Bears–Lions rivalry

Notable rivalry moments

• December 18, , 1932 NFL Playoff Game :*The 1932 regular season ended with the Spartans (6–1–4) and Bears (6–1–6) tied atop the NFL standings (at the time, ties were not considered in a team's win percentage). There were no playoffs at the time and the champion was simply the team with the better win percentage with head-to-head results serving as the only tiebreaker. As both teams had the same record and they tied both of their meetings during the season, the NFL staged its first ever playoff game. The teams were set to meet at Wrigley Field, but the game was instead moved to the indoor Chicago Stadium due to severe weather, and modified rules were used because the stadium was smaller than regulation size. The Bears won the game, 9–0, to claim the NFL title. The championship game proved to be popular, so the league split into two divisions beginning in and staged a championship game between the two division winners at the end of the season. To date, this is the two teams' only playoff meeting (although the game officially counted in the regular season standings).

• November 29, :*The Lions, having just moved to Detroit, decided to schedule an annual game on Thanksgiving in an attempt to draw fans. This idea proved to work as the game was played in front of a sellout crowd. The Bears entered the game with a perfect 11–0 record, while the Lions were 10–1. The Lions built a 16–7 lead at halftime, but the Bears would score 12 unanswered points in the second half to come away with the 19–16 to clinch the NFL Western Division title. The Bears and Lions have met a total of 20 times on Thanksgiving, all in Detroit, with the Bears holding a 11–9 record in the Thanksgiving meetings.

• December 16, :*With the Western Division on the line at Wrigley Field, the Lions jumped out to a 7-3 lead in the 2nd quarter (Thanks to Bill Bowman's 18 yard reception from backup quarterback, Harry Gilmer), following Bobby Layne's game ending injury. Then, the Bears scored 14 unanswered points (Rick Casares' 68 yard and J.C. Caroline's 9 yard rushing touchdowns) to put themselves up 17-7. With Leon Hart's 1 yard touchdown, the Lions would cut that lead, to 3. This was the closest they would ever get, as the Bears would tack on three more touchdowns (Harlon Hill's 44 yard reception, Bobby Watkins's 7 yard rush, and Joe Fortunato's 27 yard interception return). Although the Lions responded with a touchdown of their own in the 4th quarter (Dorne Dibble's 9 yard reception), the hole was too big for them to climb out of, as the Bears clinched the title. They would go on to lose in the 1956 NFL Championship Game.

• October 24, :*Lions wide receiver Chuck Hughes collapsed on the field and was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He remains the only player in NFL history to have died on the field.

• November 27, :*The Bears come back from 14 points down in the fourth quarter to force overtime. Bears running back Dave Williams returned the opening kickoff of overtime 95 yards for a touchdown as the Bears left Detroit with a stunning 23–17 win. At the time, it was the shortest overtime in NFL history.

• November 22, :*The Bears beat the Lions 30-10 in the teams only meeting that year, as the game in Detroit was cancelled during the NFL players strike. To date, this is the only season in which the Lions and Bears have not met twice in a season. Highlights of this game were later shown during the Max Headroom signal hijacking that took place across the city of Chicago that night.

• December 24, :*The Lions entered Week 17 needing one final win over a last-place Bears team to clinch a playoff spot. Despite building a 10–0 lead in the first quarter, the Lions found themselves trailing 20–17 in the fourth. The Lions tied the game at 20 with under two minutes to go, but the Bears' rookie kicker Paul Edinger secured the win for Chicago with a 54-yard field goal with two seconds left, all but eliminating the Lions from playoff contention. This proved to be a franchise-altering moment for Detroit, who hired Matt Millen in the offseason to rebuild the team.

• September 30, :*It was a defensive slugfest for the first three quarters, with the score 13-3 in favor of Chicago. However, starting with a Shaun McDonald touchdown pass for Detroit in the early moments of the fourth quarter, the Lions' offense caught fire, scoring an additional 27 points in the fourth quarter, while still allowing two Bears touchdowns, to stun the Bears 37-27. The fourth quarter saw an NFL-record 48-points scored.

• September 12, :*Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson appeared to catch a touchdown pass late in the game that would have given the Lions the lead, but it was controversially ruled to not be a catch after Johnson was ruled to not have completed the process of catching the ball. Johnson had the ball in both hands, got both feet down, rolled over on his backside and put his hand with the ball in it on the ground. The call was reviewed on the instant replay review, but the "no catch" ruling was upheld. The rule for what defines a catch was updated in 2015, with this play (along with other similar plays) being a large reason for the change.

