For the Chicago Bears, Week 18 represents far more than a regular-season finale. It's an opportunity to close the year with a statement divisional win and secure a playoff berth, and the blueprint begins with D’Andre Swift and controlling the game's tempo.
It's been nearly three months, but the last time the two teams met, Chicago failed spectacularly in that area. Detroit dominated time of possession in a 52–21 blowout back in Week 2, repeatedly keeping the Bears’ offense off the field and exposing a defense left stranded for long stretches. That loss still lingers, and it has shaped how Chicago approaches the final week of what has been an outstanding regular season.
Against a Lions team that thrives when games become fast and explosive, slowing things down is not just preferred, it is essential.
Bears' running game will be key to win over Lions in Week 18
While he remains on the outs for most fans, Swift remains the engine of that approach. At his best, he offers the versatility to allow the Bears to dictate terms offensively. His vision between the tackles, paired with his ability to attack defenses on perimeter runs and in the passing game, gives Chicago a back who can keep drives alive and shorten the game.
The result? Sustained possessions limit Detroit’s offensive opportunities and allow the Bears to play complementary football, something that was absent early in the season.
However, just as important this week is rookie ball-carrier Kyle Monangai, whose role has steadily expanded as the season has progressed. A physical, downhill presence that complements Swift’s game, his ability to finish runs, absorb contact, and grind out tough yards late in drives is invaluable in a game where controlling the fourth quarter could decide the outcome.
Together, Swift and Monangai symbolize an offense capable of winning in multiple ways.
Because, as it stands, and as all eyes remain on what this group could do come playoff time, Chicago is a unit that no longer remains reliant on a single explosive element. Instead, the backfield allows the Bears to shift gears, adapt to game flow, and impose their will when it matters most.
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If Chicago can run the ball, own the clock, and potentially win an alley fight in Week 18, it not only avenges an early-season embarrassment but also would allow Ben Johnson's group to enter the playoffs with a clear, sustainable identity that will force defensive coordinators up late into the night.