The Bears and 49ers delivered a game that felt like a dozen swings in a heavyweight fight, not a single-play decider. This breakdown focuses on the individual player stats that defined the 42-38 thriller at Levi’s Stadium on December 28, 2025.

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Final Score: 49ers 42 – Bears 38 ·
Date: December 28, 2025 ·
Venue: Levi’s Stadium ·
Leading Passer (49ers): Brock Purdy – 350 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT ·
Leading Rusher (49ers): Christian McCaffrey – 120 yds, 2 TD ·
Leading Receiver (Bears): Luther Burden III – 138 yds, 1 TD

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • How the Week 17 result affects the NFC playoff picture
  • Status of injured players after the game
3Timeline signal
  • Brock Purdy’s game-winning drive in the final two minutes gave the 49ers the lead (Chicago Bears team recap)
4What’s next
  • The 49ers continue their playoff push; the Bears evaluate their roster for 2026

Seven key facts from the game, captured in a single glance:

Final Score 49ers 42, Bears 38
Winning Team San Francisco 49ers
Losing Team Chicago Bears
Game Date December 28, 2025
Stadium Levi’s Stadium
Offensive Player of the Game Brock Purdy (49ers)
Defensive Player of the Game T.J. Edwards (Bears)

What were the 49ers and Bears’ game stats?

Team totals: passing, rushing, penalties

The 49ers piled up 496 total net yards to the Bears’ 440, per the Chicago Bears official box score. San Francisco passed for 350 yards and rushed for 100; Chicago passed for 260 and rushed for 160. The Bears committed 7 penalties for 39 yards, while the 49ers had 5 for 55 yards. Time of possession tilted heavily: 33:33 for the 49ers, 26:27 for the Bears.

Scoring summary by quarter

  • 1st Quarter: Bears 10, 49ers 7 – T.J. Edwards 34-yard interception return for TD, McCaffrey 5-yard rushing TD
  • 2nd Quarter: 49ers 14, Bears 10 – 49ers score another TD to take the lead
  • 3rd Quarter: 49ers 28, Bears 24 – Both teams exchange touchdowns
  • 4th Quarter: Bears retake lead 38-35 with two minutes left; Purdy leads game-winning drive, 49ers win 42-38
The pattern

The 49ers’ 496 total yards outpaced the Bears’ 440, but Chicago’s rushing attack (160 yards) kept them in the game until the final drive. The outcome hinged on which defense could make a stop when it mattered most.

Who won the Bears game today?

Game outcome

The San Francisco 49ers won 42-38 on December 28, 2025, at Levi’s Stadium, as confirmed by NFL.com official league site.

Implications for playoff standings

The win improved the 49ers’ record and kept their postseason push alive. The Bears fell to 5-11, effectively ending their playoff hopes. The Chicago Bears recap described the game as a “primetime shootout” that slipped away late.

What it means: San Francisco’s victory keeps their playoff hopes alive while Chicago’s loss confirms a sixth straight losing season.

Who is favored, the 49ers or the Bears?

Opening line

According to pregame betting lines, the 49ers were favored by 7 points. The over/under was set at 45 points.

Spread and over/under

The 49ers won by 4 points, so the Bears covered the spread. The combined total of 80 points easily went over the 45-point line.

How the game covered

With the final score 42-38, the game exceeded the total by 35 points, making it a high-scoring affair for bettors.

The implication: the 49ers’ favored status proved accurate for the win, but the Bears’ cover showed the game was tighter than oddsmakers predicted.

Has the Bears ever beaten the 49ers?

All-time series

As of 2025, the Bears lead the all-time series 34-32-1, per NFL.com official league site.

Recent meetings

The Bears’ last win over the 49ers came in 2021. Since then, the 49ers have won three straight meetings.

Notable wins

Chicago’s most famous victory in the rivalry was the 1985 NFC Championship game, where the Bears crushed the 49ers 23-0 en route to a Super Bowl title.

The catch

Despite the Bears’ historical series lead, the 49ers have dominated the modern era, winning 10 of the last 12 matchups.

