San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) rolls out against the Chicago Bears at Levi Stadium on Sun Dec 8, 2024 (AP News photo)
By Barbara Mason
After suffering two losses in the past couple of weeks playing on the frozen tundra of Green Bay and Buffalo, the San Francisco 49ers took the field Sunday against the Chicago Bears looking like Super Bowl contenders. They had it all going on offensively and defensively.
The Bears were outplayed at every turn. They did play a better second half but it was too little too late. San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy threw for 325 yards and two touchdowns.
The 49ers had three rushing touchdowns courtesy of Isaac Guerendo with two of them and Patrick Taylor Jr. with one. George Kittle finished the game with 151 receiving yards. Jauan Jennings received for 90 yards. The final was 38-13 in a most lop-sided game.
Game recap: San Francisco lost no time establishing the running game in the first quarter driving downfield on their first possession. Brock Purdy came out in this game firing on all cylinders connecting with Jauan Jennings for seven yards and the first score of the day 7-0.
The drive took all of 2 minutes and 20 seconds. The Niner defense was equally ready for this game forcing the Bears to go three and out twice in the opening quarter. The Bears had hit a brick wall in the first quarter unable to move the ball against the 49er defense.
They had a number of interception chances but came up empty. As the first quarter began to wind down, the 49ers struck again. Isaac Guerendo rushed for one yard and San Francisco’s first rushing touchdown of the game. They took a 14-0 lead into the second quarter.
The second quarter remained tough for Chicago as San Francisco continued to bulldoze their offense. They just couldn’t move the ball at all. The 49ers extended their lead 21-0, a 12 play, 71 yard drive culminating in a Brock Purdy 16 yard pass to Juan Jennings, his second touchdown of the day, and the 21-0 lead.
San Francisco was getting the job done in the air and on the ground a vast contrast to their last two outings. The first penalty of the game could not have come at a worst time for the 49ers. Ricky Pearsall was called for holding calling back San Francisco’s would be fourth touchdown of the game. Unable to find the end zone the 49ers were forced to settle for the field goal. Jake Moody kicked a 23 yard field goal for a 49er halftime lead of 24-0.
The first half stats were stunning. Brock Purdy finished the first half 16 of 18 with 258 passing yards and two touchdowns. San Francisco had a total of 65 rushing yards. George Kittle was having a banner game with 138 receiving yards after only the two quarters.
The Bears on the other hand had some miserable stats. Quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked four times erasing the 27 yards he passed for. Chicago had a total of seven rushing yards on four carries and 27 yards receiving. San Francisco had totally dominated the game from the very first play back in the first quarter and the Bears never knew what hit them.
The Bears were able to move the ball in the third quarter, on the ground and in the air. In their first third quarter possession they had already surpassed their entire first half passing and receiving stats.
They drove down inside the San Francisco ten yard line culminating in a Williams to Rome Odunze four yard pass. Odunze made an incredible catch in the corner of the end zone for the six points, their first of the day.
The two-point conversion attempt failed and Chicago was at least up on the scoreboard 24-6. San Francisco could not move the ball and Chicago was back in business on downs.
The third quarter ended quietly but the fourth started with a bang, a 49er bang, extending their lead to 31-6. Isaac Guerendo celebrated his second rushing touchdown of the game, a four yard scamper scored at 14:57.
The Bears answered at 11:48 when quarterback Caleb Williams connected with Rome Odunze (his second touchdown of the day) for 14 yards and the Cairo Santos kick was good. Trailing 31-13 in the final quarter, the Bears were faced with an impossible task.
That task became even more impossible when at 5:15 San Francisco scored their fifth touchdown of the day. Patrick Taylor Jr. rushed for three yards and this game was all but done with San Francisco leading 38-13. That would be the final score.
Despite missing some key players San Francisco did not miss a beat. They dominated from start to finish. Brock Purdy had an amazing game going 20 of 25 for 325 yards and two touchdowns. Juaan Jennings finished the day with two receiving touchdowns and Isaac Guerendo had two rushing scores.
San Francisco finally played the kind of game they had been searching for. They now have their work cut out for them and they will need some help. They looked like Super Bowl contenders in today’s game but it may prove to be too late with four games left in the season.
Game notes: Sunday afternoon the 49ers were back home at Levi’s Stadium taking on the Chicago Bears. This game was played under sunny skies and 67 degrees a far cry from their last two games in Green Bay and Buffalo.
With this favorable weather conditions, San Francisco took the chance to get back on track despite being without some key players. Nick Bosa, Jordan Mason and Trent Williams will be out for this game and Christian McAffrey is out for at least the remainder of the regular season with a torn PCL suffered last week against Buffalo.
The Bears will be played under interim coach Thomas Brown who took over after the firing of head coach Matt Eberflus. This is the first time in franchise history that a Bear’s coach was fired mid-season. This firing came as a result of Chicago’s six game losing streak while San Francisco came into the season favorites to go back to the Super Bowl. Both teams are reeling from horrible setbacks this season.
Next Thursday night the nationally televised game will feature the San Francisco 49ers playing their rival the Los Angeles Rams. Sunday the Rams pulled an upset over the Buffalo Bills 44-42 giving Los Angeles a 7-6 record a full game ahead of the 49ers.
Right now there is a tie for third place in the National Football Conference between the 49ers and the Cardinals and Los Angeles has taken sole possession of second place. Kickoff for that game is scheduled for Thursday at 5:15 PM and can be viewed on Prime Video.
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