NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Bears are on the road this weekend, taking on the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Week 14. How does their offense stack up against the Vikings’ defense? Let’s discuss.
Chicago Bears Offense
- QB: Caleb Williams
- RB: D’Andre Swift (Q)
- WR: DJ Moore (Q), Keenan Allen (Q), Rome Odunze
- TE: Cole Kmet
- LT: Braxton Jones
- LG: Teven Jenkins
- C: Ryan Bates (Q)
- RG: Matt Pryor
- RT: Darnell Wright (Q)
WEEK 14 INJURY REPORT: Chicago Bears | San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers Defense
- LDE: Leonard Floyd
- LDT: Maliek Collins
- RDT: Jordan Elliott (Q)
- RDE: Nick Bosa (Q)
- WLB: De’Vondre Campbell
- MLB: Fred Warner
- SLB: Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (Q)
- LCB: Chavarius Ward
- RCB: Renardo Green
- NB: Deommodore Lenoir (Q)
- FS: Ji’Ayir Brown
- SS: Malik Mustapha
(Q) = Questionable
Tale of the Tape
Chicago Bears Offense
- Points Per Game: 19.4 (22nd)
- EPA Per Play: -0.06 (25th)
- EPA Per Pass: -0.11 (25th)
- EPA Per Rush: 0 (11th)
San Francisco 49ers Defense
- Points Per Game: 22.5 (16th)
- EPA Per Play: -0.01 (15th)
- EPA Per Pass: -0.03 (13th)
- EPA Per Rush: 0.02 (26th)
Stats that Matter
- The Chicago Bears have played in four games this season with a point differential of three or less with under two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and have lost all of those (which is tied for the worst mark in the league with the New York Jets). Losing late was a staple of Matt Eberflus’ tenure in Chicago, and his most recent late-game failure was the final nail in the coffin last week. Will Thomas Brown fare better?
- Caleb Williams has gone six consecutive games without an interception, tied for the longest streak for a rookie quarterback since 1950. Williams’ last interception came against the Jaguars in London before the bye week, and he has attempted 232 passes since, which is a rookie record.
- A banged-up San Francisco 49ers team has posted a minus-53 point differential in their last two games (both losses), allowing 38 points to Green Bay and 35 to Buffalo. The Bears offense is averaging 22 points per contest since Thomas Brown replaced Shane Waldron.
- Caleb Williams has posted a 118.2 passer rating and 9.6 yards per attempt against the Blitz since Week 11 when Thomas Brown took over as the OC. His 328 yards through the air against the blitz are the second most in the NFL during that stretch. Under Waldron, Williams owned a 79.3 passer rating against the blitz and 5.7 yards per attempt.
What does it all mean?
The San Francisco 49ers are beat up right now, allowing points at a high clip. The Bears haven’t won a game in a month and a half but are still playing arguably their best football of the season over the past three weeks. With Eberflus gone and Thomas Brown injecting some fire into the locker room this week, could the Bears offense see a surge in scoring this week that helps them finally snap their six-game losing streak?
Caleb Williams has been as good as any point this season since Brown took over, and this week, he will be back in California, where he’s done some of his best work (during his days at USC) with a chance to make a statement against the reigning NFC champions.
For the first time in a while, I have an excellent feeling about this week. I think the Bears are going to win, and I think it might be a lopsided victory with San Francisco’s offense dealing with some key injuries as well.
The timing of San Francisco (given its current state) arriving on the schedule coinciding with Thomas Brown taking over as the interim head coach in Chicago feels like a perfect storm for the Bears, who could help rally momentum behind the idea of Brown vying for the permanent head coaching role in Chicago.
