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If the Week 17 “Sunday Night Football” game looks anything like what the NFL Playoffs It will be like this season, football fans will love every second of the game.
THE San Francisco 49ers and the Chicago Bears, two Bears chasing the NFC’s No. 1 seed, put on a thrilling prime-time game Sunday night in the Bay Area.
But only the 49ers helped their chances of moving into their conference’s top seed with a thrilling 42-38 victory.
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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)
It was a back-and-forth game all night on the scoreboard, and it started on the first offensive snap of the game for the 49ers. But it wasn’t Brock Purdy and company who got good field position.
Instead, Jaylon Johnson jumping a ball intended for Jauan Jennings ended with TJ Edwards corralling the pass and taking it 34 yards for the pick-six just 15 seconds into the game.
The 49ers immediately faced a 7-0 deficit, but Purdy remained unfazed throughout the game, and it showed on the drive following the interception. San Francisco had nine plays and 65 yards on the field, as Purdy found Jake Tonges, replacing an injured player. George Kittle in the tightest role, to tie the match.
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After three straight punts, the 49ers and Bears would combine for five straight touchdowns, starting with Purdy rushing for a 10-yard touchdown – the first of two on the night. It was set up by a 41-yard run from Christian McCaffrey, as the veteran had another successful week on the field.
Williams, however, wanted to show off his laser arm, when 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 a 49ers offside on the ensuing drive allowed Williams a free play to find rookie tight end Colston Loveland for a 36-yard touchdown.
However, it was the 49ers who entered the locker room with the lead, with Purdy capping a methodical 15-play drive that used up nearly nine minutes of the second quarter with his three-yard rushing touchdown.
Early in the second half, the Bears and 49ers had just one drive each in the third quarter, but they both conceded 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 finally managed to regain the lead for the first time since that pick-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 that head coach Ben Johnson wanted, but a Cairo Santos field goal gave Chicago a 38-35 lead with 5:22 left in the game. But there was still time for San Francisco, and Purdy didn’t lose it.
Jennings stayed quiet with just one catch for four yards all game when Purdy hit him perfectly in stride and he went the distance for a touchdown and a 38-yard run to regain the lead.
The Bears’ four-point deficit meant Williams had to find the end zone with just over two minutes left. They were able to convert it on fourth-and-5, and after a nifty catch-and-throw from Loveland to Swift, the Bears were on the two-yard line with four seconds remaining.
Williams scouted the end zone and kept the play alive with his legs, but he couldn’t find Jahdae Walker for the game-winning touchdown.
As a result of this loss, the Bears will no longer be the No. 1 seed. On the other hand, the 49ers are just one win away from getting it, as they face the Seattle Seahawks next week.
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In box scoring, McCaffrey totaled 181 yards from scrimmage, including 140 on the ground on 23 carries with his score. Purdy completed 24 of 33 passes for 303 yards and three touchdowns with one interception, while rushing for 28 yards and his two touchdowns.
For the Bears, Williams went 25 of 42 for 330 yards and two touchdowns, while Burden finished the night with 138 receiving yards on eight catches with his touchdown.
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