49ers 42, Bears 38: Three observations in Chicago’s NFL Week 17 loss

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SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The Bears had some good things happen over the eight days. They beat the rival Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field and in dramatic fashion. Then the Lions lost, securing a playoff spot. Then the Packers fell to Baltimore on Saturday, securing Chicago’s first NFC North title since 2018.

That means these final two regular-season games are all about seeding.

The Bears had a chance to secure no worse than the No. 2 spot with a victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night at Levi’s Stadium.

They weren’t able to do that.

The Bears comeback came one play short (more on that later) and fell to the 49ers by a score of 42-38 in a thrilling, back-and-forth affair that won’t soon be forgotten.

The Bears did prove competitive with yet another top NFC team, a sign that this team is capable of making a serious playoff push regardless of what seed they have, though they’ll quest for the highest possible position in the playoff bracket.

Here’s what we learned from a wild affair with tons of points scored:

Bears aren’t perfect under pressure

The Bears and 49ers couldn’t stop scoring. Like, all game long. It started with a T.J. Edwardd pick six to opening. Then it was all offense. The 49ers would take a lead. Then the Bears would match their score. And on and on it went, deep into the fourth quarter.

The 49ers offense has been on a tear lately, and there was some curiosity if the Bears could hang on in a high-scoring game. The answer to that: an unqualified yes.

Chicago still found itself in an unenviable position, down four points with 2 minutes, 15 seconds and three timeouts left. The Bears have pulled off miracle comebacks before. Could they do it yet again?

The Bears took that final drive beyond midfield, needing a touchdown to set things right. Luther Burden had a huge third-down catch-and-run for 14 yards and then another for five on the next play. He couldn’t secure a key third down catch, bringing up a fourth-and-five situation with 33 seconds left. Caleb Williams hit Colston Loveland for a first down.

Williams hit Loveland on a hook and lateral to D’Andre Swift that ended just short of the goal line. That left one play left, with four seconds on the clock. Williams was under pressure and threw and awkward pass that fell just incomplete, making it the second time in four games a loss has come in the red zone – it also happened in Green Bay — on the ball that didn’t reach its destination.

Caleb Williams has special arm

Okay, so we didn’t necessarily learn this fact on Sunday night. After a pair of unreal touchdown passes in consecutive weeks against the Browns and the Packers, that was etched in stone.

Williams proved that point again on Sunday night, with two first-half touchdown passes that few could make. The first was a perfect drop in the bucket, a high volley that landed right in Luther Burden’s hands for a 35-yard score.

Williams showed some magic on the next drive, using a free play – the 49ers were called offsides – to buy time and then throw a dart to tight end Colston Loveland in the end zone.

Williams was trying to match 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, who was also on a tear. That kept this game a true back-and-forth, with both offenses after another delivering haymakers.

Run defense must get right

Look, Christian McCaffrey is a special player. And 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan ranks among the best run-play designers of his generation. But the volume of explosive plays given up in this game, to McCaffrey and quarterback Brock Purdy just can’t continue in the playoffs.

This one from McCaffrey was a marvel, but the Bears had plenty of opportunities to get him down. That happened to often, but the Bears on their heels while keeping the defense on the field far too long.

McCaffrey had 140 rushing yards, way too many even for someone of his caliber. The Bears will face other good backs and offensive lines in the playoffs, possibly these same 49ers at some point along their postseason journey. If this was a one off, we’d call it an aberration. The run defense gave up 192 yards to the Packers last week and 186 to Pittsburgh back in Week 12.

They’ll have to find a way to slow rushers down on a more consistent basis to remain viable contender for a deep run.

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