Sunday Night Shootout: 49ers Outlast Bears 42-38 in Epic SNF Battle
The San Francisco 49ers emerged victorious in one of the highest-scoring games of the season, defeating the Chicago Bears 42–38. On a night where Christian McCaffrey set a new franchise milestone and Brock Purdy accounted for five total touchdowns, the defense stood tall on the goal line as time expired to secure the home win.
Week 17 — December 28, 2025
Santa Clara, CA • Levi's Stadium
Final Score: San Francisco 49ers 42, Chicago Bears 38
Attendance: 71,642
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bears | 14 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 38 |
| 49ers | 14 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 42 |
|
| Instant Classic: The 49ers and Bears combined for 936 total yards in a back-and-forth primetime thriller. |
Game Summary
In a game that was tied five separate times (at 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35), the 49ers showed championship mettle. Despite a deflected pick-six on the first play from scrimmage, Brock Purdy remained unfazed, answering with three passing touchdowns and two rushing scores. Christian McCaffrey was spectacular, surpassing 2,000 yards from scrimmage on the season and setting a new franchise record for receptions by a 49ers running back. The game came down to the final play, with the Bears at the San Francisco 2-yard line, but the defense forced an incompletion as time expired to seal the 42–38 victory.
Key Player Performances
- Christian McCaffrey: 23 carries, 140 yards, 1 TD; 6 catches, 41 yards — 181 total scrimmage yards
- Brock Purdy: 24/33, 303 yards, 3 passing TDs, 2 rushing TDs — Accounted for 5 total scores
- Jake Tonges: 7 catches, 60 yards, 1 TD — Stepped up as a primary target over the middle
- Ricky Pearsall: 5 catches, 85 yards — Led the team in receiving yards in his return to full health
- Jauan Jennings: 38-yard game-winning touchdown catch with 2:15 remaining
- Tatum Bethune: 11 tackles — Anchored the defense during the final goal-line stand
Turnover Battle
While the Niners trailed early due to a turnover, they didn't let the momentum shift for long.
- Early Adversity: A deflected pass on the opening drive was returned for a Chicago TD, but the offense responded with four straight touchdown drives.
- The Final Stand: San Francisco’s defense forced four straight incompletions in the red zone in the final 20 seconds to win.
Looking Ahead & Injury Update
The 49ers head into the regular-season finale with a chance at the NFC's #1 seed.
- NFC West Race: With this win, San Francisco keeps their hopes alive for a division title and a first-round bye.
- Yetur Gross-Matos: Provided the game-sealing pressure on the final play, hitting Caleb Williams as he threw.
- Healthy Outlook: Ricky Pearsall and Christian McCaffrey look to be in peak form heading into January.
LABELS
Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, Tonges, Pearsall, Jennings, Bethune, Gross-Matos, 49ers, bears, Santa Clara, week17, highlight, recap, win, TD, nfc west, home game, snf
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