SANTA CLARA, Calif. — In a game that will surely be remembered as one of the thrillers of the 2025 season, the San Francisco 49ers outlasted the Chicago Bears 42-38 under the lights at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday night.
With the victory, the 49ers (12-4) kept their hopes for the NFC’s No. 1 seed alive, while the NFC North champion Bears (11-5) saw their shot at a first-round bye slip away in a contest that featured 80 combined points and drama down to the final second.
A Historic Shootout
From the opening whistle, the game was a heavyweight fight. Chicago struck first in stunning fashion when linebacker T.J. Edwards intercepted a tipped Brock Purdy pass on the first play from scrimmage, returning it 34 yards for a touchdown.
However, Purdy and the 49ers’ offense refused to blink. The game became a showcase of offensive firepower, with the teams tying the score at 7-7, 14-14, 21-21, 28-28, and eventually 35-35. It marked the first time in NFL history a game was tied at every seven-point interval up to 35.
Purdy and McCaffrey dazzle
Brock Purdy continued his late-season surge, finishing with 303 passing yards and five total touchdowns (three passing, two rushing). It was his second consecutive game with five touchdowns, placing him in elite company alongside NFL legends.
Christian McCaffrey was equally instrumental, carving up the Bears’ defense for 140 rushing yards and a touchdown on 23 carries, while adding 41 yards through the air.
“We knew it was going to be a battle,” Purdy said postgame. “They punched us in the mouth early, but we just kept swinging.”
The Decisive Moments
The Bears took a 38-35 lead with 5:22 remaining in the fourth quarter on a 29-yard Cairo Santos field goal. Needing a touchdown to win, Purdy orchestrated a masterful drive, culminating in a 38-yard touchdown strike to Jauan Jennings with 2:15 left on the clock.
Chicago rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, who threw for 330 yards and two touchdowns in a dazzling performance of his own, marched the Bears down the field one last time. With four seconds remaining and the ball on the 49ers’ 2-yard line, the game came down to a single play.
Williams rolled out and fired a pass intended for Jahdae Walker in the end zone, but 49ers defensive end Bryce Huff generated just enough pressure to force an incompletion as time expired, sealing the win for San Francisco.
Rookie Bright Spots for Chicago
Despite the loss, the Bears saw breakout performances from their rookie class. Wide receiver Luther Burden III hauled in eight catches for 138 yards and a score, while rookie tight end Colston Loveland added a touchdown, proving the Bears’ young offensive core is ready for the postseason stage.
Playoff Implications
The win sets up a massive Week 18 for San Francisco. If the 49ers defeat the Seattle Seahawks next week and get some help, they could still claim the top seed in the NFC, ensuring the road to the Super Bowl goes through Santa Clara.
For the Bears, the loss locks them into a Wild Card weekend game, though they remain a dangerous opponent for anyone in the bracket.
Written by Carey Iona (The Flyin Hawaiian)
