Chicago Bears vs 49ers Match Player Stats: A Prime-Time Shootout for the Ages
The Sunday night football game on December 28, 2025, was something special. Fans who stayed up late got to watch a real treat. The Chicago Bears traveled to Levi’s Stadium to take on the San Francisco 49ers. What happened on that field was nothing short of amazing. The final score read 49ers 42, Bears 38. But the numbers on the scoreboard do not tell the whole story. This game had everything. Big plays, amazing catches, and quarterbacks playing at their very best. The Chicago Bears vs 49ers match player stats show just how close this game really was. Both teams came in with great records. The Bears were 11-4. The 49ers were 12-4. This felt like a playoff game, and it played out that way. The lead changed hands many times. Neither team gave up. In the end, the 49ers made one more play than the Bears did. Let us dive deep into this fantastic game and look at the numbers that made it so special.
Game Summary: A Back-and-Forth Battle
The game started in the wildest way possible. On the very first play from scrimmage, Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson jumped a route. He deflected Brock Purdy’s pass right into the hands of T.J. Edwards. Edwards ran 34 yards for a touchdown. Just 15 seconds into the game, the Bears led 7-0. It felt like Chicago was going to run away with it. But the 49ers did not panic. They answered right back with a long drive. Jake Tonges caught a 1-yard touchdown pass to tie the game. From that point on, the teams traded scores all night long. The 49ers would score, and the Bears would answer. This happened four times. The game was tied at 14, 21, 28, and 35. The Chicago Bears vs 49ers match player stats show how balanced the scoring was. Both offenses moved the ball with ease. The defenses struggled to get stops. It was the kind of game that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very last play.
Complete Match Statistics Table
| Statistic | Chicago Bears | San Francisco 49ers |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 38 | 42 |
| First Downs | 26 | 32 |
| Total Yards | 440 | 496 |
| Passing Yards | 330 | 296 |
| Rushing Yards | 110 | 200 |
| Penalties | 7 for 39 yards | 5 for 55 yards |
| Third Down Conversions | 6/12 (50%) | 7/10 (70%) |
| Fourth Down Conversions | 2/2 (100%) | 1/1 (100%) |
| Time of Possession | 26:27 | 33:33 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Sacks By | 1 | 0 |
| Red Zone Efficiency | 1/3 (33%) | 5/5 (100%) |
| Plays Run | 64 | 67 |
| Yards Per Play | 6.9 | 7.4 |
Quarterback Duel: Caleb Williams vs Brock Purdy
The quarterback matchup was everything fans hoped it would be. Caleb Williams played his best game of the season. He completed 25 of 42 passes for 330 yards. He threw two touchdowns and had no interceptions. His passer rating was an excellent 100.3. Williams showed why the Bears took him first overall. He made big throws all night long. His two touchdown passes went for 35 and 36 yards. Both were perfect throws down the field. On the other side, Brock Purdy was just as good. He completed 24 of 33 passes for 303 yards. He threw three touchdowns and one interception. But Purdy also hurt the Bears with his legs. He ran for 28 yards and two touchdowns. The Chicago Bears vs 49ers match player stats for quarterbacks show two guys at the top of their game. Purdy became the first 49ers quarterback ever to throw for 300 yards, throw three touchdowns, and run for two touchdowns in the same game. That is special company.
Christian McCaffrey Dominates on the Ground
Christian McCaffrey showed everyone why he is still one of the best running backs in football. He had a monster game against the Bears defense. McCaffrey carried the ball 23 times for 140 yards. He averaged over 6 yards per carry. He also scored one rushing touchdown. But he did not just run the ball. He also caught 4 passes for 41 yards. In the first half alone, McCaffrey ran for 121 yards. That was the best first half of his entire career. His long run of 41 yards set up a touchdown. McCaffrey passed some big milestones in this game. He went over 2,000 scrimmage yards for the season. He joined a small group of players who have done that three times. The Chicago Bears vs 49ers match player stats show just how much the 49ers relied on him. He was the engine that made their offense go. The Bears simply had no answer for him.
Bears Rookies Shine Bright
Even though the Bears lost, their rookies played amazing football. Luther Burden III had the best game of his young career. He caught 8 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown. His 35-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter was a thing of beauty. Burden missed the week before with an ankle injury. You could not tell by watching him play. He was open all night long. The other rookie star was tight end Colston Loveland. He caught 6 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown. His 36-yard touchdown catch came on a free play after the 49ers jumped offside. Loveland also made a huge catch on fourth down late in the game. That catch kept the Bears’ hopes alive. These two rookies look like future stars. The Chicago Bears vs 49ers match player stats show that the Bears have found some special young players to build around.
The 49ers Receiving Corps Steps Up
The 49ers were missing their star tight end George Kittle. He sat out with an ankle injury. But other players stepped up in a big way. Ricky Pearsall led the team with 85 receiving yards on 5 catches. His 30-yard catch in the second quarter set up a touchdown. Jake Tonges had the best game of his career. He caught 7 passes for 60 yards and a touchdown. Tonges was a reliable target all night long. Jauan Jennings only caught 2 passes, but one of them was the game-winner. His 38-yard touchdown catch with just over two minutes left gave the 49ers the lead for good. Kyle Juszczyk even got in on the action. The fullback caught a 6-yard touchdown pass. The Chicago Bears vs 49ers match player stats show how many weapons this offense has. Even without Kittle, they scored 42 points.
