5 matchups that will decide Chicago Bears vs 49ers

3. 49ers run game vs Bears run defense

You could argue that Matt Eberflus realized that he wanted a Kyle Shanahan-type outside zone rushing attack after he saw it firsthand when his Colts went to San Francisco. The Colts won, but the run defense was torn up in the process.

The team consistently let runs break outside of the tackles, and the defensive coordinator seemed to have no solution in sight. While the pass rush crew of Robert Quinn, Trevis Gipson, and Al-Quadin Muhammad is just that, a pass rush crew, they lack run defense.

The run defense issues have followed Robert Quinn around his entire career, and Muhammad is known as a speed rusher who often just plays on passing downs. That leaves Trevis Gipson, who is changing schemes, and was better as a pass rusher than setting the edge last season.

We will find out what Eberflus learned, and we will find out who amongst the edge rushers is going to step up and set the edge in this game. If they do not get buy-in on run defense from their pass rush group, then they are going to get smoked in this game, and Elijah Mitchell may hit 100 by halftime.

If the 49ers cannot get outside of the tackles on runs, then it may be a low-scoring game for their offense.