5 takeaways from the Bears' regular season going into the playoffs

The regular season has come to an end for the 2025 Chicago Bears, and though they have more football in front of them, it could have been a better game to enter the postseason on. The Bears fell to the Detroit Lions 19-16 on Sunday to finish the regular season 11-6 atop the NFC North.

It was a messy game on both sides of the ball, an unexpected development for the Bears. The Lions were able to move the ball at will against the defense, while the Bears sputtered too many times early when they had the ball, unable to change the momentum Detroit had for most of the game. In the end, it was a disappointing showing for a team that could have used a bounce-back game going into their first postseason game in five years.

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It's a new season, though, and lessons can be learned from the Bears' loss in Week 18 as they look to make a deep playoff run. In order to do so, they must get past the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night. Here are five takeaways from the regular season finale that will be notable going into Wild Card Weekend:

1. The Bears defense is barely good enough at home

For once, the biggest liability for a Bears team going into the playoffs isn't the quarterback or the offense. It's the defense that is keeping fans up at night. Over the last few games, the Bears' defense has become more exposed for its lack of pass rush and inability to cover receivers in the middle of the field. Teams like the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions took full advantage of them, totaling over 400 yards of offense in each game. It's a group that lives and dies by the takeaway and isn't going to magically get fixed this weekend. But that doesn't mean they're completely doomed.

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The good news for the Bears being at home for this week's playoff game is their defense is considerably better at Soldier Field. They give up plenty of yards but keep teams out of the end zone. In their last three games at home, the defense has allowed just two touchdowns. They're averaging just 17.6 points allowed per game at home compared to 30.5 on the road. They clamp down in the red zone and force field goals or turnovers, allowing the offense to stay within striking distance. Allowing teams to stay on the field isn't ideal, but the defense is just good enough at home to give the Bears opportunities to win. The offense, however, will need to capitalize on every chance they get.

2. Tyrique Stevenson should be back with the starters

A big part of the defensive woes as of late has been the play of cornerback Nahshon Wright. One of the better cornerbacks at taking the ball away in the league, Wright had a career year this season as he totaled five interceptions and forced two fumbles but has also allowed too many completions and big plays. He's a classic boom-or-bust player, and it could be difficult to count on him in the playoffs. So why not rotate him with Tyrique Stevenson against the Packers?

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Stevenson's snaps have dwindled the last few weeks, playing under 50% of the plays in each of his last three games. He didn't even see the field last Sunday while Wright, Jaylon Johnson, and CJ Gardner-Johnson were torched by Detroit's playmakers. Stevenson has had his ups and downs like many other cornerbacks, but he's arguably more reliable than someone like Wright these days. In 13 games, Stevenson has allowed just 33 receptions and one touchdown with an opposing passer rating of 86.3.

Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen discussed playing the hot hand at cornerback, but Wright has been cold for the last couple of weeks. Stevenson can't be worse at this point and deserves playing time. It could be the difference between a win or loss depending on how Green Bay's receivers perform.

3. A new legendary QB-TE duo is emerging

It took some time to build, but the connection between Caleb Williams and Colston Loveland is turning into something truly special right in front of our eyes. The rookie tight end has been on a tear over the second half of the season and is coming off back-to-back games with at least 10 targets, 90 yards, and a touchdown. Loveland has become Williams' go-to target, as he finished with a team-high 58 receptions for 713 yards and six touchdowns, and he's delivering in every way imaginable.

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It's special watching these two work together, whether they're connecting on deep seam routes or short out routes with room upfield. Loveland is a rare player, and already at 21 years old, he and Williams are destined to become the next great QB-TE duo in the league. That could even start this weekend in the postseason.

The last time these two teams met, Williams and the offense got going late in the game when the tight ends became more involved. It's likely Loveland gets more targets early to set the tone, and another big game will elevate his status among NFL fans as one of the best tight ends in the league. This is just the start of a legendary connection between him and Williams.

4. Caleb Williams is built for these types of games

When was the last time the Bears entered a game of critical importance and the quarterback was the least of your concerns? Normally, we're waiting for the other shoe to drop with Bears quarterbacks who cannot rise to the occasion. Not with Caleb Williams. There's a reason "Iceman" has become his nickname during the 2025 season.

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Williams is coming off arguably the best statistical season for a Bears quarterback in team history. More important, however, is how he's handling himself in big moments. Williams hasn't melted down or shied away when his back is against the wall. He has taken his game to new levels, doing whatever it takes to come away with a victory. This will be the biggest game of his career at any level up to this point, yet there shouldn't be any nerves. Williams and the offense have worked up to this moment, and you can bet they will be in it all the way until the final whistle at the very least.

5. It's time to see what Ben Johnson is made of

Johnson has done about as good of a job as can be during his first season as head coach of the Bears. He turned around the offense, helped Williams become a top-10 quarterback, changed the culture, and got everyone to buy into the hard work that was needed to create a winner. It hasn't been perfect, and that's okay, but now is the time we find out what Johnson is really made of with the playoffs set to begin.

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This is where coaches go from good to great. Where they're seen as more than just someone who can win games in the regular season and become a true difference maker. It's going to be exciting to see how Johnson has this group prepared for this game against a familiar foe, and from the sound of things, he's not trying to make this matchup bigger than it already is. This is where we'll see the true value of what Johnson brings to the table.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Takeaways from the Bears' regular season going into the playoffs