The Chicago Bears are playoff bound, but there is more work to do with two games left in the 2025 season. Their next test is a team they could wind up facing in the postseason in just a few weeks as the Bears head to the West Coast to face the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Night Football.
This will be the Bears’ first game since learning they were headed to the postseason. The Bears (11-4) are coming off their most thrilling victory of the season to date when they stunned the Green Bay Packers in overtime to win 22-16 on Saturday night. A day later, they officially made the playoffs thanks to a Detroit Lions loss. But they have eyes on capturing the NFC North division crown, and they can do so with a win on Sunday against a formidable opponent.
The 49ers (11-4) are battling through a difficult NFC West that will send three teams to the playoffs, all while having to overcome multiple key injuries and absences. San Francisco can win the division themselves by winning their final two games. They have already won five in a row and are coming off one of their best victories of the year when they dismantled the Indianapolis Colts 48-27 on Monday Night Football.
Though they’re missing some big stars at key positions, the 49ers have shown they can compete with anyone. Here are five 49ers players to watch on Sunday:
QB Brock Purdy
Brock Purdy has had an up-and-down season while battling a turf toe injury that kept him out of eight games for the 49ers. Since returning in Week 11, Purdy has had strong games while struggling in others, but he’s coming off his best performance of the season. Last week, he picked apart the Colts defense, throwing for 295 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception on Monday Night Football. Can he have another strong prime-time showing?
While Purdy has been a good quarterback for the 49ers over the last few seasons, he tends to have uneven prime-time outings. Earlier this year, he struggled mightily against the Carolina Panthers on Monday Night Football and had poor games in 2023 and 2024 under the lights on multiple occasions. With tight end George Kittle possibly out with an ankle injury, Purdy won’t have as many options to work with in the passing game. We’ll see if he can keep the ball away from an opportunistic Bears defense.
RB Christian McCaffrey
The concerns regarding Christian McCaffrey’s downfall have been wiped away this season. The star running back has bounced back nicely from an injury-riddled 2024 season and is back to being one of the most dangerous skill players in the conference. The 49ers offense runs through McCaffrey, as he has accounted for 1,888 yards from scrimmage, on pace for the second-most of his career.
McCaffrey is the 49ers’ leading rusher and receiver and is a big reason for why they have remained competitive despite the numerous injuries that have plagued them. The perennial Pro Bowl back is coming off a game where he rushed for 117 yards and caught two receiving touchdowns, proving he can still do it all. The Bears will have their hands full with McCaffrey and will need to account for him on every play that he’s on the field. Even if Kittle is healthy, McCaffrey is San Francisco’s most dangerous weapon.
WR Jauan Jennings
Jauan Jennings may not be the best receiver in the NFL, but he sure is good at making plays in the clutch. The fifth-year wide receiver has essentially become their WR1 with Brandon Aiyuk away from the team and Ricky Pearsall still coming into his own. Jennings has 49 receptions for 599 yards and a team-leading eight touchdowns in 13 games.
While all eyes will be on McCaffrey or Kittle if he’s available, Jennings is the threat the Bears need to be most worried about on key third downs. He’s been moving the chains his entire career, and 2025 has been no different. The Bears’ defense is good at getting opposing offenses into those situations, but someone like Jennings can keep things moving.
RT Colton McKivitz
When you think of the 49ers offensive line, the first name that usually pops up first is Trent Williams—and for good reason. He’s been one of the best offensive tackles in the game for 15 years and shows little signs of slowing down. But don’t discount right tackle Colton McKivitz, who has stabilized the other side of the line with his strong play this season.
McKivitz has been the starting right tackle for the 49ers over the last three years but is playing his best football in 2025. The sixth-year veteran has started all 15 games this season and has allowed five sacks, 28 pressures, eight hits, and five penalties. McKivitz is solid in pass protection but excels in run blocking. Bears defensive end Montez Sweat will have his hands full while battling him on the right side for much of the game.
DB Deommodore Lenoir
The 49ers defense has seen its fair share of injuries and ineffectiveness this season. Defensive end Nick Bosa and linebacker Fred Warner were lost for the regular season, and their pass rush has been virtually nonexistent as they are dead last in sacks (18) through 15 games. If they’re hoping to make plays, it may need to come from the secondary with players like Deommodore Lenoir.
The boom-or-bust cornerback has had a rocky season up to this point. Lenoir has two interceptions and five pass breakups to go along with 54 total tackles. He has allowed five touchdowns and has an opposing passer rating of 105.1, however. Lenoir also likes to mix it up with opposing players and has a penchant for drawing penalties (nine) this season. Considering this game will be officiated by Alex Moore’s crew, who has called the most penalties in the NFL, Lenoir could help the Bears with key flags to keep drives alive.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 5 49ers players to watch vs. Bears
