By Brad Biggs | bmbiggs@chicagotribune.com | Chicago Tribune
PUBLISHED:
A pass intended for Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) is tipped before its intercepted by Chicago Bears safety Kevin Byard III (31) during the fourth quarter at Soldier Field Sunday Jan. 4, 2026 in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III walks off the field after a loss to the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field in Chicago on Jan. 4, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Bears coach Ben Johnson walks along the bench in the second quarter against the Lions at Soldier Field on Jan. 4, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland (84) makes a touchdown catch during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field Sunday Jan. 4, 2026 in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Bears wide receiver Jahdae Walker celebrates after catching a touchdown pass against the Lions on Jan. 4, 2026, at Soldier Field. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Lions kicker Jake Bates celebrates with his team after making the kick to give the Lions a 19-16 win over the Bears at Soldier Field on Jan. 4, 2026. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Detroit Lions place kicker Jake Bates (39) makes the game winning kick to give the Lions a, 19-16, win over the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field Sunday Jan. 4, 2026 in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (49) celebrates after the Bears prevented the Detroit Lions from converting a third down play in the fourth quarter of a game at Soldier Field in Chicago on Jan. 4, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Injured Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze hangs out on the field as players warm up for a game against the Lions on Jan. 4, 2026, at Soldier Field. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (97) pulls Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) to the ground in the third quarter of a game at Soldier Field in Chicago on Jan. 4, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears place kicker Cairo Santos (8) heads to the locker room at halftime of a game against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field in Chicago on Jan. 4, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams walks through the tunnel as players are introduced before a game against the Lions at Soldier Field on Jan. 4, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Simone Biles stands on the field before a game between the Chicago Bears and the in the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field in Chicago on Jan. 4, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears safety Jaquan Brisker (9) flies over Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) after St. Brown was tackled by linebacker T.J. Edwards (53) in the fourth quarter of a game at Soldier Field in Chicago on Jan. 4, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell celebrates with his team after the Lions scored during the second quarter against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field Sunday Jan. 4, 2026 in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) tackles Chicago Bears wide receiver Devin Duvernay (12) during the first quarter at Soldier Field Sunday Jan. 4, 2026 in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore (2) is unable to haul in a pass as Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed (4) defends in the second quarter of a game at Soldier Field in Chicago on Jan. 4, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
The Detroit Lions score a three-point field goal during the second quarter against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field Sunday Jan. 4, 2026 in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears fans react in the first quarter of a game between the Bears and the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field in Chicago on Jan. 4, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears safety Jaquan Brisker (9) waves after the defense made a stop on third down during the second quarter against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field Sunday Jan. 4, 2026 in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Detroit Lions cornerback Avonte Maddox (29) tackles Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III (10) during the third quarter at Soldier Field Sunday Jan. 4, 2026 in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson (1) pushes Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) out-of-bounds during the third quarter at Soldier Field, Jan. 4, 2026 in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) throws a pass in the first quarter of a game against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field in Chicago on Jan. 4, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
A Chicago Bears fan looks on from the stands in the first quarter of a game between the Bears and the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field in Chicago on Jan. 4, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) jumps for extra yards after a catch in the first quarter of a game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on Jan. 4, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams throws a pass during the fourth quarter against the Lions on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, at Soldier Field. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears cornerback Nahshon Wright (26) is unable to prevent Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) from catching a pass in the first quarter of a game at Soldier Field in Chicago on Jan. 4, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears safety Kevin Byard III (31) celebrates with members of the defense after making an interception during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field, Jan. 4, 2026 in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
A pass intended for Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) is tipped before its intercepted by Chicago Bears safety Kevin Byard III (31) during the fourth quarter at Soldier Field Sunday Jan. 4, 2026 in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams makes a 2-point conversion pass to tight end Cole Kmet during the fourth quarter against the Lions on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, at Soldier Field. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears wide receiver Jahdae Walker (20) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field Sunday Jan. 4, 2026 in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears wide receiver Jahdae Walker (20) scores a touchdown during the fourth quarter past Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) at Soldier Field Sunday Jan. 4, 2026 in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland (84) leaps over Detroit Lions cornerback Avonte Maddox (29) as Maddox makes a tackle in the fourth quarter of a game at Soldier Field in Chicago on Jan. 4, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) throws a pass in the fourth quarter of a game against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field in Chicago on Jan. 4, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (35) is helped off the field after suffering an injury in the fourth quarter of a game against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field in Chicago on Jan. 4, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Detroit Lions place kicker Jake Bates (39) kicks the winning field goal in the fourth quarter of a game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on Jan. 4, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field Sunday Jan. 4, 2026 in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears linebacker D'Marco Jackson (48) pressures Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during the second quarter at Soldier Field Sunday Jan. 4, 2026 in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore (2) walks to the field before the Bears play the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field Sunday Jan. 4, 2026 in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson (1) has a laugh on the field while warming up for a game against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field in Chicago on Jan. 4, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
A young Bears fan holds up a “good, better, best” sign while watching players warm up for a game between the Bears and the Lions at Soldier Field on Jan. 4, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) talks with his father before the Bears play the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field Sunday Jan. 4, 2026 in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Ed Welsh wears a lion jacket before the Chicago Bears play the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field Sunday Jan. 4, 2026 in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
A young fan hoping for an autograph from Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams watches players warm up for a game against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field in Chicago on Jan. 4, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
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A pass intended for Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) is tipped before its intercepted by Chicago Bears safety Kevin Byard III (31) during the fourth quarter at Soldier Field Sunday Jan. 4, 2026 in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
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Brad Biggs' 10 thoughts after the Chicago Bears' Week 18 disappointment with a look ahead to the playoffs — and one statistic that will really open your eyes.
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