The last time the 49ers played the Bears, it was a Monday Night Massacre.
In Colin Kaepernick’s first career start, the Niners blitzed the Bears 32-7 in November of 2012.
Bears linebacker Lance Briggs told the Chicago Tribune this week that his lasting memory of that game was the voice of the public-address announcer at Candlestick Park:
“Touchdownnnnnnnn, San Francisco!" he recalled. "Touchdownnnnnnn, San Francisco!”
Added Bears defensive tackle Stephen Paea, speaking of Kaepernick’s national debut: “We made him famous.”
Kaepernick went 16-of-23 for 243 yards and two touchdowns that night, putting up a passer rating of 133.1.
Now the Bears come to California again, this time to face the 49ers Sunday night in the regular-season debut of Levi’s Stadium. Chicago is coming off a surprising loss to the Bills, while the Niners got some momentum with a road victory over the Cowboys. NFL oddsmakers see another loss for the Bears and another win for San Francisco, making the 49ers 7-point favorites.
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Kaepernick is coming off a good Week 1 performance against the Cowboys, and the Bears know they’ll have to contain him – and a potent 49ers running game – Sunday night.
But the San Francisco defense faces its own challenges in quarterback Jay Cutler – who was out with in injury in that 2012 matchup – and running back Matt Forte.
Starting cornerbacks Tramaine Brock (toe) and Chris Culliver (concussion) are likely out, meaning Perrish Cox and rookie Dontae Johnson will have to step up to contain Chicago’s big and athletic wideouts Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall. In addition, the 49ers’ usually strong run defense was battered by the Cowboys, so the leaks will have to be plugged so Forte – who rushed for 1,339 yards last season and 82 in Week 1 – doesn’t run wild.
When 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was asked about his unit’s performance in Week 1, he wasn’t happy.
“It wasn’t good last week,” he told Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group. “We did not have a good game up front, versus the run and rushing the passer, particularly in the first half. We’re going to need to play the run a whole lot better in this game than we did last game.”
Added Niners linebacker Patrick Willis: “Forte, he’s one of the best all-purpose backs there is in the NFL. We have to make sure we know where he is at all times.”
