49ers stave off Bears’ comeback hopes, have No. 1 seed in sights for Week 18

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If Week 17’s "Sunday Evening Soccer" matchup is something like what the NFL Playoffs might be like this season, soccer followers might be loving each second of play.

The San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears, two bears gunning for the No. 1 seed within the NFC, put collectively an exciting primetime recreation on Sunday evening within the Bay Space.

However solely the 49ers helped their possibilities at that prime seed of their convention with an exciting 42-38 win.

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Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates a landing towards the Chicago Bears with teammate Ricky Pearsall #1 of the San Francisco 49ers through the first quarter of the sport at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 28, 2025 in Santa Clara, California. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Pictures)

This was a back-and-forth recreation all evening lengthy on the scoreboard, and it started on the primary offensive snap of the sport for the 49ers. However it wasn’t Brock Purdy and firm getting good subject place.

As a substitute, Jaylon Johnson leaping a ball supposed for Jauan Jennings ended with T.J. Edwards selecting off the move and taking it again 34 yards for the pick-six simply 15 seconds into the sport.

The 49ers instantly confronted a 7-0 deficit, however Purdy was unfazed all recreation lengthy, and it confirmed on the following drive following the interception. San Francisco went 9 performs and 65 yards downfield, as Purdy discovered Jake Tonges, filling in for an injured George Kittle within the prime tight finish position, to tie the sport up.

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After three straight punts, the 49ers and Bears would mix for 5 straight landing drives, beginning with Purdy scrambling for a 10-yard landing run — the primary of two on the evening. It was arrange by a 41-yard Christian McCaffrey run, because the veteran had one other profitable week on the bottom.

Williams, although, wished to point out off his laser arm, as he noticed rookie Luther Burden III downfield for a 35-yard strike to tie the sport at 14 apiece.

McCaffrey was capable of finding the top zone in the beginning of the second quarter to cap a nine-play drive, however an offsides by the 49ers on the following drive allowed Williams a free play to seek out rookie tight finish Colston Loveland for a 36-yard landing.

It was the 49ers strolling into the locker room with the lead, nevertheless, with Purdy ending off a methodical 15-play drive that used up virtually 9 minutes of second-quarter clock together with his three-yard speeding landing.

When the second half started, the Bears and 49ers solely bought one drive every within the third quarter, however they each cashed in for touchdowns — Kyle Juszczyk for San Francisco and D’Andre Swift for Chicago. However after Swift scored his second landing of the half, Williams and the Bears’ offense have been lastly in a position to get the lead again for the primary time since that pick-six to begin the sport.

Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears warms up towards the San Francisco 49ers earlier than the sport at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 28, 2025 in Santa Clara, California. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Pictures)

It wasn’t the landing head coach Ben Johnson wished, however a subject objective by Cairo Santos gave Chicago the 38-35 lead with 5:22 left to play within the recreation. There was nonetheless time for San Fran, although, and Purdy didn’t waste it.

Jennings was silent with only one catch for 4 yards all recreation lengthy when Purdy hit him completely in stride and he took it the space for a 38-yard landing catch-and-run to retake the lead.

The four-point deficit for the Bears meant Williams needed to discover the top zone with simply over two minutes left to play. They have been in a position to convert it on fourth-and-5, and after a nifty catch-and-pitch from Loveland to Swift, the Bears have been on the two-yard line with 4 seconds left.

Williams surveyed the top zone and stored the play alive together with his legs, however he was unable to seek out Jahdae Walker for the game-winning landing.

Because of the loss, the Bears are now not going to be the No. 1 seed. However, the 49ers are only one win away from securing it, as they play the Seattle Seahawks subsequent week.

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Within the field rating, McCaffrey tallied 181 yards from scrimmage, together with 140 on the bottom on 23 carries together with his rating. Purdy was 24-of-33 passing for 303 yards and three touchdowns with one interception, whereas speeding for 28 yards and his two touchdowns.

For the Bears, Williams was 25-of-42 for 330 yards and two touchdowns, whereas Burden completed the evening with 138 receiving yards on eight catches together with his landing.