{"id":11877,"date":"2025-12-29T05:06:55","date_gmt":"2025-12-29T05:06:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/purdy-five-tds-49ers-bears\/"},"modified":"2025-12-29T05:06:55","modified_gmt":"2025-12-29T05:06:55","slug":"purdy-five-tds-49ers-bears","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/purdy-five-tds-49ers-bears\/","title":{"rendered":"Purdy\u2019s five TDs lift 49ers to 42-38 win over Bears on Sunday Night Football"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<p><strong>Lead:<\/strong> On Dec. 28, 2025 at Levi&#8217;s Stadium, the San Francisco 49ers edged the Chicago Bears 42-38 in a wild Sunday Night Football showdown. Brock Purdy delivered his second straight game with five total touchdowns while Christian McCaffrey rushed for 140 yards and a score. Chicago struck immediately with a 15-second pick-six but battled back behind Caleb Williams\u2019 330 passing yards and two deep touchdown throws. The result keeps San Francisco in contention for the NFC&#8217;s No. 1 seed and leaves Chicago as the NFC&#8217;s No. 2 seed entering Week 18.<\/p>\n<h2>Key takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Final score: 49ers 42, Bears 38 \u2014 an 80-point game tied for the third-highest scoring matchup of the 2025 season.<\/li>\n<li>Brock Purdy: five total TDs, 303 passing yards, 3 passing TDs, 1 interception returned for a TD; completed 24 of 33 attempts and rushed six times for 28 yards and two TDs.<\/li>\n<li>Christian McCaffrey: 140 rushing yards on 23 carries and one rushing TD, plus 41 receiving yards on four catches; sits at 1,039 rushing and 849 receiving yards for the season.<\/li>\n<li>Caleb Williams: 330 yards, two passing TDs on 25 of 42 passing; first Bears QB with multiple 30+ air-yard TDs in a game since 2013.<\/li>\n<li>Chicago scored on the game&#8217;s opening play \u2014 a T.J. Edwards 34-yard pick-six \u2014 but San Francisco answered with multiple sustained touchdown drives.<\/li>\n<li>Late sequence: Cairo Santos\u2019 29-yard field goal gave Chicago a 38-35 lead with 5:22 remaining; Purdy\u2019s 38-yard touchdown to Jauan Jennings with 2:15 left decided the game.<\/li>\n<li>Standings impact: 49ers (12-4) can clinch NFC No. 1 and the NFC West with a Week 18 home win over the Seattle Seahawks (13-3); Bears (11-5) remain No. 2 entering the final week.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Background<\/h2>\n<p>The 49ers entered Sunday Night Football battling to preserve home-field advantage through the postseason, while the Bears arrived as NFC North champions looking to secure and improve their seeding. San Francisco had relied heavily this season on the tandem of Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle when available; Kittle&#8217;s ankle absence this week was notable given the trio&#8217;s historical impact on the team&#8217;s offensive efficiency. Chicago, under coordinator Ben Johnson, had transformed into a more balanced offense in 2025, climbing into the NFL&#8217;s top tiers in several offensive metrics by marrying an improved running game with vertically aggressive passing concepts.<\/p>\n<p>Both clubs carried injury questions into the matchup. The 49ers listed left tackle Trent Williams as questionable with a hamstring issue and ultimately saw him exit the game; George Kittle was inactive with an ankle injury. The Bears lost wide receiver Rome Odunze (foot) to inactive status but activated cornerback Nashon Wright. Those availability swings fed matchup storylines \u2014 San Francisco\u2019s protection and tight end usage versus Chicago\u2019s deep receiving threats and a revitalized run game featuring D&#8217;Andre Swift.<\/p>\n<h2>Main event<\/h2>\n<p>The game began with immediate drama: on the opening snap Brock Purdy\u2019s pass was deflected and intercepted by a Bears defender, and T.J. Edwards returned it 34 yards for a touchdown just 15 seconds in. Rather than fold, San Francisco marched back and scored repeatedly over the next stretches \u2014 touchdowns came via a 1-yard Jake Tonges pass, a 10-yard Purdy scramble, a 5-yard Christian McCaffrey rush and a 3-yard Purdy read-option keeper.<\/p>\n<p>Caleb Williams responded throughout the first half with several explosive downfield strikes, including a 35-yard touchdown to Luther Burden and a 36-yard free-play touchdown to rookie tight end Colston Loveland \u2014 the latter after the 49ers were flagged offsides. Williams finished with 330 passing yards and two downfield TDs, keeping the Bears in striking distance even as San Francisco piled up early points.