• September 13, :*In both teams' first game of the season, the Lions led the Bears 23–6 in the fourth quarter. The Bears rallied back scoring 21 unanswered points and took a 27–23 lead with 1:54 left in the game. The Lions, however, still had a chance to win. Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford drove his team from their own 25 yard line all the way to the Bears' 16 yard line with 11 seconds left. The Lions attempted to go to the endzone but Stafford's pass was dropped in the endzone by Lions rookie running back D'Andre Swift which would've won the game for the Lions. On the next and last play of the game, Stafford's pass to the endzone was broken up by Bears rookie cornerback Jaylon Johnson to seal the Bears' 27–23 come-from-behind victory.

• November 19, :*The Bears were beating the Lions 26–14 with around 3 minutes left in the game when the Lions scored on a touchdown catch from Jameson Williams to cut the lead to 26–21. The Bears went three-and-out on their next possession that lasted only 15 seconds before they punted it back to the Lions. The Lions drove down the field from their own 27 yard line and would score a go-ahead touchdown with only 29 seconds left in the game on a 1-yard run by former Bears running back David Montgomery to take a one point lead. The Lions went for two points and succeeded to take a three point lead with 29 seconds left. The Bears started on their own 25 yard line with 29 seconds left and was hoping to get to field goal range and potentially tie the game. But on the first snap, Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson sacked Bears quarterback Justin Fields that caused Fields to fumble before the ball was kicked out of the endzone by Bears tackle Darnell Wright for a safety and preserve the Lions comeback win 31–26.

• November 28, :*In this edition of the Thanksgiving Day game at Ford Field, the Lions jumped out to a 23–7 lead and appeared to be cruising to victory. However, the Bears managed to cut the lead to 23–20 and were driving in the fourth quarter to tie the game or even pull off the upset. That bid would fall short in the final minute of regulation when Chicago rookie quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked and the Bears did not use their remaining timeout. With the clock running out, Williams threw a desperation pass towards the end zone to Rome Odunze, which fell incomplete. As a result, Detroit won their first Thanksgiving game since 2016. Meanwhile, it was the Bears' sixth consecutive loss, prompting management to fire Matt Eberflus the next day. It was the first time a head coach had been released during the season in franchise history.

Season-by-season results

|- | | Tie 1–1 14–6** 7–6** | Tie 1–1 | Portsmouth Spartans join the National Football League (NFL) as an expansion team. Spartans won their first meeting against the Bears to take their only overall series lead in the rivalry. |- | | Tie 1–1 9–6** 3–0** | Tie 2–2 | |- | Tie 13–13 7–7** 3–2–2 |- 9–0** |- | 17–14** 17–7** | Bears 5–2–2 | Due to the popularity and success of the 1932 NFL Playoff Game, the league divided its teams into two divisions, with the Bears and Spartans placed in the NFL Western Division, becoming divisional rivals. Last season Spartans played as a Portsmouth-based team and under the name "Spartans". Bears win 1933 NFL Championship. |- | 10–7** 19–16** | Bears 7–2–2 | Spartans relocate to Detroit and rename themselves to the Detroit Lions. Game in Detroit marked the Lions' inaugural annual Thanksgiving home game. In Detroit, Bears win the NFL Western Division title with their win. With their win in Chicago, Bears become the first team to go unbeaten and untied in the NFL's regular season. Bears lose 1934 NFL Championship. |- | | Tie 20–20 14–2** | Bears 7–3–3 | Game in Detroit was played on Thanksgiving. Lions win 1935 NFL Championship. |- | | Tie 1–1 12–10** 13–7** | Bears 8–4–3

| 28–20** 13–0** | Bears 10–4–3 | Game in Detroit was played on Thanksgiving. Bears lose 1937 NFL Championship. |- | 13–7** 14–7** | Bears 10–6–3

| | Tie 1–1 10–0** 23–13** | Bears 11–7–3 |

| | Tie 1–1 7–0** 17–14** | Bears 12–8–3

| 49–0** 24–7** | Bears 14–8–3 |Lions move to Tiger Stadium. In Chicago, Bears record their largest victory against the Lions with a 49–point differential, score their most points in a game against the Lions, and set a franchise record for their largest victory overall (broken in 1943). Bears win 1941 NFL Championship. |- | 16–0** 42–0** | Bears 16–8–3

