Two NFC North contenders meet on the holiday slate, and the box score will matter more than the noise around it. Chicago is rolling at 7-2, Detroit has quietly stacked four straight wins, and both quarterbacks are coming off the roughest outings of their seasons. This guide breaks down the Chicago Bears vs Detroit Lions match player stats, the people behind them, and what to watch when the ball is kicked off at Ford Field.
TL;DR
- Upcoming match: Bears at Lions on Thanksgiving Day, Week 12, at Ford Field in Detroit.
- Kickoff: 1:00 PM ET (noon CT), which is 11:00 PM PKT on the same Thursday. Broadcast on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
- Records: Chicago Bears 7-2 (their best nine-game start since 2012). Detroit Lions 6-2 with four consecutive victories.
- Series: Chicago leads the all-time series 105-82-5, but Detroit has won the last four meetings, including a 19-16 result in the most recent one.
- Biggest storyline: Caleb Williams threw a career-high four interceptions last time out. Jared Goff’s 30-game touchdown streak also ended. Somebody gets a bounce-back game on Thanksgiving.
- Player edge: Lions at wide receiver and in the running-back pairing’s explosiveness; Bears at rushing touchdowns, third-down offense and interior pass rush.
- Rematch: Detroit visits Soldier Field in Week 17, so this game also shapes the division race.
Upcoming Game Details: Bears at Lions
The Chicago Bears vs Detroit Lions match player stats conversation starts with the calendar. This is the first of two meetings in the regular season, and it lands on one of the NFL’s oldest traditions.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Matchup | Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions |
| Occasion | Thanksgiving Day, Week 12 |
| Kickoff | 1:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM CT / 11:00 PM PKT |
| Venue | Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan |
| TV and streaming | CBS, Paramount+ |
| Bears record | 7-2 |
| Lions record | 6-2 |
| Return game | Week 17, Detroit at Soldier Field |
Neither team is walking in fresh from the same circumstance. The Bears are coming off a bye week and host the Saints first, while the Lions have a trip to Germany to face New England and then a home game against Tampa Bay before this one. That schedule gives Chicago extra rest and gives Detroit extra game reps.
Latest Updates: Chicago Bears vs Detroit Lions Match Player Stats Before Kickoff
Bears: 7-2, a Bye Week and a Quarterback Reset
Chicago escaped Tampa Bay 27-24 on a 38-yard Cairo Santos field goal as time expired, and the win happened despite one of the worst passing games of Caleb Williams’ career. He completed 22 of 37 throws for 279 yards and two touchdowns, but four interceptions put the offense in a hole. For context, he had thrown only four interceptions across his previous 15 regular-season games.
The comeback drive, with a big completion to rookie tight end Colston Loveland, showed the other side of that story: the confidence did not crack. The win also made it four in a row for the Bears and kept them unbeaten in their night games this season.
The defense carried real weight. Chicago has 26 sacks, third most in the league, and Jeffery Simmons has 6.0 sacks, the most of any interior defensive lineman. The Bears also lead the league in third-down conversions on offense, a stat that tends to travel well against any opponent.
Lions: Four Straight Wins, but the Offense Cooled
Detroit beat Miami 19-9 in Week 9, a winning but unspectacular afternoon. The Lions entered that game with the league’s top-ranked offense, averaging 29 points and 395.4 yards, then finished with 270 net yards. Jake Bates made all four of his field goals, and Jahmyr Gibbs punched in an eight-yard touchdown on fourth down for his 11th scrimmage score of the year.
The defense deserves the headline. It held a Dolphins team to nine points while playing without injured linebacker Jack Campbell, with Aidan Hutchinson, Alim McNeil and Derrick Moore regularly pressuring the quarterback.
Injury and Availability Watch
The final injury report only arrives in the days before kickoff, so check it again before game day. As things stand, the key Bears name is running back Kyle Monangai (toe), who has been in and out of the lineup for weeks and is listed as questionable ahead of the Saints game. On Detroit’s side, the Campbell absence is the one that affects the defensive structure most.
Head-to-Head Comparison: Chicago Bears vs Detroit Lions Match Player Stats
Here is where the Chicago Bears vs Detroit Lions match player stats get concrete. The table below uses real, recent production rather than long-term guesswork.
| Category | Chicago Bears | Detroit Lions | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Record | 7-2 | 6-2 | Bears |
| Current streak | 4 wins | 4 wins | Even |
| Latest result | 27-24 over Tampa Bay | 19-9 over Miami | Even |
| Quarterback, last game | Williams: 22/37, 279 yds, 2 TD, 4 INT | Goff: 17/25, 170 yds, 0 TD, 1 INT | Mixed |
| Lead running back | D’Andre Swift: 576 yds, 10 TD, 3.7 YPC | Jahmyr Gibbs: 74 yds + TD last game, 11 scrimmage TDs | Lions |
| Top receiver production | Rome Odunze, Colston Loveland | Amon-Ra St. Brown: 8 catches, 86 yds last game | Lions |
| Sacks | 26 (third in NFL) | 3 sacks and 7 QB hits last game | Bears (season) |
| Kicker | Cairo Santos: game-winner from 38 | Jake Bates: 4-for-4 last game | Lions |
Quarterback Edge in the Chicago Bears vs Detroit Lions Match Player Stats
This is the headline duel. Williams brings the more explosive improvisation, and his night against Tampa shows the downside of that approach. Goff brings the steadier hands, but he was sacked three times and posted a season-low 170 yards.
