3:48 - It looks like the turf may be an issue. Large chunks have already begun to come up.
3:51 - Per Adam Schefter, Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall will be active tonight. He was injured last week in their loss to Buffalo.
3:54 - Per Michael Wright, the Bears reporter for ESPN, Alshon Jeffery will also be playing. There was a lot of speculation throughout the week that both Marshall and Jeffery would be out. Both will play.
4:22 - The 49ers inactives: QB Josh Johnson, WR Quinton Patton, WR Brandon Lloyd, CB Tramaine Brock, C Marcus Martin, T Anthony Davis, DT Demarcus Dobbs.
4:24 - In my 5 Burning Questions piece earlier this week I mentioned the possibility of Vic Fangio talking Jim Harbaugh into suiting up 6 defensive linemen. It looks as though Vic is very persuasive.
4:26 - Really like the fact that despite public pressure the 49ers have stuck with their stance on due process regarding Ray McDonald and have made him active tonight.
4:58 - It looks like Alex Boone will be starting at right guard tonight.
5:26 - The 49ers won the toss and deferred. They will start on defense.
5:31 - Holding penalty against Chicago on the opening kickoff return. They will be backed up inside their own 10 to start the game.
5:32 - Matt Forte dropped by Ian Williams for a loss of one on first down.
5:34 - Bears go 3 and out.
5:35 - Aaron Lynch blocks the punt and the 49ers are in business deep in Chicago territory.
5:44 - The Bears have backups in at center and left guard. They are double teaming Justin Smith. Ray McDonald needs to win his matchup tonight.
5:46 - Martellus Bennett is stopped far short of a first down on third down. 49ers defense looks strong to start off.
5:49 - Kaepernick hits Boldin for a big gain of 21 yards.
5:51 - Kaepernick has his pass intercepted by Charles Tillman. Bears ball. This one will be reviewed and may come back.
5:55 - The interception is overturned, and the 49ers will keep the ball. 3rd and 10.
5:57 - Kaepernick scrambles for a first down, but it is wiped out by a holding penalty on Joe Staley.
6:01 - After back to back drops by McDonald and Boldin, Kaepernick hits Vernon Davis for 14 yards and a first down.
6:02 - Love the fly sweep stuff. After a fack handoff to Bruce Ellington, Gore picks up 7.
6:04 - Kaepernick hits Davis for another first down with an 18 yard completion.
6:06 - Facing a 3rd and 10 deep in Bears territory, Kaepernick calls timeout.
6:08 - Kaepernick complete to Carlos Hyde for a short gain. Sure looked like he had Crabtree on that one.
6:09 - Phil Dawson puts the 49ers up 10-0.
6:18 - The 49ers defense has shut Matt Forte down so far. First quarter comes to a close with the 49ers leading 10-0.
6:21 - Perrish Cox with a beautiful pass breakup on a throw to Brandon Marshall.
6:22 - Cutler hits Bennett for 22 yards on 3rd and 10. Jim Harbaugh will challenge the call.
6:26 - The call is overturned. 4th down for the Bears.
6:27 - The punt goes through the endzone and the 49ers will take over at their own 20.
6:29 - After two Frank Gore runs gain 9 yards, the 49ers give the ball to Bruce Miller on 3rd down and he is stuffed for no gain.
6:35 - On 3rd down, Aaron Lynch gets good pressure to force Jay Cutler right into Justin Smith for a sack. Getting Lynch in the 5th round of the draft was a steal.
6:37 - 49ers catch a break as Bruce Ellington muffs the punt, but he is able to cover it at midfield.
6:39 - Kaepernick is intercepted on first down. Stared down Boldin the whole way.
6:41 - Cutler is forced to scramble on 3rd and 11. Patrick Willis drops him after a gain of 2.
6:42 - Three penalties on the Bears during the punt. The 49ers will take the holding and force the Bears to re-kick.
6:44 - Now a holding penalty by Chris Borland on the return. This has been a flag-fest so far.
6:48 - Gore goes 54 yards for a touchdown, but the refs call holding on Boldin. Gain of 9.
6:50 - Kaepernick fumbles the ball on a read-option run. Bears recover. Back to back possessions end on Kaepernick turnovers.
6:54 - 49ers force another 3 and out. They should get good field position here.
6:57 - Nice catch by Carrier for a gain of 23 down the middle.
6:58 - Frank Gore goes for a 7 yard touchdown run on a read-option. 49ers go up 17-0.
7:02 - It sure looks like Vic Fangio has decided Aaron Lynch gives him more than Ahmad Brooks.
7:10 - The 49ers defense has completely made Matt Forte a non-factor so far. Penalties have killed them on this drive.
7:12 - Brandon Marshall with a spectacular catch over Jimmie Ward for a touchdown. Wow.
7:18 - A very sloppy first half comes to a close with the 49ers leading 17-7.
7:26 - Matt Forte finishes the first half with a total of 8 yards on 9 touches.
7:28 - The 49ers ran 31 plays in the first half. 13 of those plays have come with 3 or more wide receivers on the field. That's a big change from a year ago.
7:31 - There was a lot of talk in the Bay Area about Carlos Hyde possibly being a better running back right now than Frank Gore. Gore has 50 yards on 6 carries, and 1 reception for 4 yards. He could have 45 more had his 54 yard touchdown run not been called back due to a questionable holding call on Anquan Boldin. Hyde has 0 yards on 1 carry and 5 yards on 1 reception.
7:38 - Kaepernick for a gain of 12 and a first down on a read-option run.
7:41 - Kaepernick to Stevie Johnson for 21 yards on 3rd and 10. Too many weapons.42
7:42 - Gore does a nice job to gain 2 yards as the Bears clog up the middle. Then Hyde is shut down.
7:45 - On 3rd and 6, Frank Gore is held to a gain of 1. Phil Dawson comes on to hit a 24 yard field goal to put the 49ers up 20-7. That drive took almost 9 minutes off the clock.
7:51 - The Bears best offense tonight has been the 49ers defense.
7:54 - Another 3rd down conversion for the Bears by way of a 49ers defensive penalty.
8:02 - The 3rd quarter comes to a close with the 49ers leading 20-7. There have been 23 total accepted penalties in this game.
8:05 - Cutler hits Brandon Marshall for a touchdown to pull the Bears within 6 at 20-14.
8:07 - With 2 turnovers and 13 penalties the 49ers have let the Bears hang around. Not good.
8:11 - Kaepernick's first down pass is intercepted and the Bears are in position to take the lead.
8:13 - Cutler to Bennett for a touchdown. Bears lead 21-20.
8:15 - This is what happens when you let a bad team hang around by being sloppy.
8:24 - The Bears have all of the momentum. Big completion to Alshon Jeffery puts them inside the 49ers 10.
8:26 - Another touchdown reception for Brandon Marshall, and the Bears go up 28-20
8:34 - 49ers on a drive, but don't seem to be moving with a sense of urgency down by 8.
8:36 - Sloppy. The 49ers take too much time getting in and out of the huddle and are forced to take a timeout down 8 with only 2:07 remaining. They don't deserve to win this game.
8:38 - Kaepernick hits Crabtree to convert a 4th and 6. 2 minute warning.
8:41 - Completion to Carrier for a first down followed by a loss of 2 by Kaepernick on a read-option.
8:44 - Incomplete.
8:46 - Bears win. The Arizona Cardinals will sit alone atop the NFC West.
8:48 - The 49ers lose despite out-gaining the Bears 361-216.
8:50 - This loss is simple to explain. Teams don't win with a -4 turnover margin and 16 penalties. 6 of the Bears 19 first downs came as the result of 49ers penalties.
