The Detroit Lions will close out their 2025–26 campaign on Sunday, January 4, when they face Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears. The matchup carries extra significance, as Johnson will be squaring off against his former team in what will be Detroit’s final game of the season.
For the first time since 2022, the Lions, led by head coach Dan Campbell, will not be part of the postseason. Their playoff hopes officially ended on Christmas Day after a 23–10 home loss to the Minnesota Vikings, according to NFL data. While Detroit has nothing tangible left to play for, Campbell has emphasized that effort and competitiveness remain nonnegotiable.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, December 31, Campbell acknowledged the team’s disappointing position but remained focused on the bigger picture.
“At times, you have to hit the lowest point before you can climb back up,” Campbell said. “Given where we expected to be, this feels like rock bottom. But it’s not as far off as it might seem.
We just need to realign some things.”
Looking ahead to the Bears matchup, Campbell made it clear the Lions are still motivated.
“We’ve got one more opportunity,” he said. “And we’ll see what we’re willing to put on the line to come away with a win.”
Because Chicago has already secured a playoff spot—and can no longer earn the NFC’s top seed after a December 28 loss to the San Francisco 49ers—it might be easy to assume the Bears would ease up in the regular-season finale. That assumption would be incorrect.
Johnson addressed the media on December 31 and made it clear that Chicago intends to go full speed. The Bears are still competing for the No. 2 seed in the NFC, which gives the game meaningful stakes.
“Our focus is on continued improvement,” Johnson said. “We have a young roster, and every week you can see progress.
We’re sticking to our process, and this is simply the next challenge.”
Johnson also stressed the importance of entering the playoffs on a positive note.
“After a loss like that, you don’t want to head into the postseason on a skid,” he explained. “You want momentum.
That definitely factors into our thinking.”
Johnson has previously stated that the Bears intend to play to win and that the team would be performing its best football late in the season—something that appears to be coming to fruition.
Johnson Confident Despite Injury Concerns
Johnson credited the team’s veteran presence for its steady late-season performance.
“When you have a really young team, there can be a lot of ups and downs,” he said. “Our veteran leaders have helped stabilize things and keep everyone focused on what matters most.”
While resting starters late in the season is often done to avoid injuries, Johnson has no plans to take that approach. His commitment to keeping the Bears at full strength could spell trouble for a Detroit team hoping to finish the season on a high note.
