SF at 5-7 is favored by 3.5 pts at home.  They are playing after a SUN Night game in the snow in BUF, while the Bears are coming off their mini bye at Thanksgiving. SF has lost 3 straight and have been outscored 73-20 in their last two games. McCaffrey looks to be out for the year, so it will be interesting to see how they respond. 

With the Bears, it will all come down to how the team responds to Brown as the HC. The talent is there as they have been in every game this year outside of the ARZ game. Otherwise, they had a chance to win any one of the other 7 losses. They could've easily beat 3 of the top 10 teams in the league over the past 3 weeks. 

EPA/PLAY:

CHI OFF is 23rd, DEF is 10th (OFF has been top 10 since Brown took over as OC)

SF OFF is 10th, DEF is 15th

If the Bears offense plays like a top 10 unit, and the defense can play in the top 15, the Bears should have the edge in this game. The recent odds also suggest that the Bears as slight favorites. 

I am going with Bears 27-20

With all the pent up emotion, I think the Bears could well win this one.

And that brings us to head coach. A good HC like Dan Campbell makes the team feel the way we do right now every week, even if you're 12-1.

3 hours ago, BearFan PHX said:

With all the pent up emotion, I think the Bears could well win this one.

And that brings us to head coach. A good HC like Dan Campbell makes the team feel the way we do right now every week, even if you're 12-1.

Technically this would be the easiest defense they have faced since Brown took over. Allen has looked much better/healthier, and most of the players should be well rested after the mini bye. While SF comes back frozen from Buffalo. That extreme weather change is tough. 

49'ers have been hit hard with injuries all year. They'll be down to their 3rd string RB now. The opportunity is there for the Bears to win this game. It'll be interesting to see if we get a new coach bounce.

13 minutes ago, Bears4Ever_34 said:

49'ers have been hit hard with injuries all year. They'll be down to their 3rd string RB now. The opportunity is there for the Bears to win this game. It'll be interesting to see if we get a new coach bounce.

This game is actually going to be exciting because SF needs a win just as bad as the Bears. They are reeling too. They still have Kittle and Deebo, and Jennings, so the offense will be fine. It will be interesting to see if Bosa plays because if not, that DL is suspect. 

SF has their back to the wall,      it wont be easy, but with their injuries, we will be in the game at the end. 

1 hour ago, Stinger226 said:

we will be in the game at the end. 

We "should" be. If ifs and buts were candy and nuts. . . .

13 hours ago, ChileBear said:

We "should" be. If ifs and buts were candy and nuts. . . .

A new coach bump and the last 3 games as an example, I think so.

We are winning this game.

How strange will this game be with all the background noise about the Bears trading for the 49ers HC.  

6 minutes ago, AZ54 said:

How strange will this game be with all the background noise about the Bears trading for the 49ers HC.  

Yes! and if we beat them, then it helps them to want to be rid of him too LOL

This is a really strange time!

I think Bears win by a field goal.

Let’s do this - let’s go 🐻 

Trent Williams out, Bosa doubtful. McCaffrey and Mason done for season. After returning from a frozen Buffalo game where they were beat up. This SF team may be mailing it in for the season. We will see, but that team had way loftier goals than the Bears and are only 1 game ahead of the Bears thru 12 games. 

SF is 2 games out in their division at 5-7. They have 2 division games left. No way a Shanahan will let then check out. he's telling them if they win out , they can make the playoffs. They have superior coaching but their injuries put them at a disadvantage, I think its going to come down to the end of the game and the more physical team will win. If DJ Moore and Swift play we have a shot, if not ?????

18 minutes ago, Stinger226 said:

SF is 2 games out in their division at 5-7. They have 2 division games left. No way a Shanahan will let then check out. he's telling them if they win out , they can make the playoffs. They have superior coaching but their injuries put them at a disadvantage, I think its going to come down to the end of the game and the more physical team will win. If DJ Moore and Swift play we have a shot, if not ?????

In their last two games they have been outscored 73-20 and now they have more players injured. 

Bosa is out for sure: 

 

Bosa is their top defensive player and Trent Williams is arguably their best player on offense as an elite LT. Both out including no McCaffery or Mason at RB. 

Our linebackers were non-existent on that first drive.  

This (the 49ers) is what great coaching look like.

It's like being a great rock paper scissors player. You dont need to reinvent rock, or fool the whole league with a new twist on paper, you have to look the other guy in the eye and just get ahead of him with rhythm. It's not something most people can do. it's not easy, and being fooled by people who overcomplicate things, and maybe even fool the league for 12 weeks with some new wrinkle is not the same thing. It never lasts. In the end it's about being a great poker player. You gotta know when to call that screen. You gotta read the other guy.

Ben Johnson types, when they work out, get an edge for one year. But Kyle Shanahan is gonna be good every year. He's not fooling people, he's out guessing them. He anticipates and takes advantage, he isn't only trying to confuse the other guy with new BS that'll be seen on film and dissected within weeks. (Matt Nagy comes to mind)

I'll bet Dan Campbell can sniff out when a fake punt is coming, or when to call that draw on 3rd down. Even if he can't innovate new route trees and misdirections.

And we have had such trash at head coach, that we are STARVING for coaching, and we're seriously saying a guy who was a passing assistant 6 weeks ago is a serious contender to be the head coach with our once on 50 years new QB.

If we can trade for a coach like Shanahan we should.

As I'm typing this, we've got Sandborn on deep man coverage against their HB.

I'm sure Thomas Brown is a good guy. He's certainly more competent than anything we've seen in years. MAYBE If a Kyle Shanahan comes here and chooses to keep him as OC, he could stay int hat capacity. If Shanahan is calling the plays.

But he is NOT as a good a HC prospect as Caleb is at QB.

Let's get a real coach.

Tremaine Edmunds is garbage.  No instincts.  He's always showing up as the play ends.  We're stuck with his boat anchor salary through next year too.

3 minutes ago, Mongo3451 said:

Tremaine Edmunds is garbage.  No instincts.  He's always showing up as the play ends.  We're stuck with his boat anchor salary through next year too.

Yeah, i really thought he was gonna be an Urlacher for us; tall, fast, rangey, play the deep middle. I liked him better than Roquan that year in the draft too.

But just like I said about coaches - all the tools int he world don't matter if you don't have instincts. You're right.

Prospects and football players are not always the same thing. Grrrr

The defense misses Flus.

13 minutes ago, Mongo3451 said:

The defense misses Flus.

could be. I'd like to see a couple more weeks of Williams calling the D to be sure this isn't just Shanahan making our guys look like newbs.

The first half is about as bad as it gets. How Poles has neglected or chosen poorly in the draft or free agency on the O-line is criminal. If we are going to be successful is there anyone on the O-line including the depth that has the ability to become good to elite. I think that's doubtful. I thought the O-line contributed to Fields’ poor play and I think their terrible performance this year and what Caleb has been subjected to is a confirmation.

I just hope the sacks he has taken this year does not have a permanent effect on his career.