The chants rang out a few times from the excited Detroit Lions squad at Soldier Field on Sunday, including as the clock ticked down on the Lions’ 34-17 victory over the Chicago Bears.

“Jar-ed Goff! Jar-ed Goff!” Fans chanted for the Lions quarterback, who led an offensive performance of 475 yards.

Minutes later, as the Bears players filed into a dim, rapidly emptying locker room in the midst of their ninth straight loss, Detroit fans gathered en masse in a corner of Soldier Field above the tunnel through which the Lions players exited.

The celebration of the Lions’ 13th win might have made an even bigger dent on the Bears’ home field if it hadn’t been so expected. The Lions, even amid a barrage of injuries, have so much of what the Bears lack. On Sunday, that was evident in their ability to capitalize on the Bears’ mistakes and take an early 20-0 lead, forcing the Bears to play catch-up throughout the game.

Bears quarterback Caleb Williams threw for 334 yards – the third-highest output of his rookie season – and two touchdowns against a badly injured Lions defense. But the Bears lost two fumbles in the first quarter, allowed an 82-yard touchdown pass and committed a total of 10 penalties in the game – five in each half – so Williams’ performance was just a footnote in what is now the Bears’ second-longest single. Season losing streak in team history.

The longest streak came in 2022, when the Bears lost 10 games, which stretched to 14 straight games at the start of the 2023 season. Cole Kmet, the Bears tight end who played on all of those teams, said Sunday it was hard to find the good in the performance.

“I’m kind of done with it,” Kmet said. “Two years ago it felt like they were trying to put some positivity into things. It’s hard for me to be honest with myself and find positives when it’s 34-17.”

On the positive side, Williams made some big plays, including several against veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen, who had a season-high nine catches for 141 yards and a touchdown. Perhaps the other positives are that the Bears only have two games left and the man orchestrating another big Lions offensive performance is reportedly a possibility for the Bears’ head coaching opening when those two games are over .

NFL Network reported Sunday that Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, the NFL’s top-scoring director of offense, is “interested” in the Bears’ assignment and is willing to listen to what Bears executives have to say .

That report came before Goff threw for 336 yards and three touchdowns — including a wild, viral play in which Goff and running back Jahmyr Gibbs both faked a fumble before Goff threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Sam LaPorta. The game was Johnson’s idea, said Lions coach Dan Campbell.

“They definitely had some good plays,” Bears nickel Kyler Gordon said. “But I don’t think they did anything crazy. It was all about execution, just getting the job done. Everyone has to win their individual battles. That’s what really matters. It’s a team sport. We all contribute by winning our one-on-one conversations.”

The Bears defense has allowed at least 30 points per game in each of their last three losses since holding the Lions to 23 points in a loss at Detroit on Thanksgiving. Of course, that loss was the final straw as head coach Matt Eberflus was fired the next day.

The rematch with the Lions was far more one-sided.

The Bears held the Lions to a field goal on Detroit’s first drive. But the defense only had two plays from the field before Williams and wide receiver Rome Odunze botched a handoff and Lions defensive lineman Josh Paschal recovered. Afterwards, Williams took responsibility for the ball not being placed where it was supposed to be.

The Lions took over at the Bears’ 36-yard line and Gibbs rushed for 23 yards on the next play. Gibbs, who had 109 rushing yards in the game, eventually rushed for a 1-yard touchdown – on his third attempt from the 1-yard line – for a 10-0 lead.

Odunze fumbled again four plays into the next possession when he made a catch 19 yards and was then stripped by safety Brian Branch and linebacker Mitchell Agude. Linebacker Ben Niemann recovered and after a 34-yard field goal by Jake Bates, the Lions took a 13-0 lead.

“It’s just the little things. Not executed properly. “We can’t turn the ball over early,” Odunze said. “These things kind of negate any progress you want to have. In the first half, great emphasis was placed on collecting points. When you do those things, it’s hard to get that rhythm going.”

Odunze rebounded later in the game and made some big catches, including two on fourth down on the Bears scoring drives. But the Bears were already 20 points behind at both points.

Goff’s biggest play came on the Lions’ drive after the Bates field goal. Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams flew past cornerback Tyrique Stevenson and safety Jonathan Owens and intercepted Goff’s 82-yard pass with ease. While Owens struggled to keep up, Williams marched into the end zone and gave the Lions a 20-0 lead.

When Goff was asked what was the key to Williams getting that touchdown, he said, “Just run fast.”

“Our connection continues to grow,” Goff said. “He’s obviously one of the best deep threats in our league, even if he’s not perfect. Last week and this one didn’t exactly look perfect, but for him to make that play today and then finish it in the end zone, that’s what he’s capable of and hopefully he’ll do more of that.”

That was another difference between the teams on Sunday.

As the Lions looked forward, they talked about preparing for their immediate future, for what lies ahead as the playoffs approach. The Bears and Caleb Williams only have the 2025 season ahead of them for now.

“There are so many different situations that happen during games that you can learn from and that’s what I learned from this year,” Williams said. “I think every snap is valuable for me and this team.”

Braxton Jones and Teven Jenkins are leaving with injuries

Left tackle Braxton Jones suffered what appeared to be a serious injury to his left ankle midway through the second quarter.

Jones was injured on one of Odunze’s fourth-down conversion catches and immediately appeared to be in pain. The entire Bears sideline went onto the field to support Jones while the Bears staff placed an air blast on his left leg and carted him away.

It was Jones’ first game back after missing the previous week with a concussion. Bears interim coach Thomas Brown said after the game that he was not yet sure whether Jones had gone to the hospital.

Bears left guard Teven Jenkins also left the first half after trying to overcome a calf injury.

Offensive players Larry Borom and Jake Curhan filled in for Jones and Jenkins.