Lions vs Bears Week 2: Detroit’s Offensive Explosion Leaves Chicago in the Dust
The Detroit Lions didn’t just beat the Chicago Bears on Sunday—they absolutely demolished them. What started as a potentially competitive NFC North showdown quickly turned into a 52-21 beatdown that had Ford Field rocking and Bears fans reaching for the remote by halftime.
Lions Offense Finds Its Rhythm After Week 1 Struggles
Remember all that doom and gloom after Detroit’s lackluster performance against Green Bay in Week 1? Yeah, forget about that. Jared Goff looked like the quarterback who led this team to within one game of the Super Bowl, not the guy who threw for a measly 234 yards against the Packers.
Goff was surgical against Chicago’s defense, completing 23 of 28 passes for 334 yards and five touchdowns. His 156.0 passer rating was just shy of perfect, and at one point in the third quarter, he was flirting with that magical 158.3 mark. The guy hit 17 consecutive passes at one point—seventeen! That’s the kind of precision that makes defensive coordinators wake up in cold sweats.
The real story, though, was Amon-Ra St. Brown’s dominant performance. The receiver torched Chicago’s secondary for nine catches, 115 yards, and three touchdowns. His touchdown celebration, where he faked a hamstring injury, had everyone fooled, including Goff himself. Classic St. Brown—always finding a way to entertain while putting up elite numbers.
Bears Defense Gets Carved Up Like Thanksgiving Turkey
Chicago’s defense came into this game with some serious injury concerns, missing key players in their secondary. It showed. Detroit’s passing attack moved the ball with the kind of ease typically reserved for practice sessions against scout team defenders.
The loss of Cornerback Jaylon Johnson to a groin injury in the second half only made things worse. By the time Jameson Williams was hauling in a 44-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter, Bears fans were probably wondering if this defense could stop a nose bleed, let alone an NFL offense.
Detroit’s rushing attack wasn’t spectacular by any means—177 total yards split between Jahmyr Gibbs (94 yards) and David Montgomery (57 yards)—but they didn’t need to be. When your passing game is clicking like that, you just need the run game to keep defenses honest.
Ben Johnson’s Homecoming Becomes a Nightmare
All the storylines about former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson returning to Detroit as Chicago’s head coach became irrelevant pretty quickly. Johnson’s Bears offense managed just 21 points against a Lions defense that gave up 27 to Green Bay the previous week.
Caleb Williams showed flashes—he found Rome Odunze for two touchdown passes in the first half—but consistency remains elusive for the second-year quarterback. Williams threw an interception to Kerby Joseph in the second quarter that killed momentum, and Chicago’s offense never really recovered from Detroit’s early onslaught. The Bears did get a late touchdown from D’Andre Swift, but by that point, the Lions had already hung 45 points on the scoreboard. It was like trying to bail out the Titanic with a coffee cup.
Detroit’s Statement Victory Sets NFC North Tone
This wasn’t just a win for Detroit—it was a statement. After getting pushed around by Green Bay in Week 1, the Lions showed they’re still the team to beat in the NFC North. The 52 points matched their two highest-scoring games from 2024, when they put up identical totals against Tennessee and Jacksonville.
What made this performance even more impressive was how balanced it looked. Sure, the passing game stole the headlines, but Detroit controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. They forced four turnovers, including a fumble recovery by Jack Campbell and multiple fourth-down stops.
The Lions’ defense, which looked vulnerable against Jordan Love and the Packers, stepped up when it mattered. Brian Branch forced a crucial fumble from D’Andre Swift, and the pass rush finally got home with Aidan Hutchinson recording his first sack of the season.
Looking Ahead: Lions Rolling, Bears Searching
Detroit’s convincing victory sets them up nicely for a tough Monday Night Football matchup against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 3. If Goff and this offense can maintain this level of play, they’ll be tough for anyone to handle.
For Chicago, this was a harsh reality check. Johnson’s rebuild is clearly going to take time, and Williams needs more weapons and better protection if he’s going to develop into the franchise quarterback the Bears desperately need.
The final score—52-21—tells the story of a team that remembered how good it can be against a team still figuring out its identity. In the brutal NFC North, that kind of gap can make or break a season. The Lions sent a clear message on Sunday: reports of their demise after Week 1 were greatly exaggerated. Chicago, meanwhile, learned that growing pains in this division come with a heavy price tag.
