Of course, it had to end this way.
In a season full of last-second finishes, the Bears logged one more Sunday at Soldier Field.
This one stung, though — the Lions’ Jake Bates made a 42-yard field goal as time expired to win 19-16 on Sunday at Soldier Field. The Bears, who finished the season 11-6, held onto the No. 2 seed when the Eagles lost to the Commanders. The Bears will host the Packers next week.
The Bears were uncharacteristically flat for most of the game. Their offense was shut out through the first three quarters and their defense was bludgeoned by a Lions team content to play keep-away. At least the Bears forced field goals instead of allowing touchdowns — at the end of three quarters, the Lions led 16-0 on three kicks and one 15-yard pass to Jahmyr Gibbs.
The Lions finish their season with a W after this game-winning kick from Jake Bates 👏🦁
📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/OndguqJFiB
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) January 5, 2026
Williams brought some much-needed life to Soldier Field when he hit rookie Jahdae Walker for a 25-yard touchdown pass 44 seconds into the fourth quarter. The pass made Williams the Bears’ single-season passing yards leader, eclipsing Erik Kramer, who had 3,838 in 1995. Kyle Monangai ran the ball in for the two-point conversion to go down 16-8.
The Bears then forced a punt after Lions coach Dan Campbell called for a trick play on third-and-one. Running back David Montgomery took the handoff and looked to throw the ball back to quarterback Jared Goff, only to be stuffed. The Bears marched 88 yards for their next touchdown, a one-yard pass to a diving Colston Loveland with 5:28 to play. Cole Kmet made a daring grab of the two-point conversion to tie the game.
Williams finished 22-for-30 for 212 yards, two touchdowns and his first interception since the last play of the loss in Green Bay. He was 58 yards shy of 4,000 on the season. The Bears have never had a 4,000-yard passer.
The two teams traded possessions in the next three-and-a-half minutes, with safety Kevin Byard intercepting his league-leading seventh pass on a pass tipped by safety Jaquan Brisker. The Bears then punted with 1:55 to play. Both quarterbacks faced third-and-20 after being flagged for intentional grounding.
The Bears punted, and the Lions took over at their own 37 with 1:41 to play. On first-and-10 from the 44, Goff faked a handoff and threw over the middle to Amon-Ra St. Brown, who gained 26 yards and gave the Lions the ball at the Bears’ 26.
Bates kicked the game-winner two runs later.
