SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Once-promising seasons hit new lows for the Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers last week.
The Bears suffered yet another defeat in the final moments of the game, extending their losing streak to six games. As a consequence of this disappointing run, the team made the decision to part ways with coach Matt Eberflus. On the other hand, the 49ers faced their second consecutive heavy defeat and dealt with additional key injuries. This rapid decline has seen them shift from being strong contenders for the Super Bowl to barely hanging on to a spot in the playoff race.
Both teams, currently struggling to find their footing, are aiming to turn their fortunes around in their upcoming matchup. The Bears, with a record of 4-8, will be facing the 49ers, who stand at 5-7, in a game scheduled to take place on Sunday. Notably, this will be Chicago’s first game with interim coach Thomas Brown at the helm.
“Following today’s practice, I spoke to the team and made it clear that I have full confidence in their abilities,” emphasized Brown during a press conference on Wednesday. Despite external opinions and criticism, the interim coach expressed a strong belief in the team’s talent and potential. According to Brown, success hinges on the team’s dedication to putting in the hard work each day to enhance their chances of securing victories.”
The Bears are hoping to get an emotional boost from the first in-season firing of a head coach in franchise history. Over the last 10 seasons, teams with interim coaches are 13-11 in their first game with the new coach. Those teams had a .284 winning percentage at the time they fired their coaches.
“I wouldn’t say a new voice was needed. I would say there was change that was needed,” rookie quarterback Caleb Williams said, pointing to a need for more accountability and better communication.
The Niners came into the season as the favorites to get back to the Super Bowl from the NFC after losing the title game to Kansas City last season. But a series of key injuries, bad losses and spotty play have left them in last place in the NFC West with only slim hopes of even reaching the postseason.
San Francisco lost 38-10 to Green Bay and 35-10 to Buffalo in back-to-back weeks and lost star running back Christian McCaffrey to a knee injury last week that will sideline him for at least the rest of the regular season.
The Niners already lost key players Brandon Aiyuk and Javon Hargrave to season-ending injuries and are preparing to be without stars Nick Bosa and Trent Williams for a third straight week.
“It’s just been a rocky mountain for real with the injuries and other stuff we’ve had to go through this season,” receiver Deebo Samuel said. “Our record don’t show how really good we are as a team. We’re still believing in this locker room.”
Chaotic education
Williams described Eberflus’ firing as “interesting” and “tough” and vowed to “roll with the punches” while insisting the chaos and turnover of the past few weeks could help him handle similar situations in the future.
Just 12 games into his NFL career, the prized quarterback is on his second head coach and third offensive coordinator, though Brown will continue to call plays. How does he keep the faith that his career is in good hands with this organization?
“The first part is understanding I can’t control,” Williams said. “Even if I understand or don’t understand, that doesn’t matter. I have to roll with the punches like I said before. I don’t control everything.”
Guerendo’s chance
With McCaffrey and Jordan Mason injured, the Niners running game will turn to rookie Isaac Guerendo. The fourth-round pick has 42 carries for 246 yards and two TDs this season and will be making his second start in either college or the pros. Coach Kyle Shanahan said the progress Guerendo has made since training camp makes him ready for his new role as he sees him running with more “urgency.”
“I think it takes guys some time,” Shanahan said. “You start to get a feel for it the more, if you’ve got the right stuff, the more you get reps, the more you can adjust to it. How hard you’ve got to hit stuff, how quick those holes close, how when there is a hole how you have to hit it full-speed and can’t hesitate at all or it closes like that. We’ve seen that stuff get better in practice and we’ve seen it carry over into games.”
Stop the run
San Francisco’s usually stout run defense has been anything but that this season. The Niners have struggled to slow down the opposition on the ground all year with the problem getting worse recently. The 49ers allowed 389 yards rushing the past two weeks.
“It’s been so frustrating because I know what is supposed to look like,” linebacker Fred Warner said. “That’s not it.”
Stopping the run also continues to be a sore spot for Chicago.
The Bears rank 25th overall against the run and 29th in yards allowed per rush after another difficult outing last week. They gave up 194 yards, including 144 in the first half as the Lions grabbed a 16-0 lead.
Losing veteran defensive tackle Andrew Billings to a torn pectoral muscle last month did not help. He was injured in a Week 9 loss at Arizona and is expected to miss the remainder of the season after having surgery.
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AP Sports Writer Andrew Seligman contributed to this report.
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