The Chicago Bears are heading west for a Week 17 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, and the timing alone tells you everything. Late December on primetime is a spot the 2025 Bears were built for, and the whole football world will be watching. In a road environment against a team playing efficient, controlled football, the Bears must keep the playoff implications in mind.
Chicago enters this one off a divisional win that required late-game composure more than dominance. The Bears did not overwhelm Green Bay, but rather survived the efficiency battle, protected the football, and stayed balanced for long enough for the game to tilt their way. This is important because the 49ers often don't leave windows open and aren't likely to cover up mistakes.
A Different Kind of Test
The Bears' rushing attack has been a season-long strength, but that's going to be a brutal battle against the 49ers. Ben Johnson will need to be strategic in his play call against the San Francisco defense, a unit that allows a season average of 102.9 yards per game on the ground. Trying to out-muscle them is a losing idea.
That doesn't necessarily mean the run game is out of the picture; it merely means the role changes. Against the 49ers, the Bears' rush needs to function as a stabilizer, not as a battering ram. Early down runs still matter if it keeps the linebackers in place. Quarterback Caleb Williams will need to be on top of his game if he intends to control the flow of this game.
This matchup ultimately comes down to discipline and tolerance for discomfort. San Francisco is built to punish impatience, not to overwhelm opponents snap by snap. If the Bears are going to stay competitive in this environment, they'll have to accept a version of the game that is slower, tighter, and less forgiving. That means valuing possessions, resisting the urge to chase explosive plays, and trusting the steady execution can keep the margin thin deep into the game.
Win or lose, this is the type of stage Chicago has been working toward. Amid endless talks of fact or fiction, the Bears have shown up and revealed a team that's ready to go and win big games. This is a road test in December for the Bears to show who they really are.
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With Ben Johnson at the helm, Bears fans should consider themselves lucky that this difficult matchup is only coming once this year.