The Chicago Bears nearly pulled off another dramatic fourth-quarter comeback Sunday night against the San Francisco 49ers. Quarterback Caleb Williams had a chance to give his team a victory on the final play from the 2-yard line but couldn’t find an open target in the end zone.
The 49ers won in a 42-38 shootout. The Bears fell to 11-5 with one game remaining before the postseason. They clinched the NFC North over the weekend despite the loss Sunday, meaning they will begin the playoffs with a home game.
The Tribune’s Sean Hammond and Phil Thompson tackle this week’s pressing questions ahead of the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field.
1. Was Sunday’s game more indicative of a really good 49ers offense or a poor performance from the Bears defense?
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy eludes Chicago Bears defensive end Montez Sweat in the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium on Dec. 28, 2025, in Santa Clara, Calif. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Hammond: Sure, the answer is both. But this 49ers offense is on a roll. Brock Purdy, who missed a good chunk of the season with a toe injury, is 7-1 as a starter this year with 20 touchdown passes and nine interceptions. Christian McCaffrey was easily the toughest opponent the Bears have had to tackle this season. It wouldn’t surprise me if the 49ers wind up earning the No. 1 seed in the NFC next weekend.
Thompson: It’s definitely the poor performance by the defense. The Bears gave up 496 yards, the second-most this season to the 511 they allowed in the Week 2 blowout by the Lions. The yardage and the 32 first downs were season highs for the 49ers. We saw a defense that couldn’t stop the run, pressure Brock Purdy or keep Purdy from hurting it when the pocket broke down. The Bears had been able to mask a weak pass rush and leaky run defense behind takeaways, but the defense finally was exposed Sunday night.
2. Fill in the blank: Your level of confidence in the Bears defense heading into the postseason is _________?
Chicago Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards tackles Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love just short of the end zone on fourth down during the fourth quarter at Soldier Field on Nov. 17, 2024. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Hammond: Matchup dependent. Perhaps that’s a weak answer, but if the Bears land Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers or Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks in the first round, I still like their chances to force mistakes. Purdy hardly made any mistakes Sunday night, and he has looked like one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL since returning from his injury. The Los Angeles Rams’ Matthew Stafford also should concern Bears fans.
Thompson: Lukewarm. It was alarming how the 49ers sliced through the Bears defense, but — not to make excuses — their offense has been red-hot lately and Kyle Shanahan is a Super Bowl-caliber coach. Still, you’re only going to see top-tier offenses if you make it past the wild-card round, and bend-but-don’t-break won’t cut it.
3. If the Bears are the No. 2 seed, they will host the Packers in the wild-card round. If they drop to No. 3, they likely would face the 49ers-Seahawks loser. Which of those three is the most favorable first-round matchup?
Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers fans prepare for the game on Dec. 20, 2025, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Hammond: The last few weeks have had me thinking differently about this. While the prospect of potentially losing a home playoff game against Green Bay would be crushing for the city of Chicago, that’s the best matchup right now. The Bears know they can beat the Packers. They did so once and could’ve beaten them in the first meeting. Green Bay is also pretty banged up right now. The 49ers are rolling. While the Bears proved they can hang with them, I think they’d rather take on the Packers or take their chances against the Seahawks and Darnold, who has thrown 14 interceptions this season.
Thompson: The Packers. As we’ve come to realize, the NFC West is a different beast, and you’d rather not face one of those teams right out of the gate. For once, the Bears may be in the Packers’ heads. And after a three-game losing streak, that ship appears to be listing.
4. Caleb Williams is closing in on the Bears single-season passing record. He’s 108 yards shy of Erik Kramer’s 1995 mark of 3,838 yards. Is this the best passing season by a Bears quarterback?
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams throws a pass for a first down during the third quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Santa Clara, Calif. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Hammond: Passing yards are only one measure of success. I’m not sure Kramer’s 1995 season should be considered the gold standard of Bears quarterbacking. Yes, it’s the franchise record, but the team went 9-7 and missed the postseason. Jay Cutler put up some big numbers on mediocre teams. Williams’ 2025 season is definitely in the running for the best in franchise history, whether he sets the franchise record or not. Put it up there with Cutler’s 2010 season (3,274 passing yards), Mitch Trubisky’s 2018 season (3,223), Rex Grossman’s 2006 season (3,193) and Jim McMahon’s 1985 season (2,392).
Thompson: It is, but don’t throw a parade. For years, the Bears begged for mere competence at the position. “Above average” was cause for celebration. But Williams has the potential — and more important, the expectation — to exceed those old Bears standards and join the NFL’s elite.
5. Which 2024 first-round draft pick quarterback do you trust most to win a postseason game this year: Caleb Williams, Drake Maye or Bo Nix?
Hammond: I understand that Maye has had an incredible season for the Patriots and that Nix has done great things in Denver. But if the game is on the line in the fourth quarter, I want the ball in Williams’ hands. Give me the quarterback with six fourth-quarter comebacks, multiple touchdown passes in the final minute of the fourth quarter and an overtime bomb on his resume.
Thompson: It’s not a fair question because it would seem to place success or failure squarely in the quarterback’s hands. Nix is backed by the strongest defense, but Maye has the best combination of complementary defense and talent at his position.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/30/chicago-bears-pressing-questions-week-18/
