Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions: Live updates from Soldier Field

CHICAGO – The Chicago Bears will try to take down the NFC-leading Detroit Lions on Sunday at Soldier Field.

Caleb Williams and the Bears return to action with a matchup against the 12-2 Detroit Lions. The last time these two NFC North division opponents squared off was on Thanksgiving Day in Matt Eberflus' last game as Bears coach.

Shaw Local Bears beat writer Sean Hammond will be reporting live from Soldier Field. Follow Hammond on X at @sean_hammond, on Instagram at @bears_reporter and on Threads at @bears_reporter. Shaw Local enterprise reporter Michal Dwojak also will be reporting from the lakefront. Follow Dwojak @mdwojak94 on X and at the same handle on Threads. Shaw Local Bears analyst Marc Silverman will provide his thoughts on X at @WaddleandSilvy.

Stay here all game long for live updates.

Lions win

The Bears added a late field goal, but the Lions closed out an easy win on Sunday at Soldier Field. Detroit won, 34-17, and moved to 13-2 on the season.

The Bears lost their ninth consecutive game. Caleb Williams threw for more than 300 yards for the fourth time this season in the losing effort.

Lions score after halftime

The Lions scored another touchdown on the first possession after halftime. Jared Goff connected with Sam LaPorta for a 21-yard touchdown.

Detroit was aided by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson during the drive. Johnson batted down the football when a Lions player attempted to toss it to the referee after a play. It went for a 15-yard penalty against Johnson.

Detroit leads, 34-14, with 12:18 to go in the third quarter.

Lions miss field goal try as time expires on first half

With one second on the clock, the Lions lined up for a 60-yard field goal. A false start from the Lions moved them back five more yards. Kicker Jake Bates lined up for a 65-yard try, but it was wide right. The kick sailed out of bounds and the Bears were unable to attempt a return.

The Lions lead, 27-14, at halftime. Bears quarterback Caleb Williams threw for 198 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. For the Lions, Jared Goff threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns.

Williams throws 45-yard touchdown to Allen

In the final minute of the second quarter, Caleb Williams tossed a 45-yard touchdown pass to receiver Keenan Allen. It marked a career-long touchdown pass for Williams.

Detroit leads by two possessions, 27-14, late in the second quarter.

Lions add a touchdown

Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown followed his blockers and scored an 8-yard touchdown late in the second quarter. It went down as Jared Goff’s second touchdown pass of the afternoon.

Detroit leads, 27-7, late in the second quarter.

Cole Kmet scores 1-yard touchdown

Caleb Williams connected with Cole Kmet for a 1-yard touchdown pass midway through the second quarter. It marked the Bears' first points in the first half of a game since Nov. 24 against the Vikings at Soldier Field.

Detroit still holds a two-possession lead, 20-7.

Braxton Jones leaves on a cart

Bears starting left tackle Braxton Jones exited the game on a cart. The training staff appeared to put his left leg in an air cast. Jones gave two thumbs up as the cart exited the field, but he was clearly in some pain prior to that.

The team later ruled Jones out for the remainder of the game with an ankle injury.

Jones' exit came shortly after left guard Teven Jenkins left the game with a calf injury. Jenkins was listed as doubtful to return by the team.

The Bears inserted Larry Borom into the lineup at left tackle and Jake Curhan at left guard. Practice squad call-up Chris Glaser is the only other available lineman.

Detroit’s Jameson Williams scores 82-yard touchdown

Jameson Williams and Tyrique Stevenson have had beef. Stevenson was fined a few weeks ago for allegedly tripping Williams. The two were trash talking on Thanksgiving and they started Sunday’s game trash talking again. Williams drew a taunting penalty after a tackle by Stevenson out of bounds.

A little while later, though, Williams got the last laugh.

Williams blew by everybody in the Bears secondary and scored an 82-yard touchdown on a perfect pass from quarterback Jared Goff. Stevenson and safety Jonathan Owens were the closest defenders on the play. Williams showed off his speed and left everybody in his dust.

The Lions went ahead, 20-0, early in the second quarter.

Rome Odunze fumbles; Lions add field goal

Late in the first quarter, the Bears fumbled the football away for the second possession in a row. The first one was on a botched handoff between Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze. The second one came after an Odunze catch.

The rookie No. 9 overall draft pick ran for 19 yards after a short pass from Williams. It was a great gain in open space. Unfortunately, the Lions knocked the football out of Odunze’s hands before his knee hit the ground.

