NEWSLETTER
I’ve been thinking about this since Friday morning:
Hello, old friend. #HuntingSzn pic.twitter.com/c6vsPixCae
— Brendan Sugrue (@BrendanSugrue) October 29, 2021
The postseason expansion that took place last year and is still applicable this year makes the playoff bubble that more interesting. And as things stand, the Bears are in that glob of teams with a realistic chance of making the postseason. Living on the blob isn’t the best place. And it’s not as if permanent residence on the bubble is a sign of greatness. But everyone needs something to strive for, which makes that snapshot that much more interesting heading into Week 8.
Winning today could kickstart the Bears’ place in the madness. But a loss could be another step toward confirming some feelings that already reside deep within us. We’ll see who wins out, which will guide us in our future story-telling.
Game Info
Chicago Bears (3-4) vs. San Francisco 49ers (2-4) – 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)
Kickoff time: Noon CT
Site: Soldier Field
Referee: Alex Kemp
Odds: Bears +4.5 (-110), O/U 40.5 (via DraftKings Sports )
Game Thread (Week 8 Preview)
Your game thread is down in the comments, so let’s have some good, clean (safe-for-work) fun.
Hype Video
Coaches
Bears Matt Nagy (31-24) Chris Tabor (0-0) vs. 49ers Kyle Shanahan (31-39)
Starting Quarterbacks and Projected Game Stats
BEARS: Justin Fields: 17/27, 182 passing yards, 1 TD, 1 INT; 5 carries, 19 rushing yards
versus
49ERS: Jimmy Garoppolo: 21/31, 241 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT; 2 carries, 5 yards
Projected stats via ESPN projections
Bears Offense (Projected Starters in Bold)
RB Khalil Herbert
Reserves: Damien Williams, Ryan Nall
WR Allen Robinson II, Darnell Mooney, Marquise Goodwin
Reserves: Damiere Byrd, Jakeem Grant
TE Cole Kmet
Reserves: Jesse James, Jesper Horsted
LT Jason Peters
LG Cody Whitehair
C Sam Mustipher
RG James Daniels
RT Larry Borom
Reserves: Lachavious Simmons, Alex Bars, Elijah Wilkinson
Bears Defense
DT Akiem Hicks
NT Eddie Goldman
DE Bilal Nichols
Reserves: Khyiris Tonga, Mario Edwards Jr., Angelo Blackson
OLB Robert Quinn, Trevis Gipson
Reserves: Sam Kamara, Christian Jones
ILB Roquan Smith, Alec Ogletree
Reserves: Danny Trevathan, Joel Iyiegbuniwe
CB Jaylon Johnson, Kindle Vildor
Reserves: Duke Shelley, Xavier Crawford
S Eddie Jackson, Tashaun Gipson Sr.
Reserves: Marqui Christian, DeAndre Houston-Carson
Bears Special Teams
Cairo Santos (kicker), Pat O’Donnell (punter), Patrick Scales (long-snapper), Khalil Herbert (kick returns), Jakeem Grant (punts)
Bears Inactives
Inactives for #SFvsCHI: pic.twitter.com/FK1l9EY1qE
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) October 31, 2021
49ers Projected Starters
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)
49ers Inactives
#SFvsCHI @DignityHealth inactives. https://t.co/O65R9T5yUi pic.twitter.com/QmcL0RMZls
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 31, 2021