The detail with the most Thanksgiving flavor: Goff’s streak of 30 consecutive games with a touchdown pass began on Thanksgiving 2024, in a win over these same Bears. It is over now, and he will want to start a new one at home against his old rival.
The edge goes to whichever passer settles in first. Williams has to protect the football against a Detroit pass rush that has been getting home. Goff has to turn a short-yardage-heavy attack into chunk plays without forcing throws.
Running Backs: Swift vs Gibbs
Swift has carried the Bears’ ground game with 576 yards on 155 carries and 10 touchdowns. His 3.7 yards per carry is modest for a lead back, so Chicago’s rushing success comes from short-yardage finishing rather than breakaway runs. A healthy Monangai would give the Bears a second gear.
Gibbs is the more dangerous open-field threat, but his Week 9 line, 74 yards on 20 carries, shows that Detroit’s run game can be slowed down when defenses gang up inside. Expect the Lions to lean on him in both phases again, since he was barely targeted as a receiver last time out.
Receivers and Tight Ends
St. Brown remains the engine. He hauled in eight of ten targets against Miami and keeps moving the chains on third down, where Detroit’s offense was only 3-for-12 in that game. Jameson Williams supplies the vertical threat, including the game’s longest play, a 31-yard catch.
Chicago counters with Odunze on the outside and Loveland over the middle. Loveland’s late catch against the Buccaneers is a reminder that the Bears trust him in the biggest moments.
Pass Rush and Defense
This might be the most one-sided-looking category on paper, yet it is closer than it looks. Chicago’s defense leads the league in third-down stops, and Simmons has been disruptive in the interior. Detroit answers with Hutchinson off the edge, McNeil inside and Moore as a rising complementary rusher.
Whichever front forces the first long third down will probably decide who controls field position.
Special Teams
Bates was perfect last week, and Detroit also pulled off a fake punt with Jack Fox throwing an 11-yard completion. Santos nailed the game-winner for Chicago from 38 yards. Both kickers are reliable inside 45 yards, so any extra points on the scoreboard may come from coverage units rather than the legs.
Series History and Recent Results
Chicago holds an all-time edge of 105-82-5 over 192 meetings, but recent history belongs to Detroit, and the older Chicago Bears vs Detroit Lions match player stats show how far the pendulum has swung. On Thanksgiving specifically, the teams have met 20 times, all in Detroit, with Chicago holding an 11-9 record.
| Date | Result | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Early January 2026 | Lions 19, Bears 16 | Lions |
| Week 2, 2025 | Lions 52, Bears 21 | Lions |
| Late December 2024 | Lions 34, Bears 17 | Lions |
| Thanksgiving 2024 | Lions 23, Bears 20 | Lions |
| Early December 2023 | Bears 28, Lions 13 | Bears |
The Lions have taken the last four meetings, and the 2025 blowout showed how quickly a Detroit offense can run away from Chicago. The Bears’ answer this time around is a much stronger defense and a coaching staff that has them 7-2.
Key Matchups That Will Decide the Game
- Chicago’s third-down offense vs Detroit’s defense. The Bears’ ability to stay on schedule is their best path to controlling the clock.
- Goff’s quick passing vs Simmons. If Simmons collapses the pocket from the inside, Detroit’s rhythm passing game gets uncomfortable.
- Turnovers. Williams had four giveaways last time out and still won. Against a Lions team that rarely beats itself, that margin is unlikely to repeat.
- Swift’s red-zone usage vs Gibbs’ explosiveness. One back scores close to the goal line, the other creates big plays. The game may be decided by which style produces points more consistently.
- Special teams field position. Fake punts, kickoff coverage and Santos or Bates in the final minutes could matter.
Final Verdict: Chicago Bears vs Detroit Lions Match Player Stats
The current Chicago Bears vs Detroit Lions match player stats point to a tight game between two efficient, flawed and well-coached teams. Chicago has the better record, the stronger third-down profile and an interior pass rush that has been a revelation. Detroit has the home field, the recent head-to-head momentum and the offense that was best in the league until its latest dip.
If Williams protects the ball and Swift keeps cashing in near the goal line, the Bears have a real chance to snap the four-game losing streak in this series. If Goff finds St. Brown early and Gibbs gets space, Detroit’s recent dominance could continue. Either way, the player stats are the best preview available, so check the final injury report before kickoff and compare the numbers after the final whistle.
