The Magnificent 7

Seven players who made the biggest impact in the Bears' 42-38 loss to the 49ers on Sunday night at Levi's Stadium.

1. Brock Purdy

Threw a pick-6 on the 49ers' first play from scrimmage but never flinched and — like J.J. McCarthy in Week 1 against the Bears — got off the mat and responded with a superior performance that almost made you forget he threw the pick-6 in the first place. Despite playing without tight end George Kittle and Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams (who was injured on the pick-6), Purdy willed the 49ers to victory — with three touchdowns passes, including the game-winning 38-yarder to Jauan Jennings with 2:15 left, and added two nifty touchdown runs of 10 and three yards. He completed 24 of 33 passes for 303 yards for a 118.6 passer rating — it was 135.3 after the pick-6.

2. Caleb Williams

He's been a clutch performer in crunch time throughout the season but took that trait to another level in this one — raising his entire game from start to finish to match the playoff-like moment. It was the best sign yet that Williams is developing the "it" factor that allows quarterbacks to put a team on his back and strike fear in opposing defenders and defensive coordinators. He completed 25 of 42 passes (59.5%) for 330 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions for a 100.3 passer rating, played aggressive with nary a risky throw. He even had an Aaron Rodgers Special — looking deep for a 36-yard touchdown pass to Colston Loveland on a free play after the 49ers were flagged for offsides. And until Loveland's late drop, Williams commanded a focus in the offense (no turnovers) that put the Bears in position to win. He came one throw short of a signature moment in the national spotlight, but this was a big step forward.

3. Luther Burden

The rookie from Missouri lives for moments like this — he's the C.J. Gardner-Johnson of the offense — and responded in kind with eight receptions for a career-high 138 yards and a 35-yard touchdown from Williams that tied the game 14-14 in the second quarter. This was one of those games that makes DJ Moore (one reception, seven yards) look expendable — Burden has Moore's big-play ability and even better run-after-catch instincts. And Williams seems to look for him in key moments like when he was under pressure on third-and-eight from the Bears 37-yard line and found Burden for a 27-yard gain. His injury on the final play was noteworthy, but he talked to reporters after the game — which doesn't usually happen when a player is seriously injured

4. Christian McCaffrey

Only fatigue seemed to slow down the fabulously versatile McCaffrey, whose status as the 49ers' MVP if not the league's was evident with his all-out heart-and-soul performance. McCaffrey had 23 carries for 140 yards and a five-yard touchdown that gave the 49ers a 21-14 lead in the second quarter. His 43-yard run around left end in the first quarter would have been a 10-yard gain or less for many running backs. McCaffrey added four receptions for 41 yards, including an 18-yard gain to the Bears 38-yard line on the game-winning touchdown drive that was typically as much will as skill. How Kyle Shanahan ignored him in the third quarter of Super Bowl LVIII in 2024 — one carry in three possessions with a second-half lead over the Chiefs — is still confounding.

5. T.J. Edwards

Who knew that when Edwards intercepted Purdy's pass (that was deflected by cornerback Jaylon Johnson) and returned it 34 yards for a stunning touchdown on the first play from scrimmage that it would just about be the only defensive play of the game? It wasn't exactly a tone-setter — the 49ers scored touchdowns on four of their next five possessions. But it typified the Bears' uncanny knack for big plays that make an otherwise shaky defense a big part of the 2025 Bears success. Edwards also had nine tackles.

6. Jake Tonges

The beauty of offenses like Kyle Shanahan's (and Ben Johnson's) is that when star players are out with injuries, their back-ups produce. With All-Pro tight end George Kittle out, Tonges wasn't just a place-holder, but filled the pass-catching role with seven receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown. In arguably the biggest down of the game for the 49ers — third-and six from the 49ers 29 with the Bears leading 38-35 with 4:32 left in the fourth quarter — Tonges caught a seven-yard pass to keep the drive alive. Five plays later, Purdy hit Jennings for the winning touchdown. Tonges started his NFL career with the Bears in 2022. He had one target and no catches in 16 snaps off the practice squad.

7. Austin Booker

The second-year defensive end has been taking advantage of opportunities since returning from an injury and replacing injured starter Dayo Odeyingbo — and he did it again Sunday night when 49ers Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams suffered a hamstring injury on the T.J. Edwards pick-6 on the first play from scrimmage. Booker had a much better matchup against back-up Austen Pleasants — who spent five weeks on the Bears' practice squad last year. He beat Pleasants for a sack in the second quarter and a pressure on Purdy that forced a third-down incompletion and punt in the fourth quarter that led to Cairo Santos' field goal that gave the Bears a 38-35 lead. Booker also had two deflected passes as he continues to be a symbol of the Bears' uplifting season — an upgrade over Odeyingbo, arguably their most disappointing free agent signing last offseason.

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