What marks do the Bears get after their 42-38 loss against the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.?
QUARTERBACK — A-MINUS
No last-play magic for Caleb Williams this time, though he flashed such quality throughout that he looked — more so than at any other time to this point — like a superstar in the making. The first two Bears drives came and went without a first down, and the last one died at the 49ers’ 4-yard line. In between, there were touchdown darts to Luther Burden and Colston Loveland, third-and-long completions, fourth-down completions. Hello, 330 yards? No interceptions? Can’t complain about that.
OFFENSIVE LINE — B-PLUS
The 49ers went from facing 44-year-old statue Philip Rivers one week to Williams the next, which is like going from cuddling a Saint Bernard to trying to catch a border collie. Williams’ mobility always makes his linemen look good, but they kept him clean — no sacks — and allowed him to be comfortable in the pocket, which showed in the QB’s good decisions.
DEFENSIVE LINE — D-MINUS
Running back Christian McCaffrey barely got touched by these guys, and QB Brock Purdy — famously, a former ‘‘Mr. Irrelevant’’ — made them look like a bunch of Misters Irrelevant with his scrambling. Last we saw Austin Booker, he still was corkscrewed into the grass. Montez Sweat made no imprint on the game. Gervon Dexter had a damaging hands-to-the-face penalty on the 49ers’ final, go-ahead drive.
SECONDARY — D
On the defense’s first play, cornerback Jaylon Johnson broke on a Purdy throw, pawed it into the air and then watched with glee as linebacker T.J. Edwards turned it into a pick-six. Alas, it only could go downhill from there and most certainly did. Not that the absence of a pass rush helped, but the middle of the field was wide-open to 49ers receivers all game. Cornerback Nahshon Wright and safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson had especially rough times.
THE ROOKIES — A
With Rome Odunze and Olamide Zaccheaus out and DJ Moore clearly ailing, wide receiver Luther Burden III stepped forward in dramatic fashion with eight catches for 138 yards and a 35-yard touchdown. Tight end Colston Loveland hauled in six passes for 94 yards and a 36-yard TD. Undrafted wideout Jahdae Walker again appeared to belong. Running back Kyle Monangai had his moments, too. The future is bright.
COACHING — C
Ben Johnson still can’t unlock whatever it is that’s keeping the offense from clicking at the start of games, but 440 total yards and 31 points from that side of the ball is pretty dang good. It was the right, if easy, decision to go for it from the 49ers’ 31 on fourth-and-five late in the third quarter, and a nice call for the conversion led to a touchdown that tied the score at 35. Bad night to be defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, though. Where does he go from here?
