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If Week 17’s “Sunday Night Football” matchup is anything like what the NFL Playoffs will look like this season, football fans will love every second of the game.
The San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears, two Bears battling for the No. 1 seed in the NFC, put together an exciting primetime matchup Sunday night in the Bay Area.
But the 49ers only helped their chances at the top seed in their conference with a thrilling 42-38 win.
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Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates a touchdown against the Chicago Bears with teammate Ricky Pearsall #1 of the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter of the game at Levi’s Stadium on December 28, 2025 in Santa Clara, California. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
This was a back-and-forth battle all night long on the scoreboard, and it began on the first offensive snap of the game for the 49ers. But it wasn’t Brock Purdy and company that got good field position.
Instead, Jaylon Johnson, who bounced a ball intended for Jauan Jennings, ended up with TJ Edwards picking off the pass and taking it back 34 yards for the pick-six just 15 seconds into the game.
The 49ers immediately faced a 7-0 deficit, but Purdy was untouched all game, and it showed on the ensuing drive after the interception. San Francisco went nine plays and 65 yards down the field when Purdy found Jake Tonges, filling in for an injured George Kittle in the top tight end role, to tie the game up.
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After three straight punts, the 49ers and Bears would combine for five straight touchdown drives, starting with Purdy scrambling for a 10-yard touchdown run — the first of two on the night. It was set up by a 41-yard Christian McCaffrey run as the veteran had another successful week on the ground.
Williams would show off his laser arm, however, as he spotted rookie Luther Burden III downfield for a 35-yard strike to tie the game at 14 apiece.
McCaffrey was able to find the end zone early in the second quarter to cap a nine-play drive, but an offside by the 49ers on the ensuing drive gave Williams a free play to find rookie tight end Colston Loveland for a 36-yard touchdown.
It was the 49ers who went into the locker room with the lead, but Purdy capped a methodical 15-play drive that used up nearly nine minutes of second-quarter clock with his three-yard rushing touchdown.
As the second half began, the Bears and 49ers had just one drive each in the third quarter, but both punted for touchdowns — Kyle Juszczyk for San Francisco and D’Andre Swift for Chicago. But after Swift scored his second touchdown of the half, Williams and the Bears’ offense was finally able to regain the lead for the first time since the six to start the game.
Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears warms up against the San Francisco 49ers before the game at Levi’s Stadium on December 28, 2025 in Santa Clara, California. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
It wasn’t the touchdown head coach Ben Johnson wanted, but a Cairo Santos field goal gave Chicago a 38-35 lead with 5:22 left in the game. There was still time for San Fran, though, and Purdy didn’t waste it.
Jennings was silent with just one catch for four yards the entire game when Purdy hit him perfectly in stride and he took it the distance for a 38-yard touchdown catch-and-run to retake the lead.
The four-point deficit to the Bears meant Williams had to find the end zone with just over two minutes left to play. They were able to convert it on fourth-and-5, and after a smart catch-and-pitch from Loveland to Swift, the Bears were at the two-yard line with four seconds left.
Williams probed the end zone and kept the play alive with his legs, but he was unable to find Jahdae Walker for the game-winning touchdown.
As a result of the loss, the Bears will no longer be the No. 1 seed. On the other hand, the 49ers are just one win away from clinching as they play the Seattle Seahawks next week.
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In the box, McCaffrey gained 181 yards from scrimmage, including 140 on the ground on 23 carries with his score. Purdy was 24-of-33 passing for 303 yards and three touchdowns with one interception while rushing for 28 yards and his two touchdowns.
For the Bears, Williams was 25-of-42 for 330 yards and two touchdowns, while Burden finished the night with 138 receiving yards on eight catches with his touchdown.
