4 key matchups for Bears vs. Lions in Week 18

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The Chicago Bears will have their hands full with the Detroit Lions in their final game of the 2025 regular season, despite Detroit being eliminated from the playoffs, they still have an opportunity to make life harder for Chicago in the postseason.

A win over the Lions would secure the No. 2 seed for the Bears in the NFC playoffs and line them up for a matchup against the Green Bay Packers in the wild-card round. But Detroit doesn't appear they'll make it an easy matchup for Chicago at Soldier Field.

Despite being banged up, the Lions, and superstar wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown are on track to be on the field Sunday afternoon, indicating that they're not going to go away lightly. After making the playoffs three straight seasons, the Lions will be playing for their future in the 2026 season, looking to end the year on a high note, looking to pick up a season sweep over Chicago and their former coordinator Ben Johnson.

These two teams are much different than how they appeared in their Week 2 matchup, but there are still going to be some high-level key matchups in the game.

Bears RT Darnell Wright vs. Lions DE Aidan Hutchinson

One of the best pass rushers in the NFL, Aidan Hutchinson is going to be a big problem for offensive tackle Darnell Wright, and potentially rookie Ozzy Trapilo if Hutchinson is moved around on the line. Detroit sacked quarterback Caleb Williams four time in their first meeting, the most he's been sacked in a game all season, and Wright is going to have his hands full with this matchup. Wright has allowed two sacks on the season, but the bigger concern is the 11 penalties he has committed.

Bears TE Colston Loveland vs. Lions LB Jack Campbell

Colston Loveland was not a big part of the offense in their first meeting, but now he's become a focal point for head coach Ben Johnson. Loveland can execute big plays down the middle of the field and can find weaknesses in the second level of a defense, which is where Jack Campbell could come into play. One of the best middle linebackers in the league, Campbell will be a fun matchup to watch, although Loveland could present quite the challenge for Campbell in pass coverage.

Bears DE Montez Sweat vs. Lions RT Dan Skipper

For as interesting as the matchup between Hutchinson and Wright will be, the Bears will have their own pass rush matchup to watch for as Montez Sweat goes up against Dan Skipper, who gets the start in place of an injured Penei Sewell. Sweat has had a big bounce back year in 2025, leading the team with 9.5 sacks this season. With Sewell, who allowed just two sacks, sidelined, Sweat has an opportunity to back to double-digit sacks for just the second time in his career, the only time coming in 2023 when he was traded from the Commanders to the Bears and finished with 12.5 sacks.

Bears CB Nahshon Wright vs. Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown

With Jaylon Johnson still working his way back to 100 percent, it'll be interesting to see where the Bears decide to go in their matchups, but it could be a great test for Nahshon Wright in going up against Amon-Ra St. Brown to close out the regular season. Wright has been a revelation in the Bears secondary, leading the NFL with eight takeaways, and as the defense needs to improve ahead of their postseason run, Wright could be heavily targeted by veteran quarterback Jared Goff and the Lions offense.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears vs. Lions: Key matchups to watch in Week 18 finale

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