Goff throws 5 TDs, 3 to St. Brown,
and Lions bounce back with 52-21 win over Ben Johnson-led Bears
[September 15, 2025]
By LARRY LAGE
DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Lions showed they can pile up points just
fine without Ben Johnson calling plays.
Jared Goff threw for 334 yards and matched a career high with five
touchdown passes, including a career-high three scores to Amon-Ra
St. Brown, to help Detroit bounce back with a 52-21 win over the
Chicago Bears on Sunday.
The Lions (1-1) dropped the opener at Green Bay and displayed
resilience as they have consistently under coach Dan Campbell,
avoiding consecutive losses in the regular season over the last 2
1/2 years.
“I knew the guys would respond,” Campbell said.
Detroit had more than 500 yards on offense with five passing
touchdowns and two scores on the ground for the first time in
franchise history, and averaged a team-record 8.8 yards per play
with offensive coordinator John Morton calling plays.
“This train keeps rolling and it’s always going to start with the
players,” Campbell said.
The Bears (0-2) turned the ball over twice in the first half,
leading to a 28-14 deficit that was too large to overcome in
Johnson's return to the city where he became an offensive
coordinator and one of the NFL's top coaching candidates.
“It is not demoralizing at all,” Johnson insisted. “We have to play
better."
There's no doubt about that.
Chicago turned it over on downs in each half, had eight penalties
and gave up four sacks.
The Lions were three points from matching a franchise record for
points in a game in the regular season, and the Bears were three
points from tying the most they've allowed.
Chicago’s Caleb Williams was 19 of 30 for 207 yards with two
touchdowns to Rome Odunze, a 28-yard pass to answer Detroit’s
game-opening touchdown and a 6-yard throw to make it 21-14 late in
the first half.
Williams, selected No. 1 overall last year when the NFL draft was in
Detroit, also threw an ill-advised pass that was intercepted and was
taken out midway through the fourth quarter because Johnson said the
game was out of reach.
“You always point the finger at yourself before you point a finger
at anybody else,” Williams said.
Goff, who completed 23 of 28 passes, also watched the final minutes
from the sideline after helping last year's highest-scoring team get
back on track.
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Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) throws against the Chicago
Bears during the first half of an NFL football game in Detroit,
Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Goff got the ball to Jahmyr Gibbs and David
Montgomery in the running game and St. Brown and Jameson Williams
through the air.
The Lions took advantage of a break late in the first half when 6
seconds were put on the clock after they appeared to run out of
time, leading to Johnson waving his team off the field only to have
them return for another snap.
Goff threw a 4-yard pass to St. Brown to give Detroit a 14-point
lead just before halftime and connected with him for scores in the
third and fourth quarter.
St. Brown finished with nine catches for 115 yards and also lined up
as a running back, gaining 6 yards on a carry to convert a third
down.
“He’s as good as they get in our league,” Goff said. “He’s a stud.
He does everything in the run game, everything in the pass game. As
reliable of a player as I’ve ever thrown to in my life.”
Gibbs and Montgomery combined for 151 yards and two touchdowns on
the ground.
“They mixed it up really well,” Johnson said softly.
Injuries
Bears: Starting DB Kyler Gordon (hamstring) was inactive. Starting
LB T.J. Edwards (hamstring) and DB Jaylon Johnson (groin) left the
game with injuries.
Lions: DE Marcus Davenport, who had the team's first sack this
season in the third quarter, left the game with ankle and shoulder
injuries. Backup TE Shane Zylstra (ankle) was hurt during the game.
Up next
Bears: Host Dallas on Sept. 21.
Lions: Play at Baltimore on Sept. 22.
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