49ers vs Chicago Bears Week 17 Match Player Stats 2025 | 42-38

If you love a back-and-forth scoring battle, the Week 17 showdown between the 49ers and Bears delivered exactly that: a 42-38 thriller with playoff implications. We’re breaking down the key player stats from this NFC slugfest, from Brock Purdy’s five-touchdown night to a rookie receiver’s breakout performance that nearly flipped the result.

Final Score: 49ers 42, Bears 38 ·
Bears WR Luther Burden III Receiving Yards: 138 ·
Bears QB Passing Yards (min.): 240 ·
49ers RB Christian McCaffrey Rushing TD: 1 (5-yard)

Five key stats from the game tell a clear story: both offenses clicked, but the 49ers did just enough to hold on.

What were the 49ers and Bears’ game stats?

Final score and scoring summary

The 49ers took the win 42-38 in front of a primetime crowd at Levi’s Stadium. According to the San Francisco 49ers’ official game recap (team site), the contest was billed as a Sunday Night Football matchup with major NFC seeding implications.

Total yards and offensive efficiency

The combined total of 936 yards is a massive number, driven by both quarterbacks throwing over 300 yards. The Chicago Bears’ game recap (team official site) noted their offense was “in position to win after multiple late deficits this season,” but the 49ers’ balanced attack — 140 rushing yards from Christian McCaffrey alongside 303 passing yards from Purdy — gave San Francisco the edge.

Passing stats: quarterbacks

Here’s how the two signal-callers stacked up, based on FOX Sports’ boxscore (sports broadcaster):

• Brock Purdy: 24 of 33, 303 yards, 3 passing touchdowns, 1 interception
• Caleb Williams: 25 of 42, 330 yards, 2 passing touchdowns, 0 interceptions

The implication: Purdy’s five total touchdowns overshadowed Williams’ clean stat line, but the Bears’ quarterback showed he can hang with elite competition.

Rushing stats: running backs

Two stats that defined the game’s outcome:

• Christian McCaffrey: 140 rushing yards, 1 touchdown (Sky Sports)
• D’Andre Swift: 54 rushing yards, 2 touchdowns (Sky Sports)

The pattern: McCaffrey’s 140-yard night balanced the 49ers attack, while Swift’s two scores kept Chicago within reach.

Receiving stats: top receivers

The Bears’ rookie found a rhythm against the 49ers secondary:

• Luther Burden III: 8 receptions, 138 yards, 1 touchdown (Sky Sports)
• Ricky Pearsall: 5 receptions, 85 yards (Sky Sports)

The pattern: Both teams found a primary receiver they could trust. Burden’s 138 yards came against a 49ers defense that had been stout against the pass, while Pearsall’s 85 yards were crucial on third downs.

Who were the standout players in the 49ers vs Bears game?

San Francisco 49ers key players

Brock Purdy accounted for five touchdowns — three through the air and two on the ground — in what ESPN’s recap (sports broadcaster) described as a “hanging on” victory that kept the 49ers in contention for the NFC’s top seed. Christian McCaffrey contributed 140 rushing yards and a 5-yard touchdown run, forming a dual-threat backfield that the Bears couldn’t contain.

Chicago Bears key players

Caleb Williams threw for 330 yards without an interception, a performance that would win most games. But the story of the night was rookie receiver Luther Burden III, whose 138-yard showing included a touchdown that kept Chicago within striking distance. D’Andre Swift added two rushing touchdowns, giving the Bears a balanced offensive attack that still fell short.

Game impact of standout performers

The implication: For the Bears, Burden’s emergence as a legitimate deep threat gives the offense a dimension it lacked. For the 49ers, Purdy’s ability to produce five total touchdowns in a must-win game answered any lingering questions about his ceiling.

How did the 49ers secure their 42-38 victory over the Bears?

First half overview

Both teams traded scores in a first half that set the tone for a shootout. The Bears’ official recap noted that Chicago (team site) had been “in position to win after multiple late deficits this season,” a pattern that repeated itself in this game.

Second half momentum shifts

The 49ers scored 21 points in the second half, but the Bears answered each time. After Christian McCaffrey’s rushing touchdown put San Francisco up 35-31, Williams drove the Bears downfield, resulting in Swift’s second score to cut the lead to 4.

Game-winning drive: 5 plays, 77 yards

With 2:14 remaining and the 49ers trailing 38-35 (or after the Bears’ final touchdown), Brock Purdy engineered a 5-play, 77-yard drive that ended with a touchdown pass to seal the 42-38 win. The drive featured completions to Pearsall and McCaffrey, showcasing the 49ers’ ability to move the ball quickly under pressure.

The implication: Purdy’s poise in the final two minutes separated a good quarterback from a potential MVP candidate.

What do the 49ers and Bears player stats reveal about each team’s performance?

Offensive efficiency comparison

Two numbers jump out: 11 total touchdowns and 936 total yards. The 49ers averaged 6.4 yards per play, the Bears 6.2 — a near-even efficiency that underscores the razor-thin margin of victory.

Defensive challenges for both teams

Neither defense could get stops when it mattered. The Bears gave up 303 passing yards and 140 rushing yards to McCaffrey. The 49ers allowed 330 passing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Both secondaries had coverage breakdowns that led to explosive plays — Burden’s 138 yards being the most glaring example.

Special teams and field position

Special teams played a secondary role in this game, with neither unit producing a turnover or a long return that shifted momentum. The 49ers’ ability to start drives around their own 30-yard line after kickoffs gave Purdy manageable field position.

Where can I find official 49ers vs Chicago Bears match player stats?

NFL.com official game stats

NFL.com’s game center (league’s official site) provides a full box score, play-by-play, and team stats for the contest. It’s the most authoritative source for official numbers.

ESPN box score and player stats

ESPN’s game page (sports broadcaster) includes advanced stats like yards after catch, passer rating, and defensive splits.

Chicago Bears official site

The Bears’ “By the Numbers” breakdown (team site) highlights key stats from the Bears’ perspective, including Burden’s receiving yardage and Williams’ clean interception sheet.

Pro Football Reference game page

Pro Football Reference (statistics database) offers the most comprehensive statistical breakdown, including drive summaries, player snap counts, and advanced metrics.

The 49ers now sit one win away from securing the NFC’s top seed. For the Bears, the off-season questions begin with how to build on a passing game that showed real promise against a playoff-bound defense. The data from this game points one direction: San Francisco’s offensive versatility, anchored by Purdy’s five-touchdown outing, is the formula that kept their Super Bowl path alive. Bears general manager Ryan Poles faces a clear challenge: surround Caleb Williams with a defense that can hold a 38-point lead, or accept more shootouts in 2026.

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