Chicago, with a record of 4-8, is set to face San Francisco, who currently stands at 5-7, in a matchup scheduled for Sunday at 4:25 p.m. EST on Fox. The odds from BetMGM favor the 49ers by 4 points. Against the spread, the Bears have performed moderately well at 6-4-2, whereas the 49ers have struggled, sitting at 4-8. Historically, the 49ers have a slight edge in their series against Chicago, leading with a record of 35 wins to 33 losses and 1 tie. In their most recent encounter, which occurred on September 11, 2022, the Bears came out on top with a 19-10 victory.
Last week did not fare well for either team; the Bears fell to the Lions with a score of 23-20, and the 49ers were decisively beaten by the Bills, ending with a score of 35-10. Analyzing team statistics reveals the Bears’ offensive struggles, ranking 26th overall—including 23rd in rushing, 27th in passing, and 23rd in scoring. On the defensive side, they rank 22nd overall, 25th against the rush, 11th in pass defense, and 9th in scoring defense. The 49ers, on the other hand, excel more offensively, sitting 7th overall, with their rushing game also at 7th, passing at 9th, but they rank 16th in scoring. Defensively, they hold 5th place overall, 15th against the run, 4th in pass defense, but fall to 24th in scoring allowed.
One standout player for the Bears is rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, who has remarkably thrown an NFL rookie-record of 232 passes without being intercepted. The first overall draft choice has demonstrated increased composure under the guidance of interim offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, achieving a completion rate of 75 out of 117 passes for a substantial 827 yards, accompanied by five touchdowns and no interceptions, resulting in a passer rating of 99.2. This marks a significant improvement from his earlier performance, which brought an 81.0 passer rating.
For the 49ers, rookie running back Isaac Guerendo is anticipated to step up as the primary ball carrier due to injuries sidelining Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason. Guerendo’s performance so far consists of 42 carries totaling 246 yards, marking his debut as the featured back in his NFL career after limited starts in college at Wisconsin and Louisville.
A key matchup to watch in this game will be the Bears’ running game pitted against the 49ers’ run defense. Chicago has had difficulty establishing a reliable rushing attack, averaging fewer than 80 yards rushing in four out of their last five games. Conversely, San Francisco has struggled to contain the run itself, allowing a total of 389 rushing yards over the past two weeks.
Injury reports reveal noteworthy concerns on both sides. For the Bears, wide receivers Keenan Allen (ankle) and DJ Moore (quad), along with running backs D’Andre Swift (quad) and Roschon Johnson (concussion), did not participate in practice on Wednesday. Additionally, defensive back Elijah Hicks (ankle) and offensive lineman Ryan Bates (concussion) are also on the injury list. On the 49ers’ side, defensive end Nick Bosa (hip, oblique) and left tackle Trent Williams (ankle) risk missing their third consecutive game. Furthermore, both Mason and McCaffrey are expected to be sidelined for several weeks.
Historical notes reveal that the Bears remain undefeated at Levi’s Stadium, having won their first regular-season game there in 2014 and again in 2018. Chicago aims to extend its victory streak against San Francisco, looking for back-to-back wins against the team for the first time since 2004-2006. In recent statistics, the Bears have made franchise history by firing head coach Matt Eberflus during the season amidst a six-game losing streak influenced by questionable decision-making in games. In close contests, the Bears have just a 2-6 record, including four losses during their current slide by three points or fewer. Notably, their defense has shown resilience with takeaways in five straight games.
As for the fantasy implications, wide receiver Jauan Jennings has emerged as the primary target for the 49ers in light of Brandon Aiyuk’s season-ending knee injury, leading the team across several receiving categories with 34 targets, 25 receptions, and 280 yards in the last four games.
