The San Francisco 49ers walked into Sunday night with little margin for error.
They walked out with everything still in front of them.
Behind another explosive performance from quarterback Brock Purdy, the 49ers survived a chaotic, high-scoring battle to beat the Chicago Bears 42–38. The win pushed San Francisco to 12–4 and set up a winner-take-all showdown against the Seattle Seahawks with the NFC West, the No. 1 seed, and home-field advantage all on the line.
It also sparked pointed reactions inside the locker room.
Not about the chaos. About the quarterback who steadied it.
Kyle Shanahan: ‘Brock’s Been Playing His Ass Off’
GettyBrock Purdy and the 49ers outdueled Caleb Williams and the Bears offense in a 42-38 win Sunday night.
San Francisco entered the game without All-Pro tight end George Kittle and lost All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams after one snap. The offense still needed to carry the night.
Purdy answered.
After throwing a pick-six on the first play of the game, he reset quickly and never faded. He finished 24-of-33 for 303 yards, three passing touchdowns, one interception, and added two rushing scores. The offense scored touchdowns on all five red-zone trips.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan did not sugarcoat what he saw.
“I thought Brock had a hell of a game,” Shanahan said. “Brock’s been playing his ass off. He made some huge plays, kept drives alive with his legs, made some off-schedule plays. He’s playing as good as it gets right now.”
That scrambling ability stood out again. One moment in particular captured it. Purdy escaped pressure, reset near the sideline, and fired across his body to Kyle Juszczyk for a touchdown.
Shanahan admitted the moment took him on a ride.
“He made me extremely nervous,” Shanahan said. “And then he made me extremely happy.”
Ricky Pearsall Noticed the Change
GettyRicky Pearsall #1 of the San Francisco 49ers.
Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall returned from injury and immediately felt the rhythm of the offense. He finished with five catches for 85 yards, leading the team.
He also noticed something different about his quarterback.
“He’s got a different swag right now,” Pearsall said. “I told him ever since he hit the Dougie, he’s been on one.”
The comment drew laughs, but the point was clear. Pearsall saw confidence and control from his quarterback.
That showed after the early mistake. Purdy stayed steady. He did not rush throws or press the moment.
When the pocket broke down or pressure arrived, he kept making the right decisions.
Why Purdy Carried the Night for the 49ers
This was not a clean win. The defense struggled. The Bears kept answering. Caleb Williams threw for 330 yards and two touchdowns and forced San Francisco into a shootout.
The difference came down to execution when it mattered.
Purdy accounted for five total touchdowns in back-to-back games, becoming the first 49ers quarterback to do so and just the second player this season to record three passing or rushing touchdowns in the first half in consecutive games. Only Matthew Stafford had matched that earlier in the year.
He also became the first 49ers quarterback since Jeff Garcia in 2003 to post at least three passing and two rushing touchdowns in the same game.
More importantly, he did it without his top tight end, without his left tackle, and without a defense to fall back on late.
That mattered.
What Comes Next for the 49ers
The win did not finish the job. It set the stage.
San Francisco now hosts Seattle on Saturday night with the No. 1 seed in the NFC still within reach. A win means a bye. Home-field advantage. And a chance to stay at Levi’s Stadium through January, where Super Bowl LX will be played.
Purdy knows the moment. He also knows the approach.
“We’re thankful to be in this position,” Purdy said. “But we’ve got to focus on the next day and the next man up. It’s cool to be here, but we’ve got to do something about it.”
Shanahan echoed that focus.
“We’ve earned this,” he said. “This is the game you want. To have a chance to play for the one seed, these guys have earned it.”
Sunday night was loud. Messy. Exhausting. And it required the quarterback to be everything.
Purdy delivered. His teammates noticed. And now, everything rides on what comes next.
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