By Moses Joshua 
Chicago’s NFC North title hopes collide with Detroit’s pride in a final-week showdown full of subtext.
When Ben Johnson stepped to the podium this week, there was no hedging, no coach-speak, no hint of nostalgia about facing the franchise he helped build.
“We’re playing to win this week,” Johnson said, flatly.
That single sentence set the tone for everything surrounding Sunday’s Bears–Lions finale — a game that carries very different stakes for each side, yet feels anything but meaningless.
No Coasting Allowed
Detroit may be eliminated from playoff contention, but Chicago has plenty riding on the outcome. The Bears are jockeying for postseason positioning, with the No. 2 seed still within reach — a spot that could mean hosting a second playoff game if they advance.
That reality wasn’t lost on quarterback Caleb Williams, who made it clear the Bears aren’t looking past anyone.
“We always want to try to give ourselves the best chances… being home instead of being away,” Williams said. “So, we’ll get ready for this game just like we’ll get ready for any game.
“We want to bring it to them and it’s going to be a good game.”
For a team that spent years searching for identity, Chicago suddenly finds itself protecting something valuable — leverage.
A Reunion With Teeth
Johnson’s return to face Detroit is layered with history. Just months ago, he was architecting one of the NFL’s most feared offenses in a Lions uniform. In Week 2, that reunion tilted heavily Detroit’s way, a 52–21 blowout at Ford Field that seemed to reignite Dan Campbell’s locker room.
Now the roles are flipped.
Chicago enters as the reigning NFC North powerhouse, while Detroit limps in trying to snap a three-game skid. The Lions may be playing for pride, but Johnson knows exactly how dangerous pride can be — especially when old relationships are involved.
Defending the Defense — and Owning the Offense
After Chicago’s 42–38 loss to San Francisco, Johnson had every reason to question his defense. They’d surrendered 496 yards — their worst showing of the season — and were gashed for nearly 200 rushing yards for the second straight week.
Yet instead of throwing his defense under the bus, Johnson turned the lens inward.
“I didn’t feel like our offense did our part in the first half,” he said. “We did not possess the ball. We had a couple of three-and-outs. You look at our defense and they’ve got a pick-6 and they got a couple punts. If we bow up in the red zone, I think we feel better about the performance.”
The message was unmistakable: accountability cuts both ways.
Where the Game Will Be Won
If Chicago is serious about protecting playoff seeding, it starts with stopping what Detroit still does best — running the football.
Johnson didn’t shy away from identifying the weak spot.
“It always comes back to fundamentals, so it’s gap integrity in terms of the run defense,” he said. “We were playing a really good offense right now, OK? I do think that has to be stated because they’re averaging about 35 points over the last five weeks.”
That challenge now arrives in the form of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs — two backs Johnson once unleashed himself.
If Chicago can’t shore up its run fits, the Lions will gladly turn Sunday into a reminder of what he left behind.
Sunday isn’t about sentiment. It’s about seeding, positioning, and unfinished business.
And Ben Johnson has already made one thing perfectly clear — this reunion won’t come with mercy.