The ghosts of football past and future collide on Sunday night in San Francisco when the 49ers look to consummate their new stadium with a win over the Chicago Bears. Meanwhile, the Bears will look to rebound off of a shocking week one loss at home to the Buffalo Bills 23-20.
It’s a game of nostalgia for the 49ers at the quarterback position as San Francisco head coach, Jim Harbaugh, began his NFL career with the Bears when they drafted him in 1987. Colin Kaepernick also has fond memories of his week two opponent as the Bears were the first team Kaepernick ever faced as a starting quarterback in the NFL.
The date was November 19th 2012 on Monday Night Football. Kaepernick was filling in for the injured Alex Smith when his “coming out” party began. Kaepernick threw for 243 yards and two touchdowns against the Bears as the 49ers routed Chicago 32-7. Kaepernick won his next two games and stole the starting QB job away from Smith permanently.
The game will air on NBC’s Sunday Night Football, and is the debut of the 49ers new state of the art facility, Levi’s stadium. The 49ers are looking to capitalize off their week one victory 28-17 against the Dallas Cowboys. San Francisco’s defense caused four turnovers in that game and before you could blink, were winning 21-3.
The Bears look to rebound after a lackluster opening day performance against the Bills. Although the Bears offense looked good in their debut, their defense struggled especially late in the game as the Bills rallied and were able to win in overtime. The Bears defense was torched for 193 rushing yards by the Bills. Needless to say, the 49ers, a ground and pound team as it is, will look to run the ball early and often with their veteran/rookie combo of Frank Gore and Carlos Hyde.
The 49ers have their own defensive issues as well. The Niners lost defensive backs, Tramaine Brock, Chris Culliver and Jimmie Ward in their week one victory against the Cowboys and all three are questionable to play against the Bears on Sunday night.
Despite running to the tune of almost 5 yards per carry, the Bears didn’t utilize running back Matt Forte in the second half of week one. I expect Forte to go unused again as the Bears try and take advantage of San Francisco’s weak secondary through an aerial attack let by Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery. Cutler will be protected by Latino standouts, Roberto Garza and Brian De La Puente.
The Mexican-American Center, Garza, was told “Mexicans don’t play in the NFL” while growing up in Texas and used this as motivation in a successful NFL career that has spanned over a decade and put Garza on the cover of EA Sport’s Madden 2009 Español. Garza sprained his ankle in the game against the Bills and is doubtful to play against the 49ers on Sunday.
If Garza is unable to go, fellow Latino, Brian De La Puente who was born in raised in Los Angeles, CA will take his place. De La Puente filled in for Garza in week one and played well protecting Cutler throughout the game. Look for the Bears to rely heavily on De La Puente throughout the game as they will pass the ball often throughout the game.
The 49ers have had the Bears number recently, winning 8 of their last 12 games against Chicago. I expect much of the same on Sunday night with an excited crowd in a new stadium on national TV. Cutler has a strong arm, but like the Cowboys, Tony Romo, he has a tendency to make poor decisions that can lead to turnovers. I expect a high scoring affair, and maybe even a close game that is decided in the 4th quarter. However, the Bears run defense worries me more than San Francisco’s injuries in the secondary and I believe both Gore and Kaepernick will exploit the Bears frontline.
My Prediction: 28-21 49ers.
Betting Odds Courtesy of Bovada.lv:
Chicago Bears: +7 (-105) / +260 Moneyline
San Francisco 49ers: -7 (-115) / -320 Moneyline
Over/Under: 48.5
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