Lions linebacker Jack Campbell recovered the fumble for a takeaway. The Lions turned it into a field goal on the following possession.

Detroit leads, 13-0, late in the first quarter.

After a Bears turnover, Lions go up by 10

On the Bears' second offensive possession of the day, rookies Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze botched the handoff on an end around. Odunze was in motion cutting through the backfield when Williams turned around to hand the football to him.

The pair never had a clean exchange. The football ended up on the ground, where Lions defensive lineman Josh Paschal jumped on it.

The Lions turned it into a touchdown. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs punched in a 1-yard touchdown on his third consecutive attempt from the 1-yard line. It was a 36-yard touchdown drive for the Lions.

Detroit took an early two-possession lead, 10-0, with 5:34 to go in the first quarter.

Lions score first

The Bears received the opening kickoff but couldn’t do anything with it. They went three-and-out and punted the football back to Detroit.

On the Lions' first offensive possession of the afternoon, quarterback Jared Goff led Detroit 55 yards on nine plays to score a field goal. Kicker Jake Bates made a 30-yard field goal to give Detroit an early lead, 3-0, with 9:35 to go in the first quarter.

The Lions overcame a taunting penalty from receiver Jameson Williams on the possession. Williams was called for taunting after a tackle out of bounds from Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson.

Bears announce inactive players

The Bears announced six inactive players on Sunday morning. Among them was offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie.

The rookie third-round pick started at left tackle last week against Minnesota, but he now appears to be a healthy scratch. The Bears kept three backup offensive linemen available Sunday: Larry Borom, Jake Curhan and Chris Glaser (who they called up from the practice squad Sunday morning).

Borom appears to be the top backup tackle ahead of Amegadjie.

In addition to Amegadjie, running back Travis Homer, linebacker Noah Sewell, defensive back Ameer Speed, offensive lineman Doug Kramer and defensive tackle Gervon Dexter are inactive.

Latest injury news

The Bears enter Sunday with several key starters listed as questionable on the injury report. Cornerback Jaylon Johnson (illness), defensive tackle Gervon Dexter (knee), left guard Teven Jenkins (calf) and left tackle Braxton Jones (concussion) are all questionable to play on Sunday.

Johnson came down with an illness on Friday. Dexter and Jones both missed last week’s game against Minnesota. Jenkins injured his calf on Monday against the Vikings.

Additionally, backup lineman Doug Kramer is doubtful with a shoulder injury.

The Bears placed offensive lineman Ryan Bates on injured reserve with a concussion on Saturday. In a corresponding move, they signed running back Darrynton Evans to the active roster from the practice squad.

What to expect from the Lions

The Lions lost last week to the Buffalo Bills, snapping a franchise-record 11-game win streak. Detroit is trying to keep pace atop the NFC. They are currently tied with the 12-2 Philadelphia Eagles. The Lions can’t afford another loss if they want home-field advantage in the postseason.

Here are the top five storylines to watch in Sunday’s game. The Bears always play the Lions tough at Soldier Field. Detroit hasn’t won by more than one possession in Chicago since 2007.

Silvy thinks that general manager Ryan Poles has failed his rookie quarterback. Read Silvy’s full weekly column here.

For your pregame listening needs, check out the Shaw Local Bears Insider podcast.

Is Williams taking too many hits?

For the Bears, there’s not much left to play for. They’ve lost eight consecutive games and they’re out of playoff contention.

At the same time, Bears fans will be tuning in to see how the No. 1 overall draft pick fares at the quarterback position.

Lately, Williams has been taking a lot of hits. His season total is up to 56 sacks, which was 13 more than any other NFL quarterback entering Week 16. The hits are starting to add up.

How many hits is too many for a rookie QB? The Bears aren’t likely to bench Williams and save him for next season. But they also need to protect their most important player.

What else did I miss this week?

Here’s what else was happening at Halas Hall this week.

[ Bears coaching staff takes ‘full account’ for Kiran Amegadjie’s struggles Monday night ]

[ Here’s how Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams is staying focused amid 8-game losing streak ]

[ Here’s what Chicago Bears head coach Thomas Brown said Tuesday after loss to Minnesota Vikings ]

[ 5 big takeaways from Chicago Bears' loss to Minnesota Vikings on Monday night ]