BEARS at 49ers: Week 16 Pre-Gamin’ – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

Back when the 2018 NFL schedules were released, we dreamed of a Mitch Trubisky-Jimmy Garoppolo showdown that would have showcased two young quarterbacks with upside. Unfortunately, an early-season ACL injury put those dreams on the shelf. But still … there is a whole lot on the line in this game for the Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers.

The Bears are playing for the best postseason seeding possible. Healthy starters aren’t resting and the team is expected to give it a full go, so long as they can achieve a top two seed in the NFC playoffs. On the other side of the field, the 49ers are playing to finish strong with a December to remember for a second straight season. Last year, it was Garoppolo leading the charge and building hope for the future. Now, it’s quarterback Nick Mullens showing off his skills in order to prove he has a spot in the league.

It was a 49ers win last year at Soldier Field that helped land the Bears the No. 8 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. But since the Bears aren’t playing for draft positioning, they will enter today’s matchup in search of revenge for last year’s defeat.

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Unfinished business. #CHIvsSF

A post shared by Chicago Bears (@chicagobears) on Dec 23, 2018 at 9:56am PST

Let the games begin.

Game Info

Chicago Bears (10-4, NFC North champions) at San Francisco 49ers (4-10, 3rd NFC West) – 3 p.m. CT, FOX (Thom Brennaman, Chris Spielman, Shannon Spake), WBBM-AM 780, WCFS-FM 105.9

Odds: Bears (-4), Over/Under 44, via the Westgate Superbook in Las Vegas.

Game Thread and Week 16 Preview

Your game thread is down in the comments, so let’s have some good, clean (safe-for-work) fun. And hopefully, the Bears can play they way into prime playoff seeding with a road win.

Your Week 16 Preview lives here.

Coaches

Matt Nagy (10-4) vs. Kyle Shanahan (10-20)

Starting Quarterbacks

Bears: Mitch Trubisky: 2,814 yards, 23 TD, 12 INT, 64.9 completion pct., 94.1 rating

Last week vs. Packers: 20-28, 235 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 120.4 rating

versus

49ers: Nick Mullens: 1,754 yards, 10 TD, 6 INT, 64.5 completion pct., 96.0 rating

Last game vs. Seahawks: 20-29, 275 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 110.6 rating

Bears Inactives:

Today's inactives for #DaBears:

9 Tyler Bray
11 Kevin White
39 Eddie Jackson
69 Rashaad Coward
83 Javon Wims
97 Nick Williams
99 Aaron Lynch#CHIvsSF

— Chicago Bears (@BearsPR) December 23, 2018

Bears Expected Offensive Starters

QB Mitch Trubisky

RB Jordan Howard

RB Tarik Cohen

WR Allen Robinson

WR Taylor Gabriel

TE Trey Burton

LT Charles Leno Jr.

LG James Daniels

C Cody Whitehair

RG Bryan Witzmann

RT Bobby Massie

Bears Expected Defensive Starters

DT Akiem Hicks

NT Eddie Goldman

DE Bilal Nichols

OLB Khalil Mack

ILB Danny Trevathan

ILB Roquan Smith

OLB Leonard Floyd

CB Kyle Fuller

CB Prince Amukamara

FS Deon Bush

SS Adrian Amos

Bears Specialists

Cody Parkey (kicker), Pat O’Donnell (punter, holder), Patrick Scales (long snapper), Anthony Miller (kick returner), Tarik Cohen (punt returner)

49ers Inactives:

#49ers inactives
Jaquiski Tartt
Shon Coleman
G Erik Magnuson
Alfred Morris
Tyree Robinson
Sheldon Day
Earl Mitchell

— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) December 23, 2018

49ers Offense Expected Starters:

QB Nick Mullens

RB Jeff Wilson Jr.

WR Marquise Goodwin

WR Dante Pettis

WR Trent Taylor

TE George Kittle

LT Joe Staley

LG Laken Tomlinson

C Weston Richburg

RG Mike Person

RT Mike McGlinchey

49ers Defense Expected Starters:

LDE Solomon Thomas

LDT Earl Mitchell

RDT DeForest Buckner

RDE Arik Armstead

SLB Mark Nzeocha

MLB Fred Warner

WLB Malcolm Smith

LCB Richard Sherman

RCB Tarvarius Moore

FS Antone Exum Jr.

SS Marcell Harris

49ers Specialists:

Robbie Gould (kicker), Bradley Pinion (punter, holder), Colin Holba (long snapper) Dante Pettis (punt returns), Richie James (kick returns)