMBER 22: Sam LaPorta #87 of the Detroit Lions catches a touchdown pass in front of Jonathan Owens #36 of the Chicago Bears during the third quarter at Soldier Field on December 22, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
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