| 35–14** 27–21** | Bears 18–8–3

| | Tie 21–21 41–21** | Bears 18–9–4

| 35–28** 16–10** | Bears 18–11–4 | |- | 42–6** 45–24** | Bears 20–11–4

| 33–24** 34–14** | Bears 22–11–4

| 28–0** 42–14** | Bears 24–11–4 | |- | 27–24** 28–7** | Bears 26–11–4

| 6–3** 35–21** | Bears 28–11–4

| | Tie 1–1 41–28** 28–23** | Bears 29–12–4

| | Tie 1–1 24–23** 45–21** | Bears 30–13–4

| 20–16** 13–7** | Bears 30–15–4

| | Tie 1–1 28–24** 48–23** | Bears 31–16–4

| 21–20** 24–14** | Bears 33–16–4 | |- | | Tie 1–1 38–21** 42–10** | Bears 34–17–4

| | Tie 1–1 21–13** 27–7** | Bears 35–18–4 | Bears' win is the Lions only home loss in the 1957 season. Lions win 1957 NFL Championship. |- | 21–16** 20–7** | Bears 37–18–4 | |- | 25–14** 24–14** | Bears 39–18–4 |

| | Tie 1–1 28–7** 36–0** | Bears 40–19–4 | |- | | Tie 1–1 16–15** 31–17** | Bears 41–20–4 | |- | | Tie 1–1 3–0** 11–3** | Bears 42–21–4 | |- | 24–14** 37–21** | Bears 44–21–4

| | Tie 1–1 10–0** 27–24** | Bears 45–22–4

| 38–10** 17–10** | Bears 47–22–4 | |- | | Lions 1–0–1 | Tie 10–10 14–3** | Bears 47–23–5 | |- | 14–3** 27–13** | Bears 49–23–5

| 28–10** 42–0** | Bears 49–25–5 | In Detroit, Lions set a franchise record for their largest victory overall (broken in 1983) and record their largest victory against the Bears with a 42–point differential. Lions first season series sweep against the Bears since the 1953 season. |- | 20–3** 13–7** | Bears 49–27–5 |

| 16–10** 28–14** | Bears 49–29–5

| | Tie 1–1 28–3** 28–23** | Bears 50-30–5

| 38–24** 14–0** | Bears 50–32–5 | |- | 30–7** 40–7** | Bears 50–34–5 | |- | | Tie 1–1 17–9** 34–17** | Bears 51–35–5 | |- | | Tie 1–1 25–21** 27–7** | Bears 52–36–5

| | Tie 1–1 10–3** 14–10** | Bears 53–37–5 | |- | 30–20** 31–14** | Bears 55–37–5

| | Tie 1–1 21–17** 19–0** | Bears 56–38–5 | |- | | Tie 1–1 35–7** 20–0** | Bears 57–39–5

| 24–7** 23–17 (OT)** | Bears 59–39–5

| 23–7** 48–17** | Bears 59–41–5 | |- | | Tie 1–1 20–17** 17–10** | Bears 60–42–5

| 38–17** 31–17** | Bears 60–44–5 | |- | 16–14** 30–13** | Bears 62–44–5 | |- | 24–3** 37–17** | Bears 64–44–5

| 13–7** 16–13** | Bears 66–44–5 | |- | 30–10** | canceled | Bears 67–44–5 | Due to the 1987 NFL Players' strike, the game scheduled in Detroit was canceled. Highlights of the game in Chicago were shown during the Max Headroom broadcast intrusion. |- | 13–12** 24–7** | Bears 69–44–5 | |- | | Tie 1–1 27–17** 47–27** | Bears 70–45–5

| | Tie 1–1 23–17 (OT)** 38–21** | Bears 71–46–5 | |- | | Tie 1–1 20–10** 16–6** | Bears 72–47–5

| | Tie 1–1 27–24** 16–3** | Bears 73–48–5 | |- | | Tie 1–1 20–14** 10–6** | Bears 74–49–5

| | Tie 1–1 20–10** 21–16** | Bears 75–50–5

| 24–17** 27–7** | Bears 75–52–5

| | Tie 1–1 31–14** 35–16** | Bears 76–53–5 | |- | 32–7** 55–20** | Bears 76–55–5

