The San Francisco 49ers return to action in Week 13 looking to snap their franchise record ten-game losing streak. They fought back against the Miami Dolphins in Week 12, but were unable to convert a pair of end zone chances to close out the game. They lost 31-24 and dropped to 1-10 in the process.
This week, the 49ers are on the road facing the Chicago Bears. After last week’s game against the Dolphins, the 49ers spent the week in Orlando, avoiding the trip west to Santa Clara, and then back east to Chicago. The Bears game kicks off at 10:00 am PT on FOX with Kenny Albert and Daryl Johnston in the booth, and Laura Okmin handling sideline duties. The television broadcast is primarily a regional broadcast in Northern California and the Bears market. We broke down the broadcast maps here.
This is a big game for draft purposes. The 49ers at 1-10 sit a game ahead of the 2-9 Bears and Jaguars. A 49ers win does not automatically move Chicago ahead of them, but does tighten things up. Head-to-head performance does not matter in draft order. Any ties are determined by strength of schedule, and if there is a tie there, it goes to coin flip.
The 49ers head into this game with Quinton Patton and Aaron Lynch listed as questionable. Lynch is unlikely to play due to his continued recovery from a high ankle sprain. Patton is in the NFL’s concussion protocol, and we likely won’t get an answer on his status until inactives are announced at 8:30 a.m. PT.
The Bears are extremely short-handed this week. Quarterback Jay Cutler is out with a torn labrum that will require surgery. Matt Barkley is starting in his place for the second straight week. Barkley will again be without wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, who is serving a four-game PED suspension. On the defensive side of the ball, inside linebacker Danny Trevathan was lost for the season due to injury, while fellow inside linebacker Jerrell Freeman is going through his own four-game PED suspension.
The 49ers are actually favored in this game, marking their first time as favorites this season. The 49ers initially were 2.5-point underdogs to the Bears. However, bettors went in heavy on San Francisco, and the line has swung to where they are as high as a 2.5-point favorite. I think they can beat the Bears, but given the six-point swing if this game were at Levi’s Stadium, would you bet on the 49ers as a potentially 8.5-point home favorite? I got the 49ers at +1, but this line is getting just a little bit out of hand.
Nuts and bolts
Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, IL
Game time: Sunday, December 4, 10:00 a.m. PT
TV channel: FOX
Online streaming: NFL Game Pass
Radio: 810-AM, 107.7 (Ted Robinson, Tim Ryan) | Full listings
Spanish Radio: KTRB 860-AM (Jesus Zarate, Luis Landero/Gabriel Sotelo)
Matchup history: 17-5
Announcers: Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, Laura Okmin
Enemy blog: Windy City Gridiron
Twitter: @ninersnation
Facebook: Go ahead and give us a like!
49ers regular season schedule
Week 1: vs. Los Angeles Rams - 28-0 WIN
Week 2: @ Carolina Panthers - 46-27 LOSS
Week 3: @ Seattle Seahawks - 37-18 LOSS
Week 4: vs. Dallas Cowboys - 24-17 LOSS
Week 5: vs. Arizona Cardinals - 33-21 LOSS
Week 6: @ Buffalo Bills - 45-16 LOSS
Week 7: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 34-17 LOSS
Week 8: BYE
Week 9: vs. New Orleans Saints - 41-23 LOSS
Week 10: @ Arizona Cardinals - 23-20 LOSS
Week 11: vs. New England Patriots - 30-17 LOSS
Week 12: @ Miami Dolphins - 31-24 LOSS
Week 13: @ Chicago Bears, 10:00 a.m., FOX Sunday, December 4
Week 14: vs. New York Jets, 1:05 p.m., CBS Sunday, December 11
Week 15: @ Atlanta Falcons, 1:05 p.m., FOX, Sunday, December 18
Week 16: @ Los Angeles Rams, 1:25 p.m., FOX Saturday, December 24
Week 17: vs. Seattle Seahawks, 1:25 p.m., FOX, Sunday, January 1