The San Francisco 49ers needed every ounce of resilience, and every Brock Purdy touchdown, to escape Levi’s Stadium with a 42–38 win over the Chicago Bears in one of the most chaotic games of their season.
Facing a Chicago defense that entered Week 18 leading the NFL with 32 takeaways, San Francisco learned immediately how dangerous the Bears can be. On the first play from scrimmage, Purdy was picked off by linebacker T.J. Edwards, who returned it for a touchdown to give Chicago a stunning early lead.
Things worsened moments later when Trent Williams exited to the medical tent on that opening drive, inevitably leaving the game for good with a hamstring injury.
Early Chaos, Quick Answers
After the pick six, Purdy settled down quickly. On the 49ers’ second drive, he connected with backup tight end Jake Tonges for a touchdown, with George Kittle sidelined due to an ankle injury, next man up is now in effect on the Niners offense as well.
The first quarter continued to spiral into NFL history. Purdy threw a touchdown pass, ran for a touchdown, and threw an interception. Having all three happen in the same quarter is something that had never happened before in league history.
Thomas Morstead recorded his first punt since November, pinning Chicago deep with 7:44 remaining in the opening quarter.
Meanwhile, Christian McCaffrey began to take control. He ripped off his longest run of the season for 43 yards, then added a rushing touchdown early in the second quarter, pushing his rushing total near 100 yards before halftime.
Chicago refused to go away. Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams threw a deep touchdown pass just before the two-minute warning of the first half to tie the game, but Purdy responded again, this time on a quarterback keeper for his second rushing touchdown of the night.
A late defensive stop preserved momentum, sending San Francisco into halftime with a 28–21 lead. The 49ers improved to 11–0 this season when leading at halftime.
Momentum Swings After the Break
The Bears wasted no time erasing that lead. On the first drive of the third quarter, D’Andre Swift punched in a rushing touchdown to tie the game at 28.
Purdy answered again, this time with one of the plays of the game. On a broken play, he scrambled, escaped pressure, and fired a touchdown pass to Kyle Juszczyk, restoring a 35–28 San Francisco lead.
The third quarter wasn’t without cost. The 49ers’ defense struggled with penalties, repeatedly extending Chicago drives, and cornerback Upton Stout exited with an injury, forcing further depth players into action.
Fourth-Quarter Madness
Chicago opened the fourth quarter with yet another Swift rushing touchdown, tying the game at 35–35. Later, a 29-yard field goal gave the Bears their first lead since it was 7–0, threatening another late comeback. Chicago had already rallied six times in the fourth quarter this season.
It wouldn’t become seven.
With just over two minutes remaining, Purdy delivered once more, finding Jauan Jennings for a go-ahead touchdown to make it 42–38. It marked the second straight game in which Purdy threw five total touchdowns, continuing the best stretch of his career.
Chicago still had life. A defensive holding penalty on Chase Lucas, filling in for the injured Stout, erased what would have been a crucial third-down stop. The Bears drove inside the red zone, setting up a dramatic finish.
But on the final play of the game, first and goal from the four yard line, Chicago failed to convert.
Final Takeaway
Despite injuries, penalties, and constant momentum swings, the 49ers survived behind Brock Purdy’s five-touchdown night and McCaffrey’s explosive rushing performance, holding off the NFL’s most opportunistic defense.
It wasn’t clean on defense and it wasn’t calm on offense. But it was a win and San Francisco walked away with a 42–38 victory in one of the most unforgettable games of the season. Next week, they will be playing for the number one seed in the NFC against NFC West rival, the Seattle Seahawks.