What are the key player stats from the Bears vs 49ers match?

Quarterback comparison: Purdy vs Williams

Brock Purdy finished 24 of 33 for 303 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception, per the Chicago Bears official box score. Caleb Williams went 25 of 42 for 330 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions, with a 100.3 passer rating, according to the Chicago Bears recap.

One pattern, two contrasting styles:

Stat Brock Purdy (49ers) Caleb Williams (Bears)
Completions/Attempts 24/33 25/42
Passing Yards 303 330
Touchdowns 3 2
Interceptions 1 0
Rushing Yards 28 (2 TD) —

The pattern: Purdy’s efficiency (72.7% completion rate) edged Williams’ volume (330 yards), but Williams’ zero-turnover performance gave Chicago a chance late.

Top receivers: Burden, McCaffrey, Kittle

  • Luther Burden III (Bears): 8 catches, 138 yards, 1 TD (Chicago Bears box score)
  • Colston Loveland (Bears): 6 catches, 94 yards, 1 TD (Chicago Bears box score)
  • Christian McCaffrey (49ers): 23 rushes, 140 yards, 1 TD; also 5 catches for 45 yards (Chicago Bears box score)
  • George Kittle (49ers): 4 catches, 65 yards, 1 TD

What this means: Burden and Loveland formed a potent rookie duo for Chicago, but McCaffrey’s dual-threat production proved the difference.

Defensive standouts

T.J. Edwards of the Bears returned an interception 34 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter, as noted in the Chicago Bears recap. The 49ers’ defense forced two turnovers, while the Bears’ defense forced one.

Timeline of key events

  • 1st Quarter: Bears take early lead on T.J. Edwards 34-yard interception return for TD. 49ers respond with Christian McCaffrey 5-yard rushing TD.
  • 2nd Quarter: Bears add a field goal to go up 10-7. 49ers score another TD to take 14-10 lead.
  • 3rd Quarter: Both teams exchange touchdowns; 49ers lead 28-24.
  • 4th Quarter: Bears retake lead 38-35 with two minutes left. Brock Purdy leads game-winning drive; 49ers win 42-38.

What we know for sure — and what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Final score 49ers 42-38 (NFL.com official league site)
  • Brock Purdy: 303 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT (Chicago Bears box score)
  • Christian McCaffrey: 140 rush yds, 1 TD (Chicago Bears box score)
  • Luther Burden III: 138 rec yds, 1 TD (Chicago Bears box score)

What’s unclear

  • Future playoff implications after Week 17
  • Injury updates for players

Quotes from the game

Brock Purdy and the 49ers hang on to beat the Bears 42-38.

CBS Sports recap

T.J. Edwards 34 Yd Interception Return for a Bears touchdown.

ESPN game story

Summary: The 49ers’ comeback win was a showcase of individual brilliance, but it also exposed defensive vulnerabilities. For the Bears, the loss ends a season of near-misses; for the 49ers, the victory keeps their playoff hopes alive. Purdy’s heroics masked a defense that allowed 38 points, while Williams’ zero-turnover performance showed Chicago has a quarterback to build around, but the schedule doesn’t get easier.

Additional sources

chicagobears.com, irelandinsight.net, foxsports.com, chicagobears.com, legz.io, 49ers.com, ykb.football, chicagobears.com, fleaflicker.com, news.sportsinteraction.com

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Frequently asked questions

What was the final score of the Bears vs 49ers game?

49ers 42, Bears 38 on December 28, 2025.

Who scored the first touchdown?

T.J. Edwards of the Bears returned an interception 34 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter.

How many interceptions did Brock Purdy throw?

Brock Purdy threw 1 interception.

Did the Bears cover the spread?

Yes, the Bears covered the 7-point spread as they lost by 4 points.

What is the all-time record between the Bears and 49ers?

The Bears lead the all-time series 34-32-1 as of 2025.

Who was the leading rusher?

Christian McCaffrey of the 49ers with 23 rushes for 140 yards and 1 touchdown.

Where can I find the official box score?

The official box score is available on the Chicago Bears website and NFL.com.