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...