Lions Roar Past Bears with 52 Points: Was it a Statement Win or Subtle Shot at Ben Johnson?

The Detroit Lions didn’t just bounce back on Sunday; they completely buried the Chicago Bears. Behind Jared Goff’s five touchdown passes and a franchise record 8.8 yards per play, Detroit ended the day with a 52-21 win that felt every bit like a message to their former offensive coordinator, now Bears head coach, Ben Johnson.

But the way it ended lit up talk shows and social media. With eight minutes left, Detroit led 45-21 and faced a fourth-and-goal from the Bears’ 4-yard line. Dan Campbell then chose to keep his foot on the gas. Instead of taking the chip-shot field goal, Jared Goff delivered a strike to  Amon-Ra St. Brown for their third touchdown of the day. To many, it felt less like routine aggression and more like a pointed reminder that Detroit’s offense hasn’t lost a step without Ben Johnson. 

For some, it looked like payback for offseason chatter that Detroit’s offense would slip without Johnson calling plays. Johnson shrugged it off, responding when asked: “What’s he supposed to do? They don’t kick field goals. They go for it there”. 

That’s the thing: this is what Detroit does. Campbell’s Lions led the NFL in fourth-down attempts last season, and their motto might as well be “stop us if you can”, and Chicago clearly couldn’t.

Whether it was personal or just a matter of philosophy, the optics were unmistakable. Fans even chanted an expletive at Johnson, which Goff later condemned, as Detroit recreated Johnson’s famous “Stumble Bum” celebration after a key takeaway. It was dominance with a side of swagger, leaving Chicago looking like a team still miles away from NFC North contention.

The Lions will now face a Monday night showdown with the Baltimore Ravens. If Sunday proved anything, it’s that Detroit doesn’t need a grudge to keep the scoreboard spinning; they need a football and a reason to attack.