placeholder image

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports


Preview: San Francisco 49ers (1-10) at Chicago Bears (2-9)

Al Sacco
Nov 30, 2016 at 4:08 PM--
Updated Dec 3, 2016 at 9:26 PM


Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
If you like moral victories (and really, that's all we've got at this point) you're probably at least feeling optimistic after the San Francisco 49ers (1-10) hung in there against a red-hot Miami Dolphins team (7-4) last week. The offense seems to be coming around and QB Colin Kaepernick is starting to show flashes of his old self. That's good – I guess – if he actually decides to stay with the team next year and doesn't opt out of his deal. Kaepernick and company have a good chance of continuing their improving play as the Niners will take on one of only two or three teams they can actually beat in Week 13 – the Chicago Bears (2-9).

Recent History


Does anyone else remember that "fun win" from Week 13 last season? It was Jed York who sent out that infamous tweet declaring the victory "fun" after the 49ers defeated the Bears 26-20 in overtime and the fans were none too pleased. After all, the Niner's record went to 4-8, and there was nothing fun about watching a team that was a recent powerhouse get a meaningless win while the franchise was spiraling downward. The game ended when QB Blaine Gabbert hit WR Torrey Smith for a 71-yard touchdown strike, which was an exciting play, but overall didn't mean much in what was basically a lost campaign.


Players to watch


The 49ers continue to struggle to rush the passer and it cost them dearly in Week 12. Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill was pressured on just eight of his 34 dropbacks and was 20-26 for 285 yards and three scores when throwing from a clean pocket. Currently, OLB Ahmad Brooks leads San Francisco with 4.0 sacks, but OLB Eli Harold and OLB Tank Carradine have been invisible on the other side. Enter DE/OLB Ronald Blair, who's been impressive in limited action thus far. Blair had a sack and two hurries during 21 pass rushes last week and the rookie should continue to see his role increase as the season reaches its homestretch.

Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports


The Bears are absolutely reeling right now and are missing key players on both sides of the ball. With both QB Jay Cutler and QB Brian Hoyer out for the season, third-string QB Matt Barkley will make his second career start. Barkley did throw for 312 yards and three touchdowns against the Tennesee Titans in his first game, but much of that was with Chicago already down big. The Bears will try and protect their inexperienced signal caller with the running game, so expect RB Jordan Howard to get touches early on. Howard's been extremely impressive in his rookie year, averaging 5.1 yards per carry and 766 yards in 10 games.

Stats to Know


At the end of the first half in Week 12, San Francisco wide receivers had 6 catches for 70 yards over their last six quarters. That's not one player, it's every receiver. For the season, the numbers from this unit are absolutely abysmal as the entire depth chart has combined to catch 107 balls for 1,281 yards and just 6 touchdowns through 11 games. To put that into perspective, WR Julio Jones has 1,140 yards on his own, which is only 141 less than every Niner receiver. The position was ignored this offseason and it shows.

Game Changing Factor


The list of players the Bears are missing is stunning. Cutler, Hoyer, WR Alshon Jeffery, WR Kevin White, LB Danny Trevathan, LB Jerrell Freeman, CB Kyle Fuller, TE Zach Miller, and G Kyle Long are all injured or suspended. Chicago is a skeleton crew at this point and that's the main reason why this team is in shambles. The Bears weren't very good to begin with, but losing all of this talent has made them even worse. If the 49ers can't win this game, I'm not sure they can beat anyone (maybe the Browns), so this will be a measuring stick of just how bad San Francisco actually is.


By the Numbers


QB Colin Kaepernick's 373 rushing yards in 7 games this season are the 2nd-most in the NFL among quarterbacks.

Phil Dawson's current 93.8 field goal percentage ranks 2nd in the NFL this season (Justin Tucker, Bal. – 100.0%). If he keeps this pace, Dawson will post the most accurate season of his 18-year career.

San Francisco has scored first in 8 of the team's 11 games this season.

Last week at Miami, Kaepernick became the 5th player since the NFL merger in 1970 to register 3 passing touchdowns and 100 yards rushing in a single game.

News from the Week


The 49ers' loss to the Miami Dolphins was the team's 10th straight. That set a franchise record.

The 49ers released this year's sixth-round draft pick, RB Kelvin Taylor. He had spent the entire season on the practice squad. The roster move leaves just one of the team's three sixth-round selections from this year. The remaining player is WR Aaron Burbridge, who is currently on the active roster.

Matchup Information


Kickoff: Sunday, December 4, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. PT

Where: Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois

All-Time Matchup: 49ers lead series 33-30-1

Last Meeting: 12/6/15, 49ers win 26-20 (OT), at Chi.

