A thrilling encounter at Levi’s Stadium ended with the Chicago Bears suffering a narrow 42-38 defeat to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night. Despite a standout performance from quarterback Caleb Williams, who threw for a season-high 330 yards and led five scoring drives, the Bears’ defense struggled to contain the 49ers’ potent offense, resulting in a loss that dashed their hopes for the NFC’s No. 1 seed.
Defensive players expressed disappointment following the game, with safety Jaquan Brisker stating, “We let the offense down. I feel like Caleb and them, they gave us enough points to do what we had to do to win. The defense didn’t.” The Bears’ defense allowed San Francisco to amass 32 first downs and finish a perfect 5-for-5 in the red zone, a statistic that highlights their struggles throughout the match.
The game featured an impressive offensive display from both teams, combining for a total of 936 yards and 11 touchdowns, tying for the most in any game this season. Brock Purdy, the 49ers’ quarterback, continued his strong form, contributing five total touchdowns against a Bears defense that failed to apply enough pressure. Purdy completed 21 of 28 passes for 303 yards, throwing for 269 yards when not under duress.
With the score tied at 35, the Bears took a brief 38-35 lead with just over five minutes remaining. However, San Francisco responded decisively. On their final possession, Purdy connected with wide receiver Jauan Jennings for a 38-yard touchdown, putting the 49ers ahead 42-38.
Chicago’s last chance came with 2:15 left on the clock, starting from their own 35-yard line. With three timeouts and the two-minute warning to help manage the clock, the Bears seemed poised for another comeback. Yet, as time wound down, they faced a critical fourth down at the 49ers’ 2-yard line. Williams scrambled to evade pressure but ultimately failed to connect with wide receiver Jahdae Walker in the end zone.
Reflecting on the final sequence, Williams expressed frustration, saying, “I can’t dirt the ball in that situation,” acknowledging the need for a better pass. Bears head coach Ben Johnson accepted responsibility for the miscommunication, explaining, “We didn’t quite get aligned in the formation we wanted to. It’s on me. I didn’t get him the call fast enough.”
Despite the loss, Williams’ performance stands out as a highlight. He completed 25 of 42 passes for 330 yards, achieving a passer rating of 100.3. His ability to connect on deep throws was particularly notable, as he completed all four passes thrown at least 20 yards, including both of his touchdown passes. This season, he leads the NFL with ten passing touchdowns on such throws.
Looking ahead, Williams remains optimistic about the Bears’ potential, stating, “I think we’ve proven who we are. We’ll fight, and I think we’re a team to be reckoned with. I’m excited for this next game.” He is also on the verge of a personal milestone, needing 270 passing yards in next week’s regular-season finale against the Detroit Lions to become the Bears’ first quarterback to surpass 4,000 yards in a season.
As the Bears regroup after this pivotal NFC showdown, the focus will shift to their upcoming match against the Lions, where they aim to bounce back and secure their playoff positioning.
