A 38-13 victory over the woeful Chicago Bears ended the 49ers’ three-game losing streak, but now an extended win streak must follow for a legitimate playoff push.
The 49ers (6-7) merely avoided losing ground in the congested NFC West race. They stayed two games behind first-place Seattle (8-5) and earned a shot Thursday night to pull even in second place with a win over the visiting Los Angeles Rams (7-6). The Cardinals (6-7) lost at home to the Seahawks while the Rams were en route to a home win against the Buffalo Bills.
Brock Purdy rebounded exceptionally from his 94-yard outing in the Buffalo snow. He passed for 325 yards and completed 20-of-25 passes with two touchdowns and no turnovers, including 258 yards in the first half as the 49ers built a 24-0 lead.
Purdy’s open-field muse was George Kittle, who racked up 151 yards on six catches, after his only catch last week came on the 49ers’ opening snap in Buffalo.
Jauan Jennings caught both of Purdy’s touchdown passes, and rookie Isaac Guerendo ran for two touchdowns in his staring debut in place of injured rushers Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason.
San Francisco 49ers’ Fred Warner (54) leaves the field following their 38-13 win over the Chicago Bears at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco 49ers’ Jauan Jennings (15) dives into the end zone for a touchdown in front of Chicago Bears’ Jonathan Owens (36) in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco 49ers’ George Kittle (85) celebrates his first down catch against the Chicago Bears in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco 49ers’ Maliek Collins (99) sacks Chicago Bears starting quarterback Caleb Williams (18) in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan keeps an eye on a punt return against the Chicago Bears in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco 49ers’ George Kittle (85) is tackled after a catch by Chicago Bears’ Jonathan Owens (36) in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco 49ers’ Jauan Jennings (15) celebrates his touchdown against the Chicago Bears in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco 49ers’ Ricky Pearsall (14) can’t make a catch against Chicago Bears’ Jonathan Owens (36) in the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) Chicago Bears’ Rome Odunze (15) makes a catch for a touchdown against San Francisco 49ers’ Charvarius Ward (7) in the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco 49ers’ Fred Warner (54) hugs Chicago Bears starting quarterback Caleb Williams (18) following the 49ers 38-13 win at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco 49ers’ Patrick Taylor Jr. (32) scores a touchdown against the Chicago Bears in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Brock Purdy (13) high-fives San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brandon Allen (17) after Purdy had to leave the game for one play after being injured during their game against the Chicago Bears in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco 49ers’ George Kittle (85) runs after a catch against Chicago Bears’ Kevin Byard III (31) in the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco 49ers’ Patrick Taylor Jr. (32) celebrates his first down run against the Chicago Bears in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News GroupSan Francisco 49ers’ Jauan Jennings (15) can’t make a catch against Chicago Bears’ Jaylon Johnson (1) in the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco 49ers’ Yetur Gross-Matos (94) tackles Chicago Bears starting quarterback Caleb Williams (18) in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Brock Purdy (13) throws against the Chicago Bears in the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco 49ers’ George Kittle (85) leaves the field following their 38-13 win over the Chicago Bears at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