Bears Running Game and Receivers
D’Andre Swift had a solid game for the Bears. He ran for 54 yards and two touchdowns on just 9 carries. His 22-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter tied the game at 35. Swift also caught 2 passes for 25 yards. Kyle Monangai added 38 yards on 8 carries. He ran hard and helped move the chains. In the passing game, the rookies got most of the attention. But Cole Kmet chipped in with 2 catches for 16 yards. DJ Moore had a quiet game. He caught just 1 pass for 7 yards. The 49ers defense focused on stopping him, and it worked. Jahdae Walker caught 2 passes for 30 yards. He was the target on the final play of the game. The Chicago Bears vs 49ers match player stats show that Williams spread the ball around to many different receivers.
Defensive Highlights and Lowlights
The defenses in this game had a tough night. The Bears defense really struggled. They allowed 496 total yards and 42 points. But they did make one huge play. T.J. Edwards returned an interception 34 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the game. Edwards also led the team with 9 tackles. Austin Booker was the only Bears defender who consistently got pressure. He had 1 sack, 2 pass breakups, and 3 tackles. Tremaine Edmunds added 9 tackles of his own. Jaquan Brisker had 8 tackles. For the 49ers, the defense was just good enough. They gave up 440 yards but did not turn the ball over. Keion White graded out as their best defender. Tatum Bethune was excellent against the run. The Chicago Bears vs 49ers match player stats on defense show two units that got carved up by great quarterbacks. The difference was the 49ers got a few more stops when they needed them.
Key Plays That Decided the Game
This game came down to a few critical moments. The first big play was the pick-six by T.J. Edwards. It gave the Bears a quick lead. Late in the game, two penalty calls really hurt the Bears. C.J. Gardner-Johnson had an interception wiped out by a questionable hands-to-the-face call. The 49ers scored on that drive. Later, Gervon Dexter was called for another hands-to-the-face penalty on the 49ers’ final drive. That drive ended with the game-winning touchdown. On the Bears’ last drive, Caleb Williams showed his magic. He moved the team down the field with great throws. A fourth-down conversion to Loveland kept the drive alive. But on the final play, things went wrong. The Bears were not lined up correctly. Williams did not have time to fix it. His pass fell incomplete. The Chicago Bears vs 49ers match player stats show just how thin the line is between winning and losing in the NFL.
Historical Context of the Matchup
This game meant a lot for the history between these two teams. The 49ers now lead the all-time series 37-33-1. They have won back-to-back games against the Bears for the first time since 1974-75. The 49ers also stayed perfect in prime-time games. They won all five of their night games this season. For the Bears, this was a tough loss. But it showed they can hang with anyone. They fell just short of clinching a better playoff spot. The 11 touchdowns scored in this game tied for the most in any game all season. The Chicago Bears vs 49ers match player stats will be remembered for a long time. This was one of the best games of the entire NFL season. Fans of both teams got their money’s worth and then some.
What the Stats Tell Us About Both Teams
Looking at the numbers tells us a lot. The 49ers controlled the clock for over 33 minutes. They ran 34 times for 200 yards. That is a dominant rushing attack. They also converted 7 of 10 third downs. That is how you keep the ball away from the other team. In the red zone, the 49ers were perfect. They scored touchdowns on all five trips inside the 20. The Bears were good on third down too, converting half of theirs. But they only scored once in three red zone trips. That was the difference in the game. The Chicago Bears vs 49ers match player stats show that the 49ers were more efficient in the most important areas. The Bears moved the ball well between the 20s. But the 49ers finished their drives better. That is why they won the game.
Conclusion
The Chicago Bears vs 49ers match player stats tell the story of an instant classic. This game had everything football fans could want. Great quarterback play from Caleb Williams and Brock Purdy. A monster game from Christian McCaffrey. Breakout performances from rookies Luther Burden and Colston Loveland. And a dramatic finish that came down to the final play. The 49ers walked away with a 42-38 victory. But the Bears showed they are a team on the rise. Both teams proved they can score with anyone. As the playoffs approached, this game served as a warning to the rest of the NFC. These two teams are dangerous. If you want to beat them, you better be ready to score points. Lots of them. This game will be remembered as one of the best of the 2025 season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the leading rusher in the Chicago Bears vs 49ers match?
Christian McCaffrey was the leading rusher by a wide margin. He ran for 140 yards on 23 carries and scored one touchdown. D’Andre Swift led the Bears with 54 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
How many passing yards did Caleb Williams have against the 49ers?
Caleb Williams threw for a season-high 330 yards. He completed 25 of 42 passes with two touchdowns and no interceptions. His passer rating was 100.3.
Did any defensive players score in the game?
Yes. T.J. Edwards of the Bears scored the first points of the game. He returned an interception 34 yards for a touchdown on the very first play from scrimmage.
What was the weather like during the game?
The weather at Levi’s Stadium was mild. It was 53 degrees with 65% humidity. The wind was only blowing at 5 miles per hour. Perfect football weather.
Which receivers had the best stats in the game?
Luther Burden III led all receivers with 138 yards and a touchdown on 8 catches. For the 49ers, Ricky Pearsall had 85 yards on 5 catches, and Jake Tonges had 60 yards and a touchdown on 7 catches.
Why did the Bears lose even though they scored 38 points?
The Bears lost because their defense could not stop the 49ers. They allowed 496 total yards and 42 points. The 49ers were perfect in the red zone, scoring touchdowns on all five trips. The Bears also had some key penalties that hurt them late in the game.
