The Detroit Lions’ season finale against the Chicago Bears carries more weight than just pride or draft positioning. For quarterback Jared Goff, it represents something he has never experienced in his NFL career — and something he desperately wants to avoid.
If the Lions lose in Chicago, it would mark the first time Goff has ever finished a season with a loss in the final game. Across stops in Los Angeles and Detroit, Goff has consistently closed seasons on a win, even during years when the overall results were disappointing. That streak now hangs in the balance.
Detroit enters Week 18 battling injuries, inconsistency, and the emotional fallout of a season that never fully lived up to expectations. While playoff hopes are already gone, this game still matters — especially for a veteran quarterback whose leadership has been a stabilizing force for the franchise.
Goff has taken his share of criticism in recent weeks, but inside the locker room, he remains a respected voice. Teammates continue to rally around him, knowing how much pride he takes in finishing strong. A loss wouldn’t just sting statistically; it would symbolize a frustrating end to a season that slipped away.
The Bears, meanwhile, would love nothing more than to play spoiler. Chicago has embraced its role as a disruptor late in the year, and beating a division rival at home would be a fitting exclamation point for their own rebuilding narrative.
For Detroit, the finale is about more than the scoreboard. It’s about setting a tone heading into the offseason, avoiding another emotional setback, and preserving a small but meaningful piece of history for their quarterback.
Sunday in Chicago may not decide playoff futures — but it could quietly redefine how this season, and Jared Goff’s role in it, is remembered.
One Loss Away From History: Goff Faces Career-Defining Moment vs. Bears
