NFL Week 17 Showdown: Bears vs. 49ers for No. 1 Seed and First-Round Bye
In Week 17 of the NFL season, the Chicago Bears (11-4) will host the San Francisco 49ers (11-4) at Soldier Field in a crucial matchup with the No. 1 seed and a first-round playoff bye at stake.
If the 49ers win, they can secure the top seed outright by winning their Week 18 game against the Seattle Seahawks, thanks to the tiebreaker advantage. Conversely, if the Bears emerge victorious, they must defeat the Detroit Lions in Week 18 and rely on at least one Seahawks loss to clinch the No. 1 seed.
The Bears' defense leads the league with 21 interceptions and 31 total turnovers. Key playmakers Kevin Byard and Nahshon Wright have been instrumental in this success. Offensively, Chicago features a two-man rushing attack by D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai, who have combined for 1,728 rushing yards. San Francisco must focus on slowing this ground game, potentially bolstered by the returns of linebacker Tatum Bethune and defensive lineman Sam Okuayinonu to enhance run defense.
The 49ers’ offense has surged with Brock Purdy back at quarterback, riding a five-game winning streak and averaging 34.2 points per game. During a 5-3 stretch with Mac Jones, the 49ers averaged 22.8 points per game. However, Purdy’s aggressive downfield style has led to turnovers, as the Carolina Panthers discovered in November when he was intercepted three times, though San Francisco still won 20-9.
San Francisco’s big-play ability remains a threat, but they have shown vulnerability to strong rushing attacks. The Los Angeles Rams exploited this in November by rushing for 126 yards and two touchdowns against the 49ers.
For the Bears to outscore San Francisco, they must avoid turnovers and capitalize on big plays while guarding against the 49ers’ explosive offense. This pivotal game will play a significant role in deciding the playoff's top seed heading into the final week of the regular season.
