When the Bears have the ball
The focus is again on a faster start after the Bears struggled for 58 minutes last Saturday against the Packers before catching fire in the last seven. The Bears’ 10th-ranked scoring offense also has an opportunity against a 49ers defense that’s much improved after Robert Saleh’s return as coordinator but still has vulnerabilities. The 49ers are tied for 11th in points allowed and eighth in rushing yards allowed but are 18th in total yards allowed, 23rd in passing yards allowed and 32nd in sacks per pass play.
The same opportunity goes for Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, who completed 50% of his passes (12 of 24) in the first 58 minutes against the Packers but 70% (7 of 10) in the final seven minutes, including overtime. Williams ranks 32nd in the NFL in completion percentage (57.8%). However, the last eight quarterbacks to face the 49ers have completed a combined 70.7% of their passes (200 of 238), with seven of the eight exceeding their season average.
The Bears’ running game has been consistently effective for the most part with D’Andre Swift (204 carries for 993 yards, 4.9 average, seven touchdowns) and rookie Kyle Monangai (155-731, 4.7 average, five touchdowns). Time of possession figures to be a key to victory.
The Bears will be without wide receiver Rome Odunze (foot) for a fourth consecutive game, but wide receiver Luther Burden (ankle) is expected to return after missing the Packers game last week.
When the 49ers have the ball
This is another huge test for the Bears’ defense, which has relied on a league-best 31 takeaways for much of its effectiveness. The Bears are 11-2 this season when they get at least one takeaway and 9-0 when they get two or more. The 49ers have had one or zero turnovers in seven of their last nine games.
The 49ers also have had one of the hottest NFL offenses in the five games since quarterback Brock Purdy returned from a toe injury, averaging 34.4 points (second-most behind the Rams in that span). Purdy has a 110.0 passer rating in those five games (70.2% completions, 230.2 yards per game, 13 touchdowns, four interceptions).
But five-time All-Pro tight end George Kittle — a key factor in the running and passing game — sprained his ankle against the Colts last week and is questionable. The 49ers average 119 rushing yards with him and 74.8 without. Former Bears tight end Jake Tonges (27-233, 8.6, four touchdowns) plays a bigger role with blocking tight end Luke Farrell when Kittle is out.
Running back Christian McCaffrey’s versatility stresses any defense. McCaffrey (280-1,039, nine touchdowns) is averaging a career-low 3.7 yards per carry but rushed for 117 yards on 21 carries (5.6 average) against the Colts.
The Bears have been healthier on defense recently, but linebacker T.J. Edwards (gluteous) and cornerback C.J. Gardner-Johnson (knee) are questionable.
Mark Potash
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