Week Eighteen: Detroit Lions (8-8) @ Chicago Bears (11-5)

[MichiganCardinal]

          vs.          

Setting: 01/04/2026 4:25pm EST on FOX

Site: Soldier Field in Chicago, IL

Weather: 35° High / 28° Low, 8% chance of rain/snow, 10mph wind

Opening Spread: Bears -2.5

All-Time Series Record: Bears lead, 105-81-5

Last Meeting: 09/14/2025, Lions won 52-21

 

Chicago Bears (11-5)

Head Coach: Ben Johnson (1st Season: 11-5)

Projected Starting QB: Caleb Williams (2nd Season: 16-17)

Last Game: 42-38 L @ San Francisco 49ers (12-4)

 

Your Detroit Lions (8-8)

Head Coach: Dan Campbell (5th Season: 47-36-1)

Projected Starting QB: Jared Goff (10th Season: 89-60-1)

Last Game: 23-10 L @ Minnesota Vikings (8-8)

 

Elsewhere in the NFL

Saturday: Panthers @ Buccaneers (4:30pm), Seahawks @ 49ers (8pm)

Primetime: Ravens @ Steelers (SNF)

1:00pm: Browns @ Bengals, Packers @ Vikings, Colts @ Texans, Cowboys @ Giants, Saints @ Falcons, Titans @ Jaguars

4:25pm: Chargers @ Broncos, Chiefs @ Raiders, Commanders @ Eagles, Jets @ Bills, Dolphins @ Patriots, Cardinals @ Rams

MotownForums burying the 2025-2026 Detroit Lions season. (2025, colorized).

[RatkoVarda]

My prediction: the first 3 plays on offense will be runs up the middle for 3, -1, and 2 yards.

"We're a running team first and I thought it was important to establish the run behind 3 rookies including a practice squad C, who I like to pretend are All-pros even though everyone knows they are not."

[Mr.TaterSalad]

Please lose, I guess. I can't believe I'm back to talking about tanking and draft position, but here we are. A loss would make their schedule that much easier next year as they will clinch a 4th place schedule. With the right combinations of other teams winning and losing they can move up to as high as the 12th pick in the draft. If Miami, Tampa, and Dallas all win we can move up to the 12th pick in the draft I do believe.

[RedRamage]

Intellectually it's best if they lose, but in the game itself I'm be rooting for a win. I just can't watch a game and hope for a loss, especially against the Bears and Johnson.

[Sports_Freak]

35 minutes ago, RedRamage said:

Intellectually it's best if they lose, but in the game itself I'm be rooting for a win. I just can't watch a game and hope for a loss, especially against the Bears and Johnson.

Not just that but I think it's kinda silly hoping for an easy schedule. It's not like the schedule this season was the problem. With a loss, we'll be 1-5 in our division. That was the problem. And we're playing the same division teams next season. Bring on good opponents, get us ready for playing good teams in the playoffs.

[RatkoVarda]

the "eff Ben Johnson" chants week 2 seemed unnecessary and did not help the season-long bad karma

[Mr.TaterSalad]

2 hours ago, RedRamage said:

Intellectually it's best if they lose, but in the game itself I'm be rooting for a win. I just can't watch a game and hope for a loss, especially against the Bears and Johnson.

Oh I've had no issue rooting for a loss in the past. I don't like doing it per say and it sucks we are at this point. I'd rather this game be for the division or a playoff spot at minimum. I'm not some sicko who wants to lose. But when losing presents the better option for the long-term benefit of the team, I'll take it.

[Shinzaki]

If we compete well and lose a close one...I won't shed any tears

[RatkoVarda]

kinda weird that they started Eguakun two weeks in a row and then just let the Browns poach him today.

but he was really, really bad last week. Colon or Glasgow I guess will start at C.

[MichiganCardinal]

1 hour ago, RatkoVarda said:

kinda weird that they started Eguakun two weeks in a row and then just let the Browns poach him today.

but he was really, really bad last week. Colon or Glasgow I guess will start at C.

I don't think anyone on the team is the answer at center. Except maybe Ratledge, but that just creates a problem at guard.

Edited December 31, 2025 by MichiganCardinal

[GalagaGuy]

Lions currently have the 16th pick in the draft.  The highest they can go is 11th and the lowest 18th so win or lose, they're not going to move that much so I'd rather they just win and go out on a positive note.  

[IdahoBert]

Although I’m just a bandwagoner in all this, I’m rooting for a .500+ season because I don’t know any better. And my local FOX affiliate in Idaho is actually letting me watch a game with two Midwest teams. I’m sure simply because of “da Bears.” But I’ll take it if they’re giving it to me.

[Motown Bombers]

On 12/31/2025 at 2:06 PM, MichiganCardinal said:

I don't think anyone on the team is the answer at center. Except maybe Ratledge, but that just creates a problem at guard.

I think an interior line of Mahogany-Ratledge-Frazier has some potential. People wanted to get younger on the line but didn’t want the growing pains. 

[KL2]

On 12/31/2025 at 2:11 PM, GalagaGuy said:

Lions currently have the 16th pick in the draft.  The highest they can go is 11th and the lowest 18th so win or lose, they're not going to move that much so I'd rather they just win and go out on a positive note.  

No winning accomplishes absolutely nothing. Lower pick, harder schedule 

[Sports_Freak]

 

[Sports_Freak]

1 hour ago, KL2 said:

No winning accomplishes absolutely nothing. Lower pick, harder schedule 

The schedule wasn't the problem this season. It was the division games. Going 1-5 (with a loss today) in our division cost us any chance to win the division or make the playoffs. And no matter how we finish, we'll still be playing those division games. Its the better draft pick i want. There's a big difference in the 11th pick over the 18th pick.

[GalagaGuy]

With the O line in tatters, I wouldn't even play Goff today.  

[Motown Bombers]

If the Vikings win, the Lions are guaranteed a 4th place schedule no matter what the Lions do. 

[Sports_Freak]

1 hour ago, Motown Bombers said:

If the Vikings win, the Lions are guaranteed a 4th place schedule no matter what the Lions do. 

And they did. And Green Bay ended up losing out, just what we were looking for so the Lions could make the playoffs...IF they coulda won..

 

[Mr.TaterSalad]

Brady's hair plugs look great. 

[TP_Fan]

All the greatest hits on that drive. 2nd and 1 and Campbell calls an embarrassing screen pass for negative 5 yards to the 5th string TE. Then can’t get lined up and use a timeout.  Then St Brown adding to his league leading drops.  Get a real OC please. 

[TP_Fan]

Worst coached team in the nfl.  Can’t do one thing correctly.  

[Motown Bombers]

24 minutes ago, Sports_Freak said:

And they did. And Green Bay ended up losing out, just what we were looking for so the Lions could make the playoffs...IF they coulda won..

 

Green Bay probably doesn't play their 3rd string QB if the playoffs were on the line. 

[Motown Bombers]

Can't help but notice how much the interior DL is getting on this great Bears IOL. 

[TP_Fan]

Nonstop gimmick plays for Firsker.  What are we even doing. The red zone play calling can’t get worse. Campbell really needs to hand this thing over.