| | Tie 1–1 31–27** 26–3** | Bears 77–56–5

| | Tie 1–1 28–10** 21–17** | Bears 78–57–5

| | Tie 1–1 21–14** 23–20** | Bears 79–58–5

| 13–0** 24–0** | Bears 81–58–5

| | Tie 1–1 20–17 (OT)** 23–20 (OT)** | Bears 82–59–5 | Lions open Ford Field. Due to renovations being made to Soldier Field, Bears' home game was played at Memorial Stadium in Champaign. In Chicago, Lions won the coin toss in overtime but chose to take the wind instead of opting for possession, resulting in the Bears scoring and winning and the Lions never getting possession back. |- | | Tie 1–1 24–16** 12–10** | Bears 83–60–5 | |- | 20–16** 19–13** | Bears 83–62–5

| 38–6** 19–13 (OT)** | Bears 85–62–5 | |- | 34–7** 26–21** | Bears 87–62–5

| 16–7** 37–27** | Bears 87–64–5 | In Detroit, Bears led 13–3 at the end of the third quarter before both teams exploded for a combined 48 points in the fourth quarter, setting an NFL record for most points scored in the fourth quarter. Following their win in Chicago, the Lions went on a 26-game road losing streak, an NFL record, and a 19-game division losing streak. |- | 27–23** 34–7** | Bears 89–64–5

| 48–24** 37–23** | Bears 91–64–5 |

| 19–14** 24–20** | Bears 93–64–5

| | Tie 1–1 37–13** 24–13** | Bears 94–65–5 | |- | 13–7** 26–24** | Bears 96–65–5 | |- | 21–19** 40–32** | Bears 96–67–5 | |- | 20–14** 34–17** | Bears 96–69–5

| 24–20** 37–34 (OT)** | Bears 96–71–5 | |- | | Tie 1–1 17–14** 20–17** | Bears 97–72–5 | |- | 27–24** 20–10** | Bears 97–74–5 | |- | 34–22** 23–16** | Bears 99–74–5 | In Chicago, Bears' placekicker Cody Parkey hits the upright four times (two FG attempts, two XP attempts). Game in Detroit was played on Thanksgiving. |- | 20–13** 24–20** | Bears 101–74–5 | Bears record their 100th win in the rivalry, becoming the third team to record 100 wins over a single opponent. Meanwhile, the Lions became the first team to record 100 losses to two different opponents. Game in Detroit was played on Thanksgiving .

| | Tie 1–1 34–30** 27–23** | Bears 102–75–5 | In Detroit, Bears overcame a 23–6 fourth-quarter deficit. In Chicago, Lions overcame a 30–20 fourth-quarter deficit with three minutes left. Road team splits the season series for the first time since the 2000 season. |- | 24–14** 16–14** | Bears 104–75–5

| 31–30** 41–10** | Bears 104–77–5

| | Tie 1–1 28–13** 31–26** | Bears 105–78–5

| 34–17** 23–20** | Bears 105–80–5 | Game in Detroit was played on Thanksgiving. Following their loss, Bears fired HC Matt Eberflus, becoming the first Bears' head coach to be fired mid-season. Lions win all of their division games for the first time in franchise history. |- | 19–16** 52–21** | Bears 105–82–5

Notable players that played for both teams

Notes

References

• NFL.com All-Time Team vs. Team Results
• mcubed.net's Lions-Bears Series History 1966–present

References

1. "All Matchups, Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions".
2. (9 December 2019). "The 1932 NFL championship. Indoors at Chicago Stadium. How one of the strangest — and most influential — games in Bears history changed the league.". [[Chicago Tribune]].
3. Schooch, Matt. (November 26, 2019). "Paul Edinger's Christmas Eve 2000 kick helped change course of Lions history". [[The Detroit News]].
4. "Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions – September 30th, 2007". Pro Football Reference.
5. Sugrue, Brendan. (2023-11-20). "7 takeaways from the Bears' crushing loss to the Lions". USA Today.
6. Associated Press, [https://wgntv.com/sports/bears-report/lions-beat-bears-23-20-to-extend-win-streak-to-10-games/ "Lions beat Bears 23–20 to extend win streak to 10 games,"] ''Bears Report,'' WGN-TV, Nov. 28, 2024.
7. Cronin, Courtney. (2024-11-29). "Chicago Bears football news: Head coach Matt Eberflus fired after Detroit Lions loss; Thomas Brown steps up, ESPN reports".