<\/p>\n<p>The second half featured a seesawing scoring pattern. D&#8217;Andre Swift supplied momentum-shifting runs, finishing with rushing TDs of 3 and 22 yards to tie or pull Chicago even in the third quarter. Purdy continued to mix passing and scrambling, finding fullback Kyle Juszczyk for a six-yard score and later connecting on the game-winning 38-yard touchdown to Jauan Jennings with 2:15 left.<\/p>\n<p>Chicago mounted one last drive, moving to the 49ers\u2019 2-yard line with four seconds remaining. A pressured Caleb Williams heaved into the end zone; the pass fell incomplete and San Francisco escaped with a four-point victory. The win leaves the 49ers poised to clinch top seeding with a Week 18 home win over Seattle.<\/p>\n<h2>Analysis &#038; implications<\/h2>\n<p>Purdy\u2019s back-to-back five\u2013total touchdown performances place him in rare company historically and highlight how the 49ers\u2019 offense can generate large chunks of points in short order. The combination of Purdy\u2019s mobility and McCaffrey\u2019s versatility forces defenses to defend multiple levels, an advantage San Francisco exploited after the early turnover. Despite the pick-six, Purdy managed game control by engineering several long scoring drives and finishing with two rushing TDs, showing a multi-dimensional attack that matters in close playoff-style games.<\/p>\n<p>For Chicago, the offensive transformation under Ben Johnson is evident: the Bears balanced more under-center looks, two-tight end sets and an uptick in designed run plays that produced explosive outcomes. Caleb Williams\u2019 ability to throw vertically (two 30+ air-yard TDs in this game) demonstrates big-play upside, but the late inability to convert at the goal line under pressure will be a focus for Chicago\u2019s coaching staff in preparation for any postseason matchups.<\/p>\n<p>From a seeding perspective, San Francisco remains on the brink of the NFC\u2019s top seed but must beat the 13-3 Seahawks at Levi\u2019s Stadium in Week 18 to secure it. Home-field advantage matters in the playoffs, particularly for a team built around quarterback mobility and a balanced rushing attack. Conversely, the Bears are locked into the No. 2 seed but will want to refine red-zone execution and pass protection before the postseason.<\/p>\n<h2>Comparison &#038; data<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Player<\/th>\n<th>Yards<\/th>\n<th>TDs<\/th>\n<th>Attempts\/Carries<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Brock Purdy<\/td>\n<td>303 pass \/ 28 rush<\/td>\n<td>3 pass \/ 2 rush<\/td>\n<td>24\/33 passing, 6 carries<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Christian McCaffrey<\/td>\n<td>140 rush \/ 41 rec<\/td>\n<td>1 rush<\/td>\n<td>23 carries, 4 catches<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Caleb Williams<\/td>\n<td>330 pass<\/td>\n<td>2 pass<\/td>\n<td>25\/42 passing<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The table summarizes the primary box-score contributors. San Francisco\u2019s offensive balance (over 140 rushing yards from McCaffrey plus 300+ pass yards from Purdy) contrasts with Chicago\u2019s big-play passing bursts. The 80 combined points illustrate defensive lapses at multiple junctures for both teams, a recurring theme in several of the NFL\u2019s highest-scoring games this season.<\/p>\n<h2>Reactions &#038; quotes<\/h2>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;We kept battling until the end and found a way to finish under pressure,&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Kyle Shanahan (49ers head coach, postgame)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Shanahan credited the offense\u2019s adaptability after the opening turnover and highlighted late-game execution on play design and quarterback mobility as decisive factors.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;We had opportunities and made plays, but that last sequence didn\u2019t go our way,&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Caleb Williams (Bears quarterback, postgame)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Williams acknowledged the effort and big-play moments for Chicago while noting the sting of coming up inches short at the goal line on the final snap.