So close.
Caleb Williams’ 330 passing yards should’ve been enough.
It wasn’t.
The Bears‘ defense allowed six touchdowns. The unit also scored one for themselves on T.J. Edwards’ pick-six on the very first play from scrimmage.
But the 49ers’ offense was simply unstoppable for the next 59 minutes. Quarterback Brock Purdy finished 24 of 33 passing for 303 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He added 28 yards on six rushing attempts, including two touchdowns. His 28 yards on the ground accounted for 14 percent of the 49ers’ 200 rushing yards. Christian McCaffrey had 140 yards on 23 rushing attempts.
For the Bears, Iceman nearly brought a cold front to the Bay Area, but fell just short with the final play of the game falling incomplete in the end zone from the 2-yard line.
Williams finished the game 25 of 42 for 330 yards passing, hitting receiver Luther Burden III (eight receptions, 138 yards) for a 35-yard touchdown and tight end Colston Loveland (six receptions, 94 yards) for a 36-yard score. Burden III suffered an apparent hamstring injury on the final play of the game. Running back D’Andre Swift scored twice on the ground.
The dream of the No. 1 seed is now dead. The Bears will play on Wild Card Weekend. Now the fight turns to the No. 2 seed, where the magic number sits at one.
Tune into the CHGO Bears postgame show.
Adam Hoge
There are a number of different ways to look at that loss. In the big picture, it says a lot that Caleb Williams was able to hang in a shootout and almost pull off another improbable comeback. Going forward, you have to feel really good about the Ben Johnson-Caleb Williams combo for years to come. On the other hand — when it comes to winning the Super Bowl this year — that Bears defensive performance wasn’t it. Yes, the 49ers are clicking on all cylinders offensively, but they also didn’t have George Kittle or Trent Williams. And it didn’t matter.
Adam Jahns
It came down to the last play like this slugfest should have. The Bears didn’t win but that almost doesn’t matter. They have a quarterback in Caleb Williams who can keep them in shootouts and who will always give them a chance. The Bears’ defense has holes, but we knew that already. The Bears have a quarterback. That’s more important. Williams and Ben Johnson are just getting started.
Mark Carman
Incredible football game. Bears defense had a night to forget and will have to get better quickly. They did make it at least slightly tougher in the second half for Purdy and company and forced a punt. But not good enough. Caleb Williams nearly pulled off his seventh Iceman act. He was over 300 yards for the first time all season. There were some missed opportunities, but Williams took another step forward. On to the Lions and the playoffs.
Patrick Norton
Unfortunately, it’s a tad too late in the season to add any significant piece to the Bears’ pass rush. That 49ers offense is simply on another level right now.
“(The 49ers) do a great job of getting to spots,” defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said. “The quarterback does a really good job of reading out the defense, throwing it to the open guy. It’s tough to deal with.”
It overwhelmed the Bears’ defense. Dinks, dunks and splash plays, Kyle Shanahan’s offense did it all.
Offensively, Caleb Williams deserves all of praise. He keeps them in it. And with something to play for in Week 18, 270 yards gets him to that 4,000-yard mark so desperately desired by Bears fans.
