Winners and Losers as 49ers Outlast Bears 42-38 in NFC Thriller – 49ers Bears game 42-38
SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco 49ers continue to defy expectations, taking down the Chicago Bears 42-38 in a Sunday Night Football classic that had fans glued to their screens through Week 17.
In what instantly became one of the season’s most memorable games, both teams traded haymakers in a back-and-forth slugfest that kicked off with a Brock Purdy pick-six on the very first play from scrimmage. 49ers Bears game 42-38
But Purdy quickly shook off the early mistake and proved why he’s one of the league’s most resilient quarterbacks, delivering another touchdown-heavy performance despite missing even more key players. Star tight end George Kittle sat out with an ankle sprain, while All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams went down with a hamstring injury on that opening pick-six play.
The game came down to the final snap, with rookie quarterback Caleb Williams getting one last chance to play hero with a potential game-winning touchdown pass. After struggling to get stops all night long, the 49ers defense finally came through when it mattered most.
San Francisco improved to 12-4 and will host the 13-3 Seattle Seahawks next Saturday in a winner-take-all showdown. The victor claims the NFC West crown and the conference’s No. 1 seed. Chicago drops to 11-5 and can finish no higher than the No. 2 seed.
Let’s break down the game with our winners and losers
WINNER: Brock Purdy, 49ers
Purdy has had his share of rough primetime performances in the past. He made damn sure this wouldn’t be another one. The former Mr. Irrelevant torched Chicago’s defense for 303 yards and three touchdowns on 24-of-33 passing, while punching in two more scores on the ground.
It marked his second consecutive five-touchdown game, having tossed five scores against the Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football in his previous outing.
If the 49ers are going to pull off the unthinkable and make a championship run, they’ll need Purdy firing on all cylinders and keeping his cool under pressure. Right now, he’s showing he’s more than up for the challenge.
LOSER: Defenses
Offensive-minded fans and neutrals loved this shootout, but there are some concerning long-term takeaways here. The 49ers racked up 496 total yards, while Chicago put up 440 of their own.
Defense wins championships, after all, and neither squad delivered a title-caliber defensive performance. For San Francisco, shaky defense has become an ongoing issue as mounting injuries continue taking their toll. But having Kyle Shanahan orchestrating the offense can cover up a lot of flaws. 49ers outlast Bears
For Chicago, opposing teams will be studying this game film closely and looking to copy San Francisco’s blueprint for success. The Bears are an inexperienced playoff team, so there will be plenty more learning experiences ahead. The 49ers, at least, have more playoff battle scars and have All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner ready to return if his team makes a deep enough run.
WINNER: Christian McCaffrey, 49ers
What can’t CMC do? McCaffrey followed up his 117-yard rushing performance in Indy with an even better showing Sunday night.
The superstar running back torched Chicago for 140 rushing yards on 23 carries and a touchdown, while chipping in 41 receiving yards on four catches (six targets). He also notched his longest run of the season, topping the mark he set just last week.
Like Purdy, a healthy McCaffrey dramatically boosts the 49ers’ championship odds. He’s simply one of a kind.
LOSER: Clutch Game Struggles
The Bears came into this matchup having won six games in the final two minutes of regulation – the most in a single season in NFL history.
As impressive as that stat is, teams can’t win them all. Sometimes, on the biggest stages, those losses hit hardest.
49ers Bears game analysis
Williams battled hard, throwing for 330 yards and two touchdowns on 25-of-42 passing, but offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and company will need to avoid so many nail-biters if they want to take the next step as a franchise. 49ers Bears 42-38
WINNER: Kyle Shanahan, 49ers
No other coach deserves Coach of the Year honors, regardless of what happens in Week 18. Shanahan has somehow never won the award, and even though it’s not always the best measure of coaching quality, this should finally be his year.
He’s managed the roster through eight-plus games without Purdy, with backup Mac Jones doing an admirable job filling in despite his limitations. Warner, Kittle, Nick Bosa, Brandon Aiyuk, and other crucial players have all missed significant time this season. Few other coaches would survive the hits this roster has taken, let alone sit at 12-4 at this stage with a legitimate shot at the No. 1 seed. 49ers vs Bears winners losers
A fully healthy 49ers squad would likely have been Super Bowl favorites this year, which happens to be hosted in the Bay Area. But Shanahan also needs to finish strong given his track record of falling short in big moments.
If not Shanahan, Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen is probably the next best choice for the award.
