Detroit Lions dominate Chicago Bears 34-17 with 3 TD passes from Jared Goff
Jared Goff threw for 336 yards and three touchdowns, and the Detroit Lions remained on top of the NFC with their franchise-record 13th win, 34-17 over the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
Jameson Williams had a career-high 143 yards receiving on five catches, including an 82-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Jahmyr Gibbs ran for 109 yards and a score, and Detroit (13-2) broke a tie with the 1991 and 2023 teams for the most wins in franchise history. The Lions also set a single-season record for scoring with 493 points.
The Lions took control early against the Bears (4-11), and they even flexed their dominance by executing a trick play in which Goff intentionally stumbled while dropping back. With Detroit players yelling "Fumble!" and Gibbs pretending to dive for the ball, Goff threw to Sam LaPorta for a 21-yard touchdown that made it 34-14.
It was just the sort of performance Detroit was looking for coming off a 48-42 loss to Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. That stopped a franchise-best win streak at 11 games and dropped the Lions into a tie atop the conference with Philadelphia and NFC North rival Minnesota.
Caleb Williams threw for 334 yards and two touchdowns following a string of shaky performances for the Bears, who lost their ninth in a row and drew more boos from their frustrated fans.
Goff delivered another strong showing a week after becoming the first NFL player to lose while throwing for 400-plus yards and five TDs with no interceptions. The three-time Pro Bowler completed 23 of 32 passes without an interception and had Lions fans chanting his name.
Along with the deep ball to Jameson Williams and the throw to LaPorta, Goff also threw to Amon-Ra St. Brown for an 8-yard TD in the second quarter.
Gibbs scored on a 1-yard run in the first quarter and caught four passes for 45 yards. He joined Barry Sanders and Billy Sims as the only Lions running backs with at least 1,500 yards from scrimmage and 15 TDs.
The Lions improved to 7-0 on the road.
The Bears lost to Detroit for the fifth time in six games. Unlike the matchup on Thanksgiving Day — when then-coach Matt Eberflus mismanaged the ending and got fired the next day — they never really challenged in this one.
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
The Lions visit the San Francisco 49ers next Monday night in a rematch of last year's NFC championship game.
See a full game recap below.
Bears kick field goal, trail Lions 34-17
Chicago Bears kicker Cairo Santos successfully hit a 30-yard field goal with 6:03 left in the third quarter.
The Bears trail the Lions 34-17 after three quarters.
LaPorta scores for Lions
The Detroit Lions are now leading the Chicago Bears 34-14 after a 21-yard touchdown reception by tight end Sam LaPorta.
Quarterback Jared Goff now has three passing touchdowns.
Bears' Williams throws his second touchdown of the half
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams now has two passing touchdowns on the day following a 45-yard connection with receiver Keenan Allen.
The Lions lead the Bears 27-14 with 39 seconds left in the second quarter.
Amon-Ra St. Brown scores for Lions
The Detroit Lions now lead the Chicago Bears 27-7 following a 8-yard touchdown reception by Amon-Ra St. Brown.
There are 58 seconds left in the first half.
Kmet scores for Bears; Lions lead 20-7
The Chicago Bears are on the scoreboard following a 1-yard touchdown reception by tight end Cole Kmet.
The Lions lead the Bears 20-7 with 6:31 left in the first half.
Williams scores 82-yard touchdown for Lions
Lions receiver Jameson Williams has helped put the team up 20-0 over the Chicago Bears after a deep pass from Jared Goff for an 82-yard score.
There is 12:49 left in the second quarter.
Bates hits 34-yard field goal
Jake Bates now has two field goals after successfully kicking a 34-yard attempt with 2 seconds left in the first quarter.
The Lions lead the Bears 13-0.
Gibbs scores rushing touchdown; Lions up by 10
Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs capped off a 7-play, 36-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run.
Detroit is now up 10-0 on the Chicago Bears with 5:34 left in the first quarter.
Gibbs is carrying a heavier workload in the absence of fellow running back David Montgomery, who was injured last week.
Bates kicks 30-yard field goal
Lions kicker Jake Bates scored the first points of the game with a 30-yard field goal.
Detroit leads the Chicago Bears 3-0 with 9:35 left in the first quarter.
Lions make several roster moves ahead of game
The Lions made several roster moves Saturday to account for the team's lengthy injury list.
Tap here to see all the moves that were made.