49ers vs. Bears final score: Winners and losers in Week 13

The San Francisco 49ers won their second game of 2017 in Chicago and there were several winners but also a few losers in their match up facing the Bears.

Losers:

The surprise: special teams

The special teams has played well all season allowing an average of five yards per return up until today. Tarik Cohen scored the first touchdown off a punt return this season allowed by the 49ers special teams. The loss of Raheem Mostert who recently went on injured reserve was definitely felt on special teams in Chicago.

The reoccurring problem: penalties

The 49ers were flagged eight times for penalties which added up to 53 yards. Guilty parties were Trent Brown for offensive holding, Brandon Fusco ineligible downfield, Marquise Goodwin OPI, Solomon Thomas defensive offsides, Greg Mabin, Garrett Celek and Kendrick Bourne each were flagged for illegal block above the waist, George Kittle and Marquise Goodwin were each flagged for a false start, and Kendrick Bourne was flagged for illegal touch on a pass after going out of bounds. The pre snap penalties are the most concerning of the bunch.

Winners:

The obvious: Jimmy Garoppolo

In his first start as a 49er Gaoppolo threw 26/37 for 293 yards, one interception giving him a 82.4 rating. Garoppolo’s 293 yards is the highest by any 49ers quarterback in their first start with the franchise. He spread the ball around targeting nine different receivers, connecting with eight. He also went 14/14 on passes to Marquise Goodwin and Trent Taylor.

The revenge: Robbie Gould

The former Bears kicker was the only 49ers player to put points on the board. All 15 points were a direct result of Gould’s foot. After 11 years in Chicago he was cut to save 3 million in cap space. (He spent one season with he New York Giants before heading out west.) Fitting that he kicked the game winner as time rolled down to 0:04 seconds left in the game.

The warrior: Trent Taylor

The rookie wide receiver was throwing up all night prior to the game with either the stomach flu or food poisoning. He spent a little extra time getting fluids into his body with an IV prior to the game because there was never any doubt that he would play in the game. He caught everything thrown inches direction going 6/6 for 92 yards. Comparisons of Garoppolo and Taylor to Brady and Edelman are already running rampant on social media.

The strength: the defense

The 49ers defense only had to play 36 snaps because the offense was finally able to sustain drives and keep them off the field. In those 36 snaps they defense only allowed 147 yards of offense by the Bears, 62 yards on the ground, 85 in the air. Reuben Foster led the stats with seven tackles on the day, Elvis Dumervil and Cassius Marsh both got through the offensive line for sacks of Mitchell Trubisky.