Clinching a playoff spot before playing a game must be nice! That's exactly what happened during Week 16, before the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Indianapolis Colts 48-27. The win earned quarterback Brock Purdy NFC Player of the Week honors with a scintillating 295-yard, five-touchdown performance. Christian McCaffrey tallied 27 more touches and two scores. George Kittle and Jauan Jennings each contributed with a touchdown. Linebacker Dee Winters clinched the game with a 74-yard pick-six.
The 49ers improve to 11-4. With two games to go in the regular season, the NFC's number one overall seed remains in sight.
The foe this week is a formidable one: the NFC North-leading Chicago Bears come to Levi's in a primetime matchup. With Coach of the Year candidate Ben Johnson leading the herd, the Bears have been diligent all season. Caleb Williams sports a nearly four-to-one touchdown to interception ratio while orchestrating comeback wins. The receiving weapons on offense show excellent parity (six players with 30+ receptions). Chicago protects the ball and takes it away at a staggering rate. A +21 turnover differential and with 31 turnovers forced lead the NFL.
Both teams are 11-4 each, attempting to solidify their playoff seeding. Chicago is a dangerous opponent because they're smart, well-coached, battle-tested, and opportunistic. If the hopes of a one seed are realistic, the 49ers must put their best foot forward Sunday night.
Here are five players to watch when the 49ers and Bears clash on Sunday Night Football.
5 - EDDY PIÑEIRO
During their current five-game win streak, the 49ers haven't been reliant on 'Eddy Dineiro' since their average margin of victory has been 16 points. Barely missing a 64-yard attempt against Indianapolis has been the only blemish on a stellar season.
Presuming this matchup is a shootout with two high-powered offenses, Eddy Piñeiro will need to 'make' the most of his opportunities. His counterpart, Cairo Santos, has missed five field goal attempts this year. A kick could decide it.
4 - DEE WINTERS
Tatum Bethune returning from injury helped tremendously against Indianapolis, but the most indispensable linebacker (aside from Fred Warner) is Dee Winters. Winters logged multiple passes defensed, tackles, and a pick-six against the Colts. His speed is on display as he chases running backs from sideline to sideline, and he has excellent awareness in zone coverage, especially against bigger tight ends.
Chicago's weapons include D'Andre Swift, Kyle Monangai, Cole Kmet, and Colston Loveland. Expect a high tackle and/or momentum-inducing turnover from Winters this week.
3 - COLTON McKIVITZ
According to the analytics, the pass protection has been slightly better than average, but the run blocking and overall play have been superb from right tackle Colton McKivitz. The matchup this week for McKivitz is against defensive end Montez Sweat, who is the anchor for Chicago's D-line.
Sweat has recorded three forced fumbles and nine-and-a-half sacks this season, so anything McKivitz can do to prevent him from disrupting the game will be critical. McKivitz has allowed just three sacks all year.
2. - DEOMMODORE LENOIR
If Caleb Williams goes deep, chances are he's targeting DJ Moore—just as Chicago did to beat Green Bay last week on a walk-off deep post. Deommodore Lenoir will likely be in coverage against Moore to minimize any impact the Bears' number one receiving threat may have.
Lenoir may not accumulate many tackles, but his physicality at the line of scrimmage and at the point of attack, along with his support in the run game, have been very good all season. If Moore is contained, look for Luther Burden to get some targets, especially with Rome Odunze out.
1 - JAUAN JENNINGS
Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle will get the bulk of the attention and targets from Brock Purdy, but Jauan Jennings' number will assuredly be called on slants and key third downs. With his tall frame, steady hands, and propensity for making tough, clutch receptions, Jennings has been on a tear as of late, recording five touchdowns in the past four games.
Chicago's secondary has accounted for 16 of the team's 21 interceptions, indicating they're an aggressive ball-hawking unit. The 49ers are 7-1 when Jennings finds the end zone.