Current Streak: Won 1

Betting: The 49ers are 2.5-point favorites

NFL Fan Picks: 58% pick the Bears to win according to Yahoo! Sports

49ers Fan Picks: Within our Pick 'em Contest, 65% believe the 49ers will win

49ers Schedule: View full schedule

Bears News: Bears news at Problitz.com

Follow Game Online: NFL.com's Game Center

Discuss: Niner Talk forum

Follow Us: Facebook, Twitter, Google+

Television and Radio


The game will be televised on FOX (Check 506 Sports to see if it is local).

Play-By-Play: Kenny Albert
Color Analyst: Daryl Johnston
Sideline Reporter: Laura Okmin

KGO 810 AM and The Bone 107.7 FM (Other markets) will carry the radio broadcast with Ted Robinson doing the play-by-play and Tim Ryan as the color analyst. ESPN Deportes and KKSF 910 AM will carry the Spanish broadcast.

San Francisco 49ers Injuries


Questionable
LB Aaron Lynch (ankle), WR Quinton Patton (concussion)

Chicago Bears Injuries


Out
QB Jay Cutler (right shoulder)

Questionable
S Adrian Amos (foot), LB Leonard Floyd (concussion), DB Deiondre' Hall (ankle), WR Eddie Royal (toe), G Josh Sitton (ankle), OLB Willie Young (knee)

Game Averages (Rank)


49ers Bears
20.7 (22nd)
Offense Pts
16.2 (31st)
324.6 (28th)
Offense Yds
350.2 (16th)
198.2 (30th)
Offense Pass
251.7 (15th)
126.5 (4th)
Offense Rush
98.5 (21st)
31.3 (32nd)
Defense Pts Allowed
24.0 (20th)
424.5 (32nd)
Defense Yds Allowed
343.2 (11th)
252.6 (15th)
Defense Pass Allowed
239.8 (12th)
171.8 (32nd)
Defense Rush Allowed
103.4 (18th)

Individual Statistics


Team Leaders
Passing Comp Yds TD INT
Colin Kaepernick, SF 55.3 1440 10 3
Brian Hoyer, CHI 67 1445 6 0
Rushing Car Yds Avg TD
Carlos Hyde, SF 154 594 3.9 6
Jordan Howard, CHI 149 766 5.1 2
Receiving Rec Yds Avg TD
Jeremy Kerley, SF 42 448 10.7 3
Alshon Jeffery, CHI 40 630 15.8 1



LISTEN

Facebook Comments



More San Francisco 49ers News


placeholder image

Brock Purdy, Steve Wilks, Chris Foerster preview 49ers-Cardinals Week 4 matchup

By Site Staff
Sep 28

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, and offensive line coach and run game coordinator Chris Foerster spoke with reporters after Thursday's practice, as the team prepares for its Week 4 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. Here is everything they had to say. Transcripts provided by the San Francisco 49ers Communications staff. QB Brock Purdy Do you have to do extra rehab with the arm and stuff? "I would say no. It's just, like I said before, just like some pre-practice throwing stuff and post throwing stuff. All things that I've done in the past as a quarterback." Last week the Giants blitzed you about 85% of the time and you threw for 300


placeholder image

No Huddle Podcast: 49ers-Cardinals Preview With Steph Sanchez

By Site Staff
Sep 29

(Episode 272) - Brian Renick and Al Sacco are joined by Steph Sanchez, host of the 49Karatas podcast and co-host of the Bully Ball podcast on the Gold Standard Network. They discuss who could have a huge game if Deebo doesn't play, Brock Purdy being the best QB under Kyle Shanahan, not to take the Cardinals lightly on offense, what Steve Wilkes has brought to the defense, and more! The audio for the show is embedded above. Don't forget to subscribe! You can listen to the latest "No Huddle Podcast" episode above, from our dedicated podcast page, on


placeholder image

"49ers look like the NFL's most complete team": Where San Francisco stands in Week 4 power rankings

By David Bonilla
Sep 26

The undefeated Miami Dolphins' 70-20 win over the winless Denver Broncos has shot them to the top of multiple power rankings. However, for most, the San Francisco 49ers sit in the top spot. Also undefeated and sitting atop the NFC West standings, the 49ers are coming off a 30-12 win over the New York Giants. The team is so well-rounded, and Brock Purdy continues to rack up the wins as the starting quarterback. San Francisco has started the regular season 3-0 for the ninth time in franchise history and has now won 13 consecutive regular-season games dating back to Week 8 of last season. It's the longest active streak in the NFL and the second-longest winning streak in franchise


placeholder image

49ers WR Deebo Samuel's status appears to be trending up ahead of Week 4

By Rohan Chakravarthi
Sep 30

The San Francisco 49ers announced their weekly practice squad elevations, sharing that wide receiver Willie Snead and cornerback Kendall Sheffield will be called up to the active roster for their Week 4 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. With the announcement that Snead would be called up, one may assume that 49ers wideout Deebo Samuel's status would be trending down, as the 49ers expect to add another wideout to the active roster for Week 4. However, it's actually the opposite. Looking at the injury report, the 49ers aren't at risk of just missing Samuel, but


Featured

Trending News

Share 49ersWebzone