The San Francisco 49ers open the 2022 regular season as they travel to Chicago to take on the Bears at Soldier Field. San Francisco leads the all-time series against Chicago 35-32-1 and has won three of the last five matchups between the two teams.
This week marks the 14th overall time the 49ers have played at Soldier Field, where they hold a record of 6-7. This also marks the fourth time the 49ers have opened the regular season against the Bears, with San Francisco winning two of those three matchups. This is the first time the 49ers have ever opened a season at Soldier Field.
The 49ers finished the preseason with a 2-1 record as their offense averaged 326.7 yards per game. The Niners' defense held opponents to 171.3 passing yards per game, which ranked fourth in the NFL. The unit also finished tied for the most takeaways in the preseason with seven.
The 49ers Communications staff provided the above breakdown.
Below is everything you need to know to follow the upcoming game.
When does the game start?
Sunday, September 11 at 10:00 a.m. PT
Where is the game being played?
Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois
Who are the head coaches?
49ers: Kyle Shanahan
Bears: Matt Eberflus
What channel is the game on?
Network: FOX
Play-By-Play: Joe Davis
Color Analyst: Daryl Johnston
Sideline Reporter: Pam Oliver
NFL Sunday Ticket subscribers can find the game on channel 711 on DirecTV.
What areas will receive the broadcast?
For those without NFL Sunday Ticket, the broadcast will be viewable within the markets designated below. It will be available to much of the country.
Coverage map courtesy of 506sports.com
Where can I stream the game?
NFL Sunday Ticket subscribers can stream the game using the service's official mobile app. NFL+ subscribers can stream the game in its entirety once the matchup has been completed.
Bay Area fans can stream the game through the official 49ers app or at 49ers.com.
Where can I listen to the radio broadcast?
Bay Area fans can listen on KNBR 680 AM/104.5 FM and The Bone 107.7 FM, where Greg Papa and Tim Ryan will call the game.
Jesús Zárate will call the game in Spanish. That broadcast can be listened to at 49ers.com/news/Espanol.
Chicago area fans can listen on WBBM Newsradio 780AM and 105.9 FM, where Jeff Joniak and Tom Thayer will call the game.
Nationally, fans can listen to the game via Compass Media Networks, where Mike Morgan and Chad Brown will call the game.
NFL+ subscribers can listen to the game through that service.
San Francisco: SiriusXM 108 or 391 and the SXM App
Chicago: SiriusXM 159 or 229 and the SXM App
Game discussion
Fans can discuss the game within our Niner Talk forum.
How has this series played out historically?
Matchups: 68
Series Record: 49ers lead series 35-32-1
49ers Home Record vs. Bears: 49ers lead series 22-14
49ers Away Record vs. Bears: Bears lead series 18-13-1
First Meeting: 9/24/50, Bears win 32-20, at SF
Last Meeting: 10/31/21, 49ers win 33-22, at Chi.
Current Streak: Won 1
Longest 49ers Win Streak: 6 (12/6/69 – 11/16/75)
Longest Bears Win Streak: 3 – 4 times (Last 10/31/04 – 10/29/06)
Most 49ers Points: 52 – 2 times (Last 12/23/91): 49ers win 52-14, at SF
Most Bears Points: 61 (12/12/65): Bears win 61-20, at Chi.
49ers Shutouts: 5 (Last 12/17/00), 49ers win 17-0, at SF
Bears Shutouts: 2 (Last 10/22/61), Bears win 31-0, at Chi.
49ers Notes
- QB TREY LANCE totaled 771 yards (603 pass, 168 rush) & 6 TDs (5 pass, 1 rush) vs. 2 INTs for 97.3 rating in 6 games (2 starts) in 2021.
- RB ELIJAH MITCHELL ranked 2nd among rookies with franchise rookie-record 963 rush yards & 4th with 1,100 scrimmage yards in 11 games in 2021. Led all rookies & ranked tied-2nd among all players with 5 games with 100+ rush yards last season. He rushed for a career-high 137 yards & had a rushing TD in the last meeting.
- WR DEEBO SAMUEL ranked 3rd in NFL with a career-high 1,770 scrimmage yards (1,405 rec., 365 rush) & became 1st player ever with 1,400+ rec. yards & 300+ rush yards in a single season. He had 8 rush TDs, the most-ever by WR in a single season. 1 of 3 all-time (Roger Craig & HOFer Marshall Faulk) with 1,000+ rec. yards, 5+ rec. TDs (6) & 5+ rush TDs in a single season. He had 171 rec. yards in the last meeting.
- WR BRANDON AIYUK had 56 receptions for a career-high 826 rec. yards & 5 rec. TDs in 2021.
- TE GEORGE KITTLE ranked 4th among TEs in rec. yards (910) & 6th in catches (71) last season. He has 4,489 career rec. yards, 3rd-most rec. yards by TE in his 1st 5 seasons all-time. Since 2017, he ranks 2nd in rec. yards & 3rd in receptions (335) among TEs.
- DL NICK BOSA tied for the NFL lead with 21 TFL & ranked 4th in NFL with a career-high 15.5 sacks in 2021. He had 2 sacks & 3 TFL in the last meeting. Had 0.5+ sacks in 8 of his 9 road games last season.
- LB FRED WARNER led the team with a career-high 137 tackles in 2021 & is 1 of 3 with 115+ tackles in each of past 4 seasons. Since 2018, he ranks 4th in NFL in tackles (503).
- CB CHARVARIUS WARD makes his SF debut. He had 10+ PD & 2+ INTs in 2 of his past 3 seasons.