The Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers will meet in a pivotal Week 17 matchup as both teams fight for not just their divisional races but the chance to earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs.
Both Chicago and San Francisco will need help in their pursuit for the top seed in the NFC, but the Bears could help their chances in a big way by knocking off the 49ers on Sunday Night Football. Having prominent players on both sides of the ball for both teams, there will be no shortage of star players, or coaches, for that matter, in this prime-time matchup.
Many football voices in the media have labeled this game as a potential statement game for the Bears if they pull off the victory on the road in prime time against a consistent NFC contender, and that means there will be plenty of key matchups to watch for.
Dennis Allen vs. Christian McCaffrey
One of the most elite and dynamic running backs in the NFL, Christian McCaffrey is a matchup nightmare for every level of an opponent’s defense. Instead of specifically targeting an area of Chicago’s defense to try to contain McCaffrey, this matchup will ultimately come down to defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. While the Bears currently give up 131 yards per game on the ground, they had been able to contain Derrick Henry of the Ravens (71 yards, 2 TDs), and Saquon Barkley of the Eagles (56 yards) earlier this season. McCaffrey is in the same elite company of Henry and Barkley but presents even more danger as a dual-threat pass-catcher out of the backfield. Allen will have his hands full, but he’s proven to have good game plans against marquee superstars.
George Kittle vs. Bears secondary
This matchup could change by kickoff, as George Kittle is questionable with a low ankle sprain he suffered in the team’s Monday Night Football win last week. If Kittle does step on the field, he could be a real matchup nightmare for the Bears defense, not just for his own production but for what he could open up on the field for McCaffrey and top wide receiver Jauan Jennings. The injury designation for Kittle will have a direct impact on how Chicago’s secondary will be assigned to coverage, especially if he misses the game and they can shift all of the focus to Jennings, who has been the top receiver for the 49ers.
Caleb Williams vs. 49ers pass rush
San Francisco has the least amount of sacks in the NFL this season with just 18 sacks through 15 games. While one of Williams’ strengths has been his ability to create plays on the run and out of the pocket, he has an opportunity to show real growth to his game if he can operate with reasonable time inside the pocket. After leading his team to a comeback last week that was mostly due to his arm talent, Williams has momentum and a favorable matchup in his favor on Sunday night.
DJ Moore/Luther Burden vs. 49ers secondary
The 49ers pass defense allows 230 yards per game, and they had a rough night against 44-year old Philip Rivers last week in their win over the Colts. The big detail for the Bears’ top two receivers in this game is their ability to play all over the field and make plays in a plethora of ways whether it’s as a receiver or coming out of the backfield. San Francisco was able to handle Indianapolis with ease, defeating them 48-27, but their secondary allowed Rivers to throw for 277 yards and two touchdowns in just his second start after a five-year absence in the league. Burden’s return should also open up several favorable matchups for DJ Moore, who has played well without Rome Odunze or Burden on the field. But now Burden’s presence should take away some attention of the defense.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears vs. 49ers: Key matchups to watch on Sunday Night Football
