Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears: 2024 Week 16 Recap

Game story

In Week 16 of the 2024 NFL season on 2024-12-22, the Detroit Lions took care of business against the Chicago Bears, pulling away with a 34–17 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 40 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

C. Williams (Chicago Bears) paced the passing game, with +12.37 total EPA, and +5.8% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Goff (Detroit Lions) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +15.49 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-13.2% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Chicago Bears changed the game: (8:31) (No Huddle) 18-C.Williams FUMBLES (Aborted) at CHI 35, RECOVERED by DET-93-J.Paschal at CHI 36.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 J. Goff · Detroit Lions · Passing · +15.49 total EPA · 33 snaps · +0.47 EPA/play
2. 2 C. Williams · Chicago Bears · Passing · +12.37 total EPA · 48 snaps · +0.26 EPA/play
3. 3 K. Allen · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +9.81 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.75 EPA/play
4. 4 Ja. Williams · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +7.69 total EPA · 7 snaps · +1.10 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Gibbs · Detroit Lions · Rushing · +5.25 total EPA · 23 snaps · +0.23 EPA/play
6. 6 A.St. Brown · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +4.08 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.51 EPA/play
7. 7 R. Odunze · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +2.68 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.38 EPA/play
8. 8 G. Everett · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +2.27 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.27 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Detroit Lions — J. Gibbs (Q1 50:37)
• Detroit Lions — J. Goff (Q2 42:59)
• Chicago Bears — C. Kmet (C. Williams pass) (Q2 36:35)
• Detroit Lions — A. St (J. Goff pass) (Q2 31:04)
• Chicago Bears — K. Allen (C. Williams pass) (Q2 30:46)
• Detroit Lions — S. LaPorta (J. Goff pass) (Q3 27:24)

Field goals

• Detroit Lions — J. Bates (Q1 54:39)
• Detroit Lions — J. Bates (Q1 45:06)
• Chicago Bears — C. Santos (Q3 21:07)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 13–0. Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the CHI 12 (Q1 54:39) — (9:39) 39-J.Bates 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-H.Hatten, Holder-3-J.Fox.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the CHI 1 (Q1 50:37) — (5:37) 26-J.Gibbs left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the CHI 15 (Q1 50:34) — 39-J.Bates extra point is GOOD, Center-49-H.Hatten, Holder-3-J.Fox.; Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the CHI 16 (Q1 45:06) — (:06) 39-J.Bates 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-H.Hatten, Holder-3-J.Fox..

The second quarter: The quarter finished even at 20–20. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the CHI 82 (Q2 42:59) — (12:59) 16-J.Goff pass deep middle to 9-Ja.Williams for 82 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the CHI 15 (Q2 42:49) — 39-J.Bates extra point is GOOD, Center-49-H.Hatten, Holder-3-J.Fox.; Chicago Bears found the end zone from the DET 1 (Q2 36:35) — (6:35) 63-C.Glaser reported in as eligible. 18-C.Williams pass short left to 85-C.Kmet for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Chicago Bears added 1 points from the DET 15 (Q2 36:31) — 8-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-46-S.Daly, Holder-19-T.Taylor.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the CHI 8 (Q2 31:04) — (1:04) (Shotgun) 16-J.Goff pass short left to 14-A.St. Brown for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the CHI 15 (Q2 30:58) — 39-J.Bates extra point is GOOD, Center-49-H.Hatten, Holder-3-J.Fox.; Chicago Bears found the end zone from the DET 45 (Q2 30:46) — (:46) (Shotgun) 18-C.Williams pass deep right to 13-K.Allen for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Chicago Bears found the end zone from the DET 15 (Q2 30:39) — 8-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-46-S.Daly, Holder-19-T.Taylor..

