Caleb Williams delivered an impressive performance Sunday night, throwing for 330 yards and leading the Bears on five scoring drives. However, despite his efforts, Chicago fell short against the San Francisco 49ers, losing the game 42-38. This defeat knocked them out of the running for the NFC’s top seed, with many players citing defensive mistakes as the main reason for the loss.
Bears safety Jaquan Brisker didn’t hold back. “We let the offense down,” he said. He felt that Williams had done enough to secure a victory, but the defense failed to support the effort. The game was a thrilling match-up, ending with a combined total of 936 yards and 11 touchdowns—tying for the highest in a single game this season.
San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy also had a standout night, throwing for five touchdowns and leading an offense that was hard to stop. Coach Ben Johnson commented on Purdy’s skill, highlighting how he thrived when given time to throw. “He’s a dangerous player,” Johnson said. “We didn’t affect him enough.”
As the Bears surged ahead with a 38-35 lead late in the game, the 49ers didn’t back down. Purdy connected with Jauan Jennings for a 38-yard touchdown, putting San Francisco back on top. With two minutes left, the Bears had a chance to reclaim the lead, starting from their own 35-yard line.
Interestingly, the Bears have had a successful run this season, coming back in six games after trailing in the final two minutes—more than any NFL team since 1970. However, in the final seconds against the 49ers, they couldn’t convert. On the 2-yard line, Williams scrambled but couldn’t find his target, leading to frustration over the missed opportunity.
Reflecting on the game, Williams said, “I can’t dirt the ball in that situation.” He acknowledged he should have made a better throw. Johnson took responsibility for not getting the playcall to him quickly enough, saying, “It’s on me.”
Despite the loss, Williams remains optimistic. He noted that the team showed its resilience and is excited about potential playoff matchups. “I think we’ve proven who we are,” he said. “We’ll fight.”
Williams had his best game of the season, completing 25 of 42 passes with two touchdowns and a 100.3 passer rating. He excelled on deep passes, completing all four throws of at least 20 yards, including both touchdowns. He’s now leading the league with 10 passing touchdowns on long throws this season and is closing in on a personal goal of 4,000 passing yards. He needs just 270 yards in the upcoming game against the Detroit Lions to achieve this milestone.
As the playoffs approach, fans are keeping an eye on whether the Bears can regain their edge and turn recent performances into wins. With both offense and defense needing to step up, the coming weeks will be crucial for Chicago’s postseason hopes.
