As the Bears head into Week 17, a sole defensive piece looms especially large against one of the NFL’s most complete offenses: linebacker Tremaine Edmunds.
Against a 49ers unit built around balance, versatility, and stress on the middle of the field, Edmunds’ three-down impact becomes central to Chicago’s defensive architecture in Week 17.
Tremaine Edmunds will have the task to slow down 49ers' Christian McCaffrey
On early downs, Edmunds is the Bears’ primary counter to Christian McCaffrey. At 6-foot-4 with elite length and range, Edmunds is uniquely equipped to scrape laterally and close cutback lanes in San Francisco’s wide-zone run game.
McCaffrey thrives on forcing linebackers to overcommit, but Edmunds’ discipline and ability to stay square allow him to play with patience rather than guess. His range shows up when runs spill outside, and his size allows him to finish tackles cleanly in traffic -- an essential trait against a back who runs through arm tackles.
Edmunds’ value, however, extends far beyond first and second down.
San Francisco’s offense is designed to stress linebackers in coverage through layered route concepts, play-action, and yards-after-catch opportunities. He's the Bears’ primary defender in the intermediate middle of the field, tasked with matching tight ends, carrying crossers, and closing throwing windows behind the line of scrimmage. Shrinking space in that facet will allow Chicago to limit opportunities on all downs.
For the Niners, Brock Purdy is at his best when he can operate rhythmically between the numbers, feeding the ball to his playmakers, ticks after the ball is snapped. Edmunds’ closing burst can disrupt those windows, forcing Purdy to hesitate or check the ball down. Whether it’s gaining depth under dig routes or triggering downhill on in-breaking throws, Edmunds serves as the connective tissue between Chicago’s front and secondary.
What separates the former first-round pick in Edmunds, especially this week, is his ability to stay on the field in all situations without compromising structure. He doesn’t have to be subbed out in nickel packages, and he doesn’t become a liability when the 49ers shift into empty or motion-heavy looks -- a staple within San Francisco's pre-snap movement.
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While it won't be easy to counter for 60 minutes, Chicago’s ability to withstand San Francisco’s balance and efficiency will come down to Edmunds setting the tone early, controlling the middle throughout, and finding ways to make plays on the football if Chicago eyes their 12th win of the campaign.