The third quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 7–3. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the CHI 21 (Q3 27:24) — (12:24) 16-J.Goff pass deep left to 87-S.LaPorta for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the CHI 15 (Q3 27:18) — 39-J.Bates extra point is GOOD, Center-49-H.Hatten, Holder-3-J.Fox.; Chicago Bears connected on a field goal from the DET 12 (Q3 21:07) — (6:07) 8-C.Santos 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-S.Daly, Holder-19-T.Taylor..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Chicago Bears (Q1 53:31) — (8:31) (No Huddle) 18-C.Williams FUMBLES (Aborted) at CHI 35, RECOVERED by DET-93-J.Paschal at CHI 36. [WPA -13.2% · EPA -5.62]
• Detroit Lions (Q1 56:48) — (11:48) 16-J.Goff pass deep right to 14-A.St. Brown to CHI 19 for 28 yards (31-K.Byard). [WPA +7.4% · EPA +1.78]
• Chicago Bears (Q1 48:41) — (3:41) (Shotgun) 18-C.Williams pass short right to 15-R.Odunze to DET 40 for 19 yards (50-M.Agude; 32-B.Branch). FUMBLES (50-M.Agude), RECOVERED by DET-51-B.Niemann at DET 40. [WPA -6.9% · EPA -3.64]
• Detroit Lions (Q1 52:02) — (7:02) (Shotgun) 26-J.Gibbs right tackle for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Official reviewed the runner broke the plane ruling, and the play was REVERSED. (Shotgun) 26-J.Gibbs right tackle to CHI 1 f [WPA +5.8% · EPA +2.41]
• Detroit Lions (Q2 42:59) — (12:59) 16-J.Goff pass deep middle to 9-Ja.Williams for 82 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +5.2% · EPA +6.56]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Detroit Lions (Q2 42:59) — (12:59) 16-J.Goff pass deep middle to 9-Ja.Williams for 82 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +5.2% · EPA +6.56]
• Chicago Bears (Q1 53:31) — (8:31) (No Huddle) 18-C.Williams FUMBLES (Aborted) at CHI 35, RECOVERED by DET-93-J.Paschal at CHI 36. [WPA -13.2% · EPA -5.62]
• Chicago Bears (Q2 30:46) — (:46) (Shotgun) 18-C.Williams pass deep right to 13-K.Allen for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +2.7% · EPA +4.85]
• Chicago Bears (Q3 24:09) — (9:09) (Shotgun) 18-C.Williams pass deep right to 15-R.Odunze to DET 15 for 30 yards (21-A.Robertson). [WPA +4.3% · EPA +3.84]

Quarterback report card

C.Williams led all passers in efficiency for Chicago Bears, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• C.Williams (Chicago Bears) · 48 dropbacks · 54.2% completion · +5.8% CPOE · +0.26 EPA/play · +12.37 total EPA
• J.Goff (Detroit Lions) · 33 dropbacks · 69.7% completion · +1.9% CPOE · +0.47 EPA/play · +15.49 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Detroit Lions generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.28 vs -0.00), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Chicago Bears: 9 drives, -0.27 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Detroit Lions: 10 drives, +22.65 total EPA, 6 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Detroit Lions leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• J. Goff (Detroit Lions) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• C. Williams (CHI) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q1 54:39 · CHI 12 · Score 3-0
   (9:39) 39-J.Bates 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-H.Hatten, Holder-3-J.Fox.
2. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q1 50:37 · CHI 1 · Score 9-0
   (5:37) 26-J.Gibbs left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q1 50:34 · CHI 15 · Score 10-0
   39-J.Bates extra point is GOOD, Center-49-H.Hatten, Holder-3-J.Fox.
4. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q1 45:06 · CHI 16 · Score 13-0
   (:06) 39-J.Bates 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-H.Hatten, Holder-3-J.Fox.
5. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q2 42:59 · CHI 82 · Score 19-0
   (12:59) 16-J.Goff pass deep middle to 9-Ja.Williams for 82 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q2 42:49 · CHI 15 · Score 20-0
   39-J.Bates extra point is GOOD, Center-49-H.Hatten, Holder-3-J.Fox.
7. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q2 36:35 · DET 1 · Score 20-6
   (6:35) 63-C.Glaser reported in as eligible. 18-C.Williams pass short left to 85-C.Kmet for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q2 36:31 · DET 15 · Score 20-7
   8-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-46-S.Daly, Holder-19-T.Taylor.
9. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q2 31:04 · CHI 8 · Score 26-7
   (1:04) (Shotgun) 16-J.Goff pass short left to 14-A.St. Brown for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Detroit Lions TD (+7) — Q2 30:58 · CHI 15 · Score 27-7
    39-J.Bates extra point is GOOD, Center-49-H.Hatten, Holder-3-J.Fox.
11. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q2 30:46 · DET 45 · Score 27-13
    (:46) (Shotgun) 18-C.Williams pass deep right to 13-K.Allen for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Chicago Bears TD (+7) — Q2 30:39 · DET 15 · Score 27-14
    8-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-46-S.Daly, Holder-19-T.Taylor.
13. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q3 27:24 · CHI 21 · Score 33-14
    (12:24) 16-J.Goff pass deep left to 87-S.LaPorta for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q3 27:18 · CHI 15 · Score 34-14
    39-J.Bates extra point is GOOD, Center-49-H.Hatten, Holder-3-J.Fox.
15. Chicago Bears FG (+3) — Q3 21:07 · DET 12 · Score 34-17
    (6:07) 8-C.Santos 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-S.Daly, Holder-19-T.Taylor.