NEWSLETTER
What would’ve been a pristine matchup a few years ago won’t look anything like it was supposed to when the Bears and 49ers renew acquaintances on Sunday at Soldier Field.
The Bears took the NFL by storm in 2018. Vic Fangio’s defense was playing at an all-time great level. Matt Nagy’s offense was doing just enough to tease a brighter future. And Chicago’s football team went from being an afterthought under John Fox to a force in the NFC North. But the vibes surrounding the team have since taken a tumble. Nagy’s offense hasn’t taken off (a generous way to put that), leaving the defense to carry more than its share of the weight. What’s old is new again, and Bears fans have had enough. This isn’t a must-win game, but it feels like it’s one that could further nudge upper management toward looking at the future through a different lens.
Things aren’t all sunshine and rainbows with the 49ers. Because one year after the Bears broke through, the Niners were the NFL’s shiny new thing. Kyle Shanahan turned Jimmy Garoppolo into a viable starting quarterback, and reached the Super Bowl by riding an offensive wave. Shanahan’s scheme and designs are the envy of many. And yet, the offense is middling right now. The quarterback situation pitting Garoppolo (who might as well have one foot out the door) and rookie Trey Lance seems as contentious as things were with the Bears earlier in the year. That’s because Shanahan insists on starting the veteran, while simultaneously slow-playing the rookie’s development. Hmmm … sounds familiar.
Shanahan isn’t necessarily on the hot seat like Nagy. But the situations are too similar to overlook. One of these coaches will emerge victorious at Soldier Field. Unless the game ends in a tie. And to be honest, that might be the most fitting ending for a game between two teams that might as well be the Spiderman pointing at Spiderman meme.
https://twitter.com/ChicagoBears/status/1454100737441636354
“Never Tell Me The Odds”
The DraftKings SportsBook lists the Bears (3-4) as 4-point underdogs against the 49ers (2-4). Over/under: 39. More on the odds and ATS picks here.
Series History:
The Chicago Bears trail the San Francisco 49ers 32-34-1 in the all-time series. But at least the Bears won the most recent showdown between the teams.
Game Time, Broadcast Info, Officiating Crew:
Location: Soldier Field
Broadcast Info: Sunday, October 31 at noon CT on FOX-TV (Adam Amin, Greg Olsen, Pam Oliver), WBBM-AM 780 and WCFS-FM 105.9 (Jeff Joniak, Tom Thayer, Mark Grote), ESPN Radio: Marc Kestecher, Tom Waddle, Ian Fitzsimmons
Officials: Alex Kemp (referee)
Expected Starters and Lineups:
CHICAGO BEARS (3-4, 1-1 NFC North)
POINTS FOR: 101 (14.4 PPG, 30th of 32 teams)
POINTS AGAINST: 162 (23.1 PPG, 14th of 32)
Offense
• QB Justin Fields
• RB Khalil Herbert
• WRs Allen Robinson II, Darnell Mooney, Marquise Goodwin
• TE Cole Kmet
• LT Jason Peters, LG Cody Whitehair, C Sam Mustipher, RG James Daniels, RT Elijah Wilkinson
Unavailable: OL Teven Jenkins, RB/PR Tarik Cohen, RB David Montgomery, TE Jimmy Graham (COVID)
Defense
• DT Akiem Hicks, NT Eddie Goldman, DE Mario Edwards Jr.
• OLBs Robert Quinn, Trevis Gipson
• ILBs Roquan Smith, Alec Ogletree
• CBs Jaylon Johnson, Kindle Vildor
• FS Eddie Jackson
• SS Tashaun Gipson Sr.
Unavailable: S Deon Bush, OLB Khalil Mack
Specialists
• Cairo Santos (kicker), Pat O’Donnell (punter, holder), Patrick Scales (long snapper), Jakeem Grant Sr. (punt returns), Jakeem Grant Sr. (kick returns)
Expected Starters and Lineups:
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (2-4, 0-2 NFC West)
POINTS FOR: 135 (22.5 PPG, 19th of 32)
POINTS AGAINST: 149 (24.8 PPG, 21st of 32)
Offense
• QB Jimmy Garoppolo
• RB Elijah Mitchell, FB Kyle Juszczyk
• WRs Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel
• TE Charlie Woerner
• LT Trent Williams, LG Laken Tomlinson, C Alex Mack, RG Daniel Brunskill, RT Mike McGlinchey
Defense
• DEs Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead, DTs Kentavius Street, DJ Jones
• LBs Fred Warner, Marcell Harris
• CBs Emmanuel Moseley, Josh Norman, K’Waun Williams
• S Jimmie Ward, Tavon Wilson
Specialists
• Joey Slye (kicker), Mitch Wishnowsky (punter, holder), Taylor Pepper (long snapper), Trenton Cannon, Brandon Aiyuk (kick and punt returns)
Three Bears
Jason Peters began the week clearing the air and sharing truths regarding what’s happening at Halas Hall. Frankly, it was as refreshing to hear the candor as it was to hear injury-related progress reports for players (which had previously been treated like nuclear launch codes). Come Sunday, Peters will have to deal with a different set of challenges. Because whether it’s Arik Armstead or Nick Bosa, protecting Justin Fields’ blindside is a top priority.
A Peters-Bosa matchup would be most intriguing, as it would pit the 39-year-old against the up-and-coming youngster. Peters owns PFF’s seventh best grade among 78 qualifying tackles, while Bosa’s 86.5 grade is fifth best for edge defenders. This one could be a donnybrook.
Justin Fields’ breakout game is coming. He can feel it. But Fields’ 49.3 overall grade at PFF is the lowest among qualifiers. You really couldn’t draw up a worse start for Fields’ career if you tried your hardest. But maybe facing a defense that has given up two passing touchdowns to quarterbacks in four of six games, as well as rushing scores in three of the last five will put Fields back on the right track.
Robert Quinn was rolling before a positive COVID-19 test took him out of the lineup. PFF’s 26th highest graded pass-rusher has exited COVID protocols, just in time to watch his partner in crime (Khalil Mack) take a seat due to a bothersome foot injury. Quinn needs to play as well as he did before Mack was put on the shelf, but without Mack on the other side of the formation. If he does, then the Bears will have a fighter’s chance in a game that could be a rock fight between two struggling offenses.
