Bears vs 49ers: Takeaways from the snap counts, stats, and more

The Chicago Bears finally get an offensive performance that wasn’t putrid, and their defense let’s them down by giving up 33 points and 467 yards to the San Francisco 49ers. The game was close through three quarters, but 18 points from San Fran in the fourth was too much for Chicago to overcome.

However, let’s not act like the offense was some juggernaut on Sunday, because 22 points and 324 total yards still isn’t that impressive. There are 19 teams that average better than 22 points a game, and 25 teams that rack up more that 324 yards each week, but for the offensively challenged Bears, Sunday was an explosion.

The Bears had more first downs (22 to 21), they were better on third down conversions (53.3% to 40.0%), and the time of possession looks ridiculously lopsided in relation to the final score with the Bears holding a 37:11 to 22:49.

Some thought the defense looked gassed in the second half, but the Bears held the ball more in all four quarters.

The ‘Niners simply made big plays and the Bears didn’t, and this was evidenced by San Francisco averaging 8.6 yards per play to the Bears 4.8.

Now let’s take a closer look at the playing time break downs for the Bears and also some of their individual stats.

OFFENSE

A Bears win and this performance by rookie quarterback Justin Fields would have been more impressive. He was the first Bears QB to rush for 100 yards (he finished with 103 on 10 attempts) since Bobby Douglass did it in 1973. He threw for 175 yards on 19 of 27 passing (70.4%), with 1 TD, 1 interception, and a passer rating of 84.6. He was also sacked 4 times and charged with 2 more fumbles.

His decisiveness in the pocket stood out to me this week. He went through 2 or 3 reads, then took what the defense game him with his legs.

Khalil Herbert had 66 yards on 13 rushes in the first half, but was just 10 attempts for 6 yards in the second half. He had 2 receptions for -4 yards. The 49ers made a concerted effort to slow down the Bears running game and they ended up with 10 tackles for loss.

Among the tight ends it was Cole Kmet catching 3 for 24 yards, and Jesse James had 3 for 38 yards and a TD,

Wide out Darnell Mooney led the Bears in receiving with 6 grabs for 64 yards. Allen Robinson had 3 for 21, and Marquise Goodwin had 2 for 32 yards.

Alex Bars only had 1 snap as an extra blocker (and it was bad), but the Bears did help out rookie right tackle Larry Borom a bit on the afternoon with running back chips and tight ends.

James Daniels and Cody Whitehair each had 2 penalties called on them, with Whitehair having a third that was declined.

DEFENSE

DeAndre Houston-Carson led the Bears with 6 tackles, and he had a pass defensed. He filled in quite a bit when Eddie Jackson hurt his hamstring after just 2 plays.

Roquan Smith chipped in with 5 tackles and a TFL, and fellow inside linebacker Alec Ogletree also had 5 tackles.

Safety Tashaun Gipson Sr. had 5 tackles and a PD.

Duke Shelley remained as the team’s primary nickel (1 tackle), and Teez Tabor played some as an extra defensive back.

Chicago's defense had no sacks and no QB hits, and according to the Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain, this was just the fourth time since 1940 that the Bears didn’t record a sack, didn’t get a takeaway, and allowed more than 400 yards.

They allowed San Fran’s Jimmy Garoppolo to go 17 of 28 for 322 yards, and a passer rating of 100.6, while running for 2 TDs, and they gave up 137 rushing yards on 18 carries to rookie running back Elijah Mitchell.

SPECIAL TEAMS*

*The above image has players that only played in the third phase.

Patrick O’Donnell had 2 punts for a 42.5 average.

Cairo Santos went 3 for 3 on fields goals, but he was 1 for 2 on extra points.

Jakeem Grant returned 6 kickoffs for a 26.0 average.

Christian Jones had a couple special teams tackles.

All statistics and snap counts are taken directly from the NFL’s Game Statistic and Information System, as are the accompanying pictures.

To check out the full Bears vs 49ers box score I find that ESPN has an easy to navigate site.