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49ers–Bears on Sunday Night Poises NFC No. 1 Race for a Final-Week Twist

A San Francisco win would set up a Week 18 shootout with Seattle for the top seed.

Overview

  • Both teams enter at 11-4 for Sunday Night Football at Levi’s Stadium, with betting markets listing the 49ers as a narrow home favorite at roughly three points.
  • San Francisco’s offense has surged since Brock Purdy’s return, with reporting citing 34.4 points per game over the past five contests and 85 points across the last two.
  • Chicago counters with an opportunistic defense credited with a league-leading 21 takeaways, putting a premium on ball security for Purdy and the 49ers.
  • External skepticism reflects injuries and defensive concerns for San Francisco, including inexperience and a lagging pass rush, which the team has embraced as motivational fuel.
  • Seeding remains volatile for both sides, with outcomes across the final two weeks potentially moving either club anywhere from the top seed to the seventh, a race heightened by the Super Bowl’s location at the 49ers’ home stadium.