Only two NFL games were played Saturday, August 29, as the league wrapped up its final weekend of preseason action. The Detroit Lions defeated the Indianapolis Colts 25-16 in the afternoon before the Chicago Bears closed the night with a 24-15 victory over the Tennessee Titans.
With the regular season approaching, Saturday’s games were less about established stars and more about backup jobs, roster battles and final opportunities for players trying to secure places on 53-man rosters.
Detroit Lions 25, Indianapolis Colts 16
Detroit finished its preseason with a 25-16 victory over Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium, powered by an efficient performance from quarterback Josh Dobbs and a rushing attack that controlled much of the game.
Dobbs completed 15 of 19 passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns without an interception, finishing with a 129.8 passer rating. He directed three touchdown drives and made a strong final case in Detroit’s competition for the backup quarterback position.
The Lions scored their first touchdown late in the opening quarter when Trayveon Williams finished a 10-play, 75-yard drive with a one-yard run. Williams later added another one-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter and finished with 57 rushing yards on nine carries.
Detroit took control during the second quarter. Dobbs connected with tight end Jackson Meeks for a six-yard touchdown before finding Tay Martin for a two-yard score with only 12 seconds remaining before halftime. The second touchdown gave Detroit a 19-13 advantage.
Jacob Saylors was another standout for the Lions, rushing 17 times for 100 yards. Detroit finished with 186 rushing yards and 356 total yards, compared with only 34 rushing yards and 229 total yards for Indianapolis.
The Colts did get some encouraging performances from players expected to contribute during the regular season. Anthony Richardson Sr. completed seven of 10 passes for 80 yards, while running back DJ Giddens scored Indianapolis’ only touchdown on a six-yard run.
Indianapolis also forced four Detroit turnovers. Sauce Gardner intercepted a pass during his limited playing time, while several Colts rookies created fumbles. Despite those defensive takeaways, Indianapolis was unable to convert enough of them into points.
Kicker Spencer Shrader provided one of the Colts’ biggest highlights with a 60-yard field goal in the third quarter that cut Detroit’s lead to 19-16. The Lions responded in the fourth with Williams’ second touchdown and then ran out the clock.
Detroit finished the preseason 2-1, while Indianapolis ended at 0-2-1.
Chicago Bears 24, Tennessee Titans 15
Chicago wasted almost no time producing Saturday’s most spectacular NFL play.
On the Bears’ first offensive snap, quarterback Tyson Bagent connected with rookie receiver Zavion Thomas for a 97-yard touchdown. The play immediately gave Chicago a 7-0 lead and set the tone for a strong performance by the Bears’ reserves.
Bagent was nearly perfect, completing 16 of 17 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns. Thomas, a third-round rookie making his preseason debut, caught five passes for 140 yards and the long touchdown. He also contributed a 39-yard punt return.
Chicago extended its lead in the second quarter when Bagent found Maurice Alexander for a two-yard touchdown. Alexander finished with seven catches for 50 yards.
Tennessee relied heavily on kicker Joey Slye during the first half. Slye connected from 28, 56 and 25 yards, with the 56-yarder continuing his strong preseason performance on long field goals.
Will Levis started at quarterback for Tennessee while Cam Ward and most of the Titans’ regular starters were held out. Levis completed 14 of 22 passes for 143 yards without a touchdown or interception. Hendon Hooker handled the remaining quarterback duties.
Chicago pulled away in the third quarter. Roschon Johnson scored on a three-yard run before Cairo Santos kicked a 37-yard field goal, pushing the Bears’ advantage to 24-9.
Johnson finished with 52 rushing yards on 15 carries, while the Bears accumulated 398 total yards compared with 259 for Tennessee.
The Titans finally reached the end zone late in the fourth quarter when D’Ernest Johnson scored on a nine-yard run. Tennessee attempted a two-point conversion but failed, leaving Chicago with a 24-15 advantage that became the final score.
The Titans finished their preseason with a 2-1 record. Most of their starters watched Saturday’s finale after head coach Robert Saleh decided the team had received enough meaningful work during its joint practices with Chicago earlier in the week.
Saturday’s Biggest NFL Performances
Tyson Bagent delivered the most impressive quarterback performance of the day, completing 94 percent of his passes and throwing two touchdowns. His 97-yard connection with Zavion Thomas was also the longest and most explosive scoring play of Saturday’s NFL schedule.
Josh Dobbs also made an important statement for Detroit. His efficient two-touchdown performance helped the Lions finish the preseason with a victory and strengthened his position in Detroit’s backup quarterback competition.
On the ground, Jacob Saylors reached 100 rushing yards for Detroit, while Trayveon Williams scored twice. Indianapolis received a long 60-yard field goal from Spencer Shrader, and Tennessee kicker Joey Slye connected from 56 yards.
With Saturday’s games complete, the focus now shifts from preseason results to roster decisions and preparation for the opening weekend of the 2026 regular season.