Of all the games being played in Week 13, the matchup between the Chicago Bears and the San Francisco 49ers may be the least intriguing. The Bears (3-8) and the 49ers (1-10) have a combined total of four wins at this point in the season—this is the fewest amount of wins featured in any matchup this week. Neither team will be granted a playoff spot with a victory, nor be given a fighting chance to make the postseason. If anything, this game may further help one of these franchises get a top pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
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Regardless of the lack of fanfare in this contest, there are still some things that are worth watching. The biggest storyline is the first start for 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Traded from the New England Patriots earlier this season, Garoppolo will not only get his first start as a Niner, but will get to do so in the state in which he grew up in, and played collegiately at Eastern Illinois University. As poorly as San Francisco has played this year, will Garoppolo’s presence light a spark, giving the 49ers a chance to beat the Bears in Soldier Field in a game that Chicago should win? We’ll have to wait and see.
As for the rest of this game, here are five major things to focus on regarding the Bears.