BREAKING: 49ers outlast Bears 42-38 in a primetime classic, seize control of NFC race
The final play was chaos. The Bears, at the 2 yard line with the season’s top seed in reach, broke the huddle, looked unsure, and never reset. The route spacing was off, the timing was late, and the ball skipped incomplete as the clock hit zero. The 49ers survived 42-38, a wild end to a wild night, and moved to 12-4 with home field still in their hands.
A first quarter for the ages
Brock Purdy threw a pick six on his first pass. Then he turned the game on its head. He answered with a dart to the back pylon for a touchdown, then powered in on a keeper. All of that happened before the first quarter ended. I have not seen a quarterback ride that kind of wave and stay that calm.
Purdy finished with five total touchdowns and 303 passing yards. The ball came out on time, even when the pocket leaked. He hit outbreaking throws with touch, used his legs in the red zone, and kept drives alive with pocket slides. He took a gut punch, then won the fight.
Brock Purdy became the first quarterback in NFL history to record a pick six, a passing touchdown, and a rushing touchdown in the first quarter.
This was not a one man show. Christian McCaffrey’s patience pressed the edges of the Bears front. Jauan Jennings’ late strike over the top flipped the script again, the exact kind of clutch shot contending teams need in December.
Caleb Williams arrives in primetime
Chicago’s rookie stood tall. Caleb Williams threw for 330 yards and two touchdowns, and he looked like the grown up in the room for long stretches. He worked through progressions, kept his eyes up on the move, and ripped a few throws into tight windows. He is closing in on a 4,000 yard season, a mark that would be a first for this franchise.
His connection with the young receivers was real. Luther Burden III turned slants into sprints and posted his best night as a pro. He left after the final snap with a quad issue, but early word around the team is that it is not believed to be serious. Williams gave Chicago every chance, even after the offense bogged down in the third quarter.
The final sequence that decided everything
This game will be remembered for what happened from two yards out. No timeouts. Loud crowd. Heavy legs. The Bears lined up fast, then the picture got fuzzy. The motion did not come. The split was tight. The hot answer, likely a quick in breaker, did not show up. Caleb tried to fire it anyway. Incomplete. Season’s top seed, gone in a blink.
Head coach Ben Johnson took the heat afterward. That tracks with what I saw. The call asked for one more layer of control, a quick reset, or a safer option into the flat. In January, those details separate by inches.
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Turning points you felt
- Purdy’s first drive mistake, and his immediate answer on the next series.
- A third and long scramble by Purdy that set up points and settled the sideline.
- Jennings’ late deep touchdown that put San Francisco back in front.
- A Bears red zone series where they kicked instead of finishing, points left behind.
- The last snap, a misread and miscommunication that will live in the film room.
What this means for the NFC race
San Francisco now sits at 12-4. Beat Seattle next week, and the road to the Super Bowl runs through their house. Their defense bent but produced just enough pressure late. The offense, when clean, looks like a storm front. The path is clear, handle Week 18 and rest.
Chicago falls to 11-5, still a division champion, still dangerous, but the top seed likely gone. The lesson is sharp. Finish in the red zone. Manage endgame mechanics. Trust the rookie quarterback, but give him a clean plan with a fast answer when the clock is dying. This group has grown all year, and it still has a January ceiling if it cleans the details.
Week 18 sets the bracket. The 49ers can lock home field with a win. The Bears can still improve position, but need help and a clean close.
This was a quarterback night. Purdy showed resilience and range, from disaster to control, and he did it under the fiercest lights. Williams showed why Chicago hit the reset button last spring, a rookie with command and teeth. The play that ended it will sting in the Bears locker room, but the bigger truth is clear. Both teams can win in January. The 49ers just seized the inside lane, and they earned it snap by snap. 🔥
January will remember this one. The score says shootout. The tape says something tougher. In the smallest spaces, with the biggest stakes, San Francisco made the last play, and Chicago did not.
