Chicago Bears Week 18 Notes: What The L?!

Was it the offense? Or the defense? Coaching or players? Makes no difference; these Chicago Bears did not appear ready for playoff football against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field, finishing the 2025 regular season with a 2-4 divisional record and losing the last two games, sputtering to a discouraging finish as the playoffs near.

Let’s take a look at my notes from this defeat.

Offense:

• The run game looked good early and then not good enough shortly after. However, I would have liked to see more of the run game mixed in throughout the contest. No, I was not a fan of the 3 straight runs late in the game by Ben Johnson.
• Speaking of Ben Johnson, I did not feel like this was a good game called by him. Be it calling too many passes early, the type of pass plays with no hot route/help, or the timing of his calls, this was hopefully a learning experience for the Bears HC and play caller.
• Offense looked pitiful and out of sync/without urgency the entire first 3 quarters. I understand they are not playing for the playoffs, but it is not exactly the type of effort any of us have come to expect for The Beloved.
• Jack Campbell, whom I highlighted here, was a menace all day. Sniffing out run plays early or halting pass catchers immediately upon reception, he played as I feared and will be more impactful than former Lions Pro Bowl LB, Chris Spielman, in my opinion.
• Is Darnell healthy? Or is he simply unmotivated as the entire offense appeared to be? Either way, his sack allowed against Aiden Hutchinson was an effort issue from my vantage point. Let it be known these notes are ALWAYS on the first viewing of the game though. Otherwise, who cares what you have to say?
• 4th and Colston strikes again.
• Both Colston and Burden III with some drops in this one and they both hurt. Could they have been more accurate? Sure. So could the drop by Jahdae Walker in 2nd half. But these guys all have to catch those passes. Swift included here.
• That said, Burden looked like our best option and DJ Moore once again did not show up in a huge game. I love DJ and would love to see him retire a Bear, but it does not appear like he will do so at this point. Luther, meanwhile, consistently looks like our most explosive and best pass catcher without Rome Odunze.
• Caleb trusts his rookies more than DJ, and it shows. The rookies let him down a bit against the Lions, but it’s noteworthy, no less.
• Cole Kmet had a solid game, capped by a gutsy and extremely difficult 2-point conversion to tie it up late. That catch while being belted was 9/10 on the difficulty scale. Kudos to Kmet for reeling it in. Solid game overall for #85.
• Another game where Swift looked like the better option in the run game, and another game where Ben opted for Monangai to start the 2nd half. Not sure if that is Bieniemy or Ben. But I am not a fan of how they are deploying these two studs. Huge fan of both RBs, for what it’s worth.

Defense:

• Damn. It does not take a seasoned football fan to immediately recognize that this current Bears D gives too much time to opposing QBs. Every. Week. This week was no different.
• Decent run D, but even that proved to be the exception as both Gibbs and Monty looked like they got more than they bargained for throughout the evening.
• You know who else got more than they bargained for? Jared Goff, for starters, but Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams throughout the game as well.
• I thought both LBs got victimized, but the DBs did not look on point in this one either. Jaylon Johnson was solid in run support throughout, but got targeted throughout as well against the faster/quicker Lions WRs like Jamo and :checks notes: Khalif Raymond. #facepalm
• Jaquan Brisker looked like arguably our best defender against the Lions. Coming up in run support and being physical at the point of the catch and after the catch in the passing game. Brisker brought the juice. Surprised that nobody else seemed to, CJ Gardner-Johnson included.
• CJGJ got victimized all game. I have loved and been vocal about my appreciation for the former Gator, but I cannot wait to get Kyler Gordon back.
• Grady has not lived up to his contract, and I think he will be cut this offseason, but at least he has continued to play decent ball and had a clutch half sack along with Montez Sweat in this one.
• Don’t look now (as he has a lot of detractors), but Gervon Dexter Sr. notched his 6th sack of the season.
• Kevin Byard with ANOTHER clutch INT in this one thanks to a TJ Edwards/Brisker tip. Huge addition and would like to see him return.
• Andrew Billings with two critical encroachment penalties. Sloppy game for both sides in this one. Didn’t deserve the W.
• Overall, when it comes to the D, they did more bending than breaking, but Detroit absolutely dominated the time of possession and thus owned field position and momentum throughout. Need more from our D if we want to actually win a game in the playoffs. But perhaps these guys are just happy to be there. After today, I am not too sure.

Special Teams:

• Not much to write home about special teams in this game.
• I liked the opening kickoff coverage and urgency, but it was just meh throughout.
• Punt coverage much of the same.
• Kick and punt return much of the same. We need a spark back there moving forward. Not just average.