SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The Chicago Bears knew it was going to take some points to beat the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night at Levi’s Stadium.

“That’s what everyone was saying,” tight end Colston Loveland said. “Obviously, they’re really rolling right now, their offense is really hot, scoring a lot of points.”

The Bears put up 38 points, but it wasn’t enough to hold off the 49ers, who won Sunday’s matchup 42-38 after Bears quarterback Caleb Williams’ last-second pass to the end zone fell incomplete.

It was eerily reminiscent of the Dec. 7 loss in Green Bay, when the Packers picked off Williams on his final throw.

And yet, despite the result, it felt as if this Bears team was destined to drive down and score the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds. Williams and the Bears have come from behind in the fourth quarter to win six times this season. When Williams and the offense took possession trailing by four points with 2:15 to go, it seemed as if there was no reason they couldn’t do it again.

No matter who they’re playing — even if it’s one of the hottest teams in the NFL, winners of five straight heading into the night — the Bears believe they’re going to win.

Chicago Bears safety Jaquan Brisker (9) blocks San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges (88) from making a catch during the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Santa Clara. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

“We know we can play with anybody,” safety Jaquan Brisker said. “It’s not like we came in here like, ‘Oh my God, we’re hoping to win,’ or anything like that. I mean, we expected to win. It’s just, we came up short.”

That belief is starting to feel normal for these Bears.

A year ago, the Bears visited Levi’s Stadium a week after firing former coach Matt Eberflus. Hoping to turn the page with an interim coach and nothing to lose, the Bears did the opposite. San Francisco routed them 38-13. The Bears didn’t look like they belonged on the same field as coach Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers, a team that has been to four NFC championship games and two Super Bowls since the 2019 season.

A year later, the Bears clearly belonged. Despite the loss, they’re the winners of the NFC North division and they will host at least one playoff game at Soldier Field next month. The Bears clinched the division on Saturday thanks to a Baltimore Ravens win over the Green Bay Packers.

But the division title, the franchise’s first since 2018, felt bittersweet in the aftermath of a gutting last-second loss Sunday in California.

“That’s good, but I live by, ‘there’s no moral victories,’” linebacker Tremaine Edmunds said. “We still came here to win. That’s a big accomplishment (winning the NFC North), we’re appreciative of that, but our mission was to still win tonight.”

Added Loveland: “We came here four hours (on a plane) to get a win and came up short. I don’t think anyone feels good right now.”

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The NFC’s No. 1 seed and a first-round bye are out of reach now. The Bears can lock up the No. 2 seed with a win over the Detroit Lions next week (that game is set for 3:25 p.m. Sunday at Soldier Field). For the last four or five years, a division title seemed hopelessly out of reach.

Now, it almost feels like a footnote to these players. Their goals are higher, much higher.

Games like Sunday’s shootout, the two matchups against the Packers and a win at Philadelphia in late November have this team feeling ready for whatever the postseason might hold.

“It’s been awesome environments,” defensive tackle Grady Jarrett said. “Really high-intensity games. It’s been pulling the best out of both teams. Some of the best football being played in the league has been the past couple weeks in our games. It can go either way. We fell short today.”

Under first-year coach Ben Johnson, nobody is doubting that the Bears can win a shootout. Williams threw for 330 yards and two touchdowns Sunday, connecting with tight end Colston Loveland and receiver Luther Burden III for touchdowns.

The defense is another conversation. Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards began the game with a pick-six interception return for a touchdown, but after that, the Bears gave up six touchdowns and forced only two punts.

If the Bears want to get through the NFC, they’re going to have to beat the likes of Shanahan’s 49ers, Sean McVay’s Los Angeles Rams or the resurgent Seattle Seahawks. They could see this same 49ers team again down the road.

“Defense got to show up,” Brisker said. “We’ve got to pack our bags. Defense and special teams. We’ve got to be ready to play. Can’t really focus on what the offense got going on or anything.”

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The Bears allowed 496 total yards Sunday, including 200 rushing yards. San Francisco running back Christian McCaffrey ended the night with 140 yards and one touchdown on 23 carries.

Quarterback Brock Purdy threw for 303 yards and three touchdown passes. He also rushed for two touchdowns himself. On one play, a third-quarter touchdown pass to Kyle Juszczyk, Purdy escaped two would-be tacklers and found just enough open space to get off a pass.

“These days these quarterbacks can run and make plays,” Jarrett said. “Don’t have an exact answer for how to stop exactly what happened, but we just have to be ready for whatever comes our way.”

Whatever comes their way, this team is battle-tested. There’s plenty to fix after Sunday’s effort, especially for the defense. But if the game is on the line, if Williams has the ball in his hands in the final seconds, the Bears have a chance.

“We’re always in the game,” Jarrett said. “I think that’s one of the biggest things that we learned throughout the season, that we’re never out of the fight and we weren’t out of the fight today.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/29/chicago-bears-san-francisco-49ers-shootout/