SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) 鈥� Brock Purdy and the San Francisco offense did everything they could for the first 58 minutes in a nearly flawless performance. At the end, they were just spectators when the beleaguered defense finally came through with a stop.
Purdy threw with 2:15 left, and the 49ers forced from the 2 to beat the Chicago Bears 42-38 on Sunday night and set up a Week 18 showdown for the top seed in the NFC.
Caleb Williams drove the Bears (11-5) down the field in the closing seconds and had one last shot for the win. But Bryce Huff forced him out of the pocket and his throw short-hopped Jahdae Walker in the end zone to seal a sixth straight victory for the 49ers (12-4).
鈥淔or them to finish out the game like that, I was so happy for them. I was sitting there not being able to do anything but watch,鈥� Purdy said. 鈥淭o be able to celebrate was a cool team win. There鈥檚 nothing like that. It was pretty special.鈥�
That gave the 49ers a chance to win the NFC West and get a bye by beating Seattle (13-3) in the season finale on Saturday night. A win would give San Francisco home-field advantage and a chance to stay home all postseason, with the Super Bowl set to be played at Levi鈥檚 Stadium on Feb. 8.
鈥淲e鈥檝e earned this,鈥� coach Kyle Shanahan said. “This is the game we want. We love that it鈥檚 here. We have an opportunity to never leave here again this year.鈥�
The loss ends the Bears鈥� hopes of earning the top seed. Chicago has already clinched the NFC North and can earn the No. 2 seed by beating Detroit next Sunday.
Purdy followed his career-high five TD-pass performance last week against Indianapolis by throwing for three scores and running for two to become the sixth player since the AFL-NFL merger with back-to-back games with at least five touchdowns.
Purdy finished 24 for 33 for 303 yards, while Christian McCaffrey ran for 140 yards and a score and added 41 more receiving.
Williams went 25 for 42 for 330 yards and two TDs but couldn鈥檛 deliver at the end after already leading the Bears to an NFL-record six comeback wins after trailing in the final two minutes of regulation.
鈥淚t鈥檚 frustrating,鈥� Williams said. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 want to lose a game ever. And then also, in that position, having a shot at the end is all you can ask for on this moment.鈥�
Neither defense could slow down the opposing offense for most of the night after a pick-6 by Chicago鈥檚 T.J. Edwards on the first play. The Niners led 28-21 at halftime.
The teams then traded touchdowns on the first three drives of the second half, with D鈥橝ndre Swift scoring on two runs for Chicago and Purdy delivering a highlight-reel play for San Francisco. He rolled to his right on a play from the 6, eluded two pass rushers and then on a play that lasted longer than 8 seconds.
鈥淚 was hoping he’d throw it away and we’d have a couple more downs,鈥� Shanahan said. 鈥淭hen I started watching him like every fan does. He made me extremely nervous and then he made my extremely happy.鈥�
The Bears finally forced a punt and went ahead 38-35 on a short field goal by Cairo Santos with 5:22 to play when they couldn鈥檛 convert on third down in the red zone.
The Bears鈥� opportunistic defense struck on the first play when Edwards caught a deflected pass and returned it 34 yards for Chicago鈥檚 first defensive score on the opening play in at least 45 years, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
鈥淚t was early in the game so you do have to flush it and be ready to play a whole game after that,鈥� Purdy said.
Purdy answered his big mistake to start the game with a 65-yard touchdown drive capped by a 1-yard pass to Jake Tonges, and San Francisco moved the ball with ease all half.
Purdy added two touchdown runs and McCaffrey also scored on the ground to give the 49ers a 28-21 lead at the break despite allowing two deep TD passes by Williams.
Injuries
Bears: LB Noah Sewell left in the third quarter with an ankle injury. … DE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (concussion) left the game. … WR Olamide Zaccheaus was a late scratch with an illness.
49ers: LT Trent Williams (hamstring) left after and never returned. … CB Upton Stout (concussion) left in the second half. … TE George Kittle (ankle) was inactive.
Up next
Bears: Host Detroit on Sunday.
49ers: Host Seattle on Saturday night.
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