Studs and duds from Chicago Bears' Week 18 loss to Lions

The Chicago Bears needed either a win over the Detroit Lions or a loss by the Philadelphia Eagles to the Washington Commanders in Week 18 to clinch the No. 2 seed in the 2025 NFL playoffs.

Thank you, Philadelphia Eagles.

The Bears lost a nailbiter to the Lions, 19-16, on a last-second field goal. The Eagles lost by a touchdown, 24-17, thanks to a fourth-quarter comeback by the Commanders.

At the end of all the madness, the Chicago Bears will host the Green Bay Packers in a No. 2 vs. No. 7 game in the Wild Card round. If the Bears win, they're guaranteed a second home playoff game.

Indeed, it would've been nice to enter the playoffs with a win, but that wasn't in the cards for Chicago on Sunday.

Here are the Bears' studs and duds from Week 18.

Stud: Colston Loveland

Colston Loveland saved the best game of his rookie season for the last, finishing Week 18 with a career-best 10 catches for 91 yards and a touchdown.

Loveland had matured before our eyes throughout the second half of the season. He'll be on the shortlist of top young tight ends entering the 2026 season.

In fact, there's a chance that only Trey McBride (Arizona Cardinals) and Brock Bowers (Las Vegas Raiders) are the only two players at the position with a higher ceiling next year.

Dud: Kyle Monangai

Monangai ended his rookie season with a dud, finishing Week 18 with just six carries for 14 yards. He did have a powerful and critical two-point conversion in the fourth quarter, but he was otherwise outplayed all game by veteran D'Andre Swift.

It certainly appears like Swift will be the primary back in the postseason, and rightfully so. Monangai's long-term upside in Ben Johnson's offense is higher than Swift's, but for the 'right now,' it will be Swift's backfield in January.

Stud: Caleb Williams

Did Caleb Williams become the first Chicago Bears QB to throw for 4,000 yards in a season? No. He fell 58 yards shy.

But he did set a new Bears' single-season passing record with 3,942 yards.

Williams topped Erik Kramer's 30-year-old record in the Bears' losing effort.

More importantly, Williams was the Iceman once again in the second half. He brought the Bears back from a 16-point deficit and put them in position to win the game.

Dud: DJ Moore

Moore has been a hot-and-cold player in 2025. In Week 18, he was freezing.

Moore ended the game with just one catch for 11 yards. He was loafing his route on Caleb Williams' lone interception, too.

Moore will be a big factor in Chicago's offense in the playoffs, and they'll need the best of him if they want to make a serious Super Bowl run.

His effort in Week 18 wasn't good enough.

Stud: Jahdae Walker

Walker ended Week 18 with two catches for 36 yards and a touchdown. Sure, that's not an overwhelming box score, but the undrafted rookie continues to step up in the Bears' passing game when they need it most.

MORE: Caleb Williams makes history in Week 18 vs. Lions

Rome Odunze should be back for the Wild Card round, which will push Walker back down the depth chart. However, he's flashed enough upside over the last couple of weeks to have a long-term home with the Bears.

Dud: Tremaine Edmunds

On first watch, Edmunds appeared to be a step too slow in run defense and in coverage throughout the game.

Indeed, he led the Bears in tackles (8), but he failed to make any impact plays when the defense needed it most.

Edmunds, like DJ Moore, is one of the Chicago Bears' most important players. He must step up and deliver now that we've entered the win-or-go-home season.