<\/p>\n<h2>\n<aside>\n<details>\n<summary>Explainer \/ Glossary<\/summary>\n<p>Read-option: an offensive play where the quarterback decides post-snap whether to hand the ball to a running back or keep it and run himself, exploiting defensive hesitation. Air-yard TD: a touchdown pass measured by the distance the ball travels in the air from quarterback to receiver, used to highlight deep passing success. Home-field advantage: the benefit a team gains from playing playoff games at its own stadium, which can include crowd noise, travel fatigue for opponents, and familiarity with field conditions. Free play: a situation where a defensive penalty (e.g., offsides) allows the offense to run a play with reduced risk of the play being penalized; often leads to aggressive deep attempts.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/aside>\n<\/h2>\n<h2>Unconfirmed<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Any internal health updates beyond listed inactives (e.g., specifics on Trent Williams\u2019 recovery timeline) were not officially released by team medical staffs at the time of publication.<\/li>\n<li>Postgame locker-room comments attributed here are paraphrases of press-conference tone; verbatim transcripts were not available at the time of this dispatch.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Bottom line<\/h2>\n<p>San Francisco\u2019s 42-38 victory showcased the 49ers\u2019 offensive firepower and Purdy\u2019s ability to respond under duress after an instantaneous turnover. The outcome keeps the 49ers within reach of the NFC\u2019s top seed, but they must beat Seattle in Week 18 to lock it up. For the Bears, the game confirmed both progress under Ben Johnson\u2019s scheme and areas that need tightening \u2014 red-zone execution and closing under pressure \u2014 before postseason play.<\/p>\n<p>As the season closes, this matchup stands out for its offensive fireworks and late-game tension; both teams head into Week 18 with clear adjustments to make and tangible postseason stakes.<\/p>\n<h2>Sources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbssports.com\/nfl\/news\/49ers-vs-bears-live-updates-score-highlights-key-moments-sunday-night-football\/live\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CBS Sports \u2014 live updates and game recap (news outlet)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.49ers.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">San Francisco 49ers \u2014 official team site (official)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagobears.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chicago Bears \u2014 official team site (official)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nfl.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NFL \u2014 game center &#038; statistics (league official)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lead: On Dec. 28, 2025 at Levi&#8217;s Stadium, the San Francisco 49ers edged the Chicago Bears 42-38 in a wild Sunday Night Football showdown. Brock Purdy delivered his second straight game with five total touchdowns while Christian McCaffrey rushed for 140 yards and a score. Chicago struck immediately with a 15-second pick-six but battled back &#8230; <a title=\"Purdy\u2019s five TDs lift 49ers to 42-38 win over Bears on Sunday Night Football\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/purdy-five-tds-49ers-bears\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Purdy\u2019s five TDs lift 49ers to 42-38 win over Bears on Sunday Night Football\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11871,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"Purdy\u2019s five TDs lift 49ers past Bears \u2014 NewsBlog","rank_math_description":"Brock Purdy\u2019s second straight five-TD game propels the 49ers to a 42-38 Sunday Night win over the Bears, keeping San Francisco alive for the NFC\u2019s No.1 seed.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"Purdy,49ers,Bears,Sunday Night Football,McCaffrey","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11877","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11877","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11877"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11877\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11871"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11877"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11877"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11877"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}