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Dec 20, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) excessive fives followers after defeating the Inexperienced Bay Packers throughout extra time at Soldier Area. Necessary Credit score: Mark Hoffman-USA TODAY Community through Imagn Photographs Two groups with aspirations of claiming the NFC’s high seed battle Sunday evening when the Chicago Bears tackle the San Francisco 49ers at Santa Clara, Calif.
Each groups have 11-4 information however the NFC North-leading Bears are at present within the No. 2 place whereas the 49ers are at No. 5.
Chicago clinched a playoff spot with final Saturday’s 22-16 extra time victory over the Inexperienced Bay Packers. The Bears may clinch the division crown if the Packers lose to the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday. If Inexperienced Bay wins, Chicago can clinch by beating San Francisco.
“My aim is not simply to get to the playoffs — my aim is to win and win huge,” Bears breakout second-year quarterback Caleb Williams stated.
Chicago additionally craves the No. 1 seed, at present held by the Seattle Seahawks (12-3).
“Our step No. 1 was to get to 11 (wins),” Bears coach Ben Johnson stated. “There’s by no means been an 11-win staff to not make it, and so we felt fairly good about that being the quantity going into the season. That was the 1st step. Step two is we need to win this division. We need to have at the least one dwelling playoff sport. After which step three could be clinch a No. 1 seed.
“So there are a number of issues nonetheless on the market to play for. Our guys know that.”
The 49ers clinched a playoff spot final Sunday, someday earlier than whipping the Indianapolis Colts 48-27.
San Francisco has received 5 straight video games and fancies a run on the No. 1 seed. The Tremendous Bowl will likely be performed in its dwelling stadium in Santa Clara this season.
The 49ers are a part of a power-packed NFC West that has three groups with 11 or extra wins, counting the present No. 6 seed Los Angeles Rams.
“We now have to now concentrate on attempting to be the very best staff we might be and see what occurs,” San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan stated. “Now it is time to place ourselves. These guys earned the precise to be within the playoffs.”
Brock Purdy handed for a career-high 5 landing passes in an outstanding efficiency in opposition to the Colts. Purdy is the primary San Francisco quarterback to throw at the least 5 TDs in a sport since Corridor of Famer Steve Younger tossed a Tremendous Bowl-record six throughout a rout of the San Diego Chargers in Tremendous Bowl XXIX (1994 season).
Shanahan was extremely impressed with the efficiency. Purdy’s opinion was extra combined.
“There are nonetheless issues that I’ve to scrub up and I simply need to get higher at,” Purdy stated. “You do not need it to come back up in one other sport and one other scenario, so (there’s) undoubtedly room for enchancment.”
Star tight finish George Kittle sprained his left ankle within the sport in opposition to the Colts and sat out Wednesday’s observe. It stays attainable he may play in opposition to the Bears.
“He is acquired an opportunity,” Shanahan stated Wednesday. “We’re not ruling him out.”
Defensive finish Yetur Gross-Matos (knee) was the one different San Francisco participant who sat out attributable to damage or sickness.
In the meantime, Williams has thrown 10 landing passes over the previous 5 video games and has 23 for the season in opposition to six interceptions. He has handed for 3,400 yards and his progress is an enormous purpose why Chicago has received 11 of its final 13 video games.
Final Sunday, Williams tossed a game-winning 46-yard scoring go to DJ Moore in OT. The Bears trailed by 10 late within the fourth quarter earlier than mounting the rally.
“You need to be a clutch staff,” Johnson stated. “You need to have the ability to deal with the strain and rise to the event. We have a staff constructed like that.”
5 Bears missed Wednesday’s observe attributable to damage or sickness. Receiver Rome Odunze (foot) is enhancing however anticipated to overlook his fourth consecutive sport.
Additionally sitting out have been linebackers T.J. Edwards (glute) and D’Marco Jackson (sickness), defensive again Nick McCloud (sickness) and return specialist Devin Duvernay (sickness).
San Francisco routed the Bears 38-13 final season and piled up seven sacks of Williams.
–Area Stage Media
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