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NFL Sunday Night Football Fans Respond To San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears Making History

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
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NFL Sunday Night Football Fans Respond To San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears Making History

For the first time in NFL regular-season history, the San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears played to ties of 7-7 … 14-14 … 21-21 … 28-28 … and 35-35. 

In one of the best games of the 2025 campaign, the Brock Purdy-led San Francisco 49ers withstood a final punch from the Chicago Bears, earning a 42-38 victory at Levi’s Stadium. 

In a matchup with heavy playoff implications, the 49ers took a step toward earning the NFC’s top postseason seed. But not before Bears quarterback Caleb Williams scrambled with no time remaining and throwing short of an open teammate in the end zone.  

49ers quarterback Brock Purdy completed 24 of 33 passes for 331 total yards, three passing TDs and two rushing scores. He became the first QB in team history to account for five touchdowns during consecutive starts.    

If the 49ers (12-4) top the Seattle Seahawks next Saturday night, they will clinch the NFC top seed. 

The NFC North-champion Bears (11-5) earned six fourth-quarter wins this season, but fell short Sunday night.  

X (Twitter) users responded to the 49ers making sure the Bears cannot clinch the No. 1 NFC ranking. The final play of the game encapsulated the entire game …

Bears’ T.J. Edwards returned an early Purdy mistake to opening Sunday night’s scoring spree …

With George Kittle sidelined, 49ers tight end Jake Tonges is making the most of his opportunity …

The 49ers scored their second opening-quarter touchdown when Purdy scored off a 10-yard rush …

The Bears rallied to tie the score at 14-all after Williams stood tall in the pocket and connected with Luther Burden III on a 35-yard score to close out the first-quarter scoring …

Running back Christian McCaffrey scored on a 5-yard run 1:16 into the second quarter as the 49ers claimed a 21-14 lead …

Williams connected on a 36-yard TD pass to tight end Colston Loveland, who entered the game with zero drops. That streak ended, however, in the fourth quarter …

Claiming a 28-21 advantage, Purdy capped a 15-play, 72-yard drive with a 3-yard scoring dash, his second of the first half …

Bears running back D’Andre Swift scored his first of two TDs, on a 2-yard rush to open the second-half scoring and tie the game at 28-all …

A scrambling Purdy hit Kyle Juszczyk on a 6-yard TD pass to take a 35-28 lead ….

Bears fullback Daniel Hardy displayed the main reason why the position remains valuable at the NFL level. Swift would agree …

After the Bears claimed a 38-35 lead on Cairo Santos’ 29-yard field goal with 5:22 remaining in the fourth quarter, 49ers WR Jauan Jennings responded with a 38-yard score. His effort Sunday night helped trigger a contract incentive worth approximately $667,000 …

Final score: 49ers 42, Bears 38 …

Following the Sunday night game, the NFL released the Week 18 schedule …

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  
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