(670 The Score) The Bears (4-8) will visit the San Francisco 49ers (5-7) on Sunday, with kickoff set for 3:25 p.m. CT at Levi’s Stadium.
Our 670 The Score pregame show with Mike Mulligan, Olin Kreutz and Patrick Mannelly will begin Sunday at 9 a.m. and last until 11:45 a.m., when our Bulls broadcast starts. Our postgame show will begin around 6:30 p.m., just after the final buzzer. You can listen by clicking here.
You can check out all of 670’s preview coverage of the Bears-49ers matchup by clicking here. Below are game predictions from our 670 hosts, producers and writers.
David Haugh (8-4): Bears 28, 49ers 24
This looks like the most winnable game left on the Bears’ schedule. A rash of injuries is the latest message to the 49ers that this isn’t their year. San Francisco’s running game consists of two guys who met the offensive line at practice Wednesday. The defense is compromised. Meanwhile, the Bears will benefit from the interim coach bounce and, in the locker room, there’s no doubting Thomas Brown.
Matt Spiegel (6-6): Bears 26, 49ers 17
The Bears win Thomas Brown’s debut handily, and Kyle Shanahan trade rumors pick up steam.
Chris Tannehill (7-5): Bears 34, 49ers 23
I believe that when the Bears brass meets at Halas Hall every day, the first item on their agenda is, "How do we torture our fans today?" In my world, I could easily see a talented, rejuvenated roster led by Thomas Brown gutting out a hard-fought road victory in San Francisco. Naturally, I’d be extremely happy with this. However, soon after, I’d wonder, "What could have been if they made this coaching change sooner?" Because this franchise was only built to torment us, I believe this is what will transpire Sunday.
Chris Emma (8-4): Bears 24, 49ers 20
Somewhere along their six-game losing slide, I promised not to pick the Bears again this season. But I'm a firm believer in the interim coach boost, and this game has all the makings of that. Thomas Brown will have this team prepared and playing more inspired football.
Paul Pabst (8-4): Bears 20, 49ers 17
It won’t be pretty. These are two teams with very different issues. The Niners are banged up. They’re still alive for the playoffs. I’m expecting a player-led bounce-back for the Bears. You wanted the coach gone – you got it. Now go make a statement and beat the 49ers. This will be low-scoring.
Alex Kuhn (8-4): Bears 24, 49ers 13
The 49ers are thoroughly beaten up. They have no Christian McCaffrey, no Jordan Mason and no Brandon Aiyuk. Brock Purdy is also dealing with an issue in his throwing shoulder. The Bears are the better team here. The head coach-being-fired bump is going to be real, and I expect the Bears to take care of business on both sides of the ball en route to delivering Thomas Brown his first win as a head coach.
Tyler Ferengul (8-4): Bears 23, 49ers 21
It would honestly be the most Bears thing ever for them to win a game after their big season-long aspirations are basically over, and realistically speaking, I can see it. A lot of teams rally in their first game under an interim head coach, and we haven't heard an ounce of negativity about Thomas Brown. Early in the season, this game looked like a lost cause for the Bears to win. Now, not so much. The vaunted 49ers defense has been plagued with injuries and hasn't performed close to its standard. The Bears offense has only gotten better since Brown took over, and I see another game north of 350 yards for them this Sunday. Defensively, we don't know what Eric Washington provides as a play-caller, which I think is an advantage for the Bears as the 49ers won't know exactly what's up his sleeve. The San Francisco offense is also banged up, and we've seen this trouble before out of Kyle Shanahan's team — when the injuries pile up and the 49ers fall behind, they never dig out of holes. Give me the Bears in a close one this Sunday in the Bay Area in Brown's head coaching debut. The Bears snap a six-game losing streak to move to 5-8.
Robbie Triano (8-4): Bears 24, 49ers 20
The Bears made a big, big mistake by firing Matt Eberflus, because now they’re actually going to win football games. With less than a 1% chance to make the playoffs, why did this organization decide that now was the time to make a change and prioritize winning? The focus needs to be on the future, and Eberflus was the perfect idiot to help you fail into a top draft pick. I have a question for you. Do you actually want interim head coach Thomas Brown to win? Think twice about your answer. Because if he does, you’ll have to accept that Bears ownership may remove the interim tag and hire him as their next head coach. No offense to Brown, but when this division has Dan Campbell, Matt LaFleur and Kevin O’Connell, you need to think bigger than Brown. When you have Caleb Williams, Ryan Poles (or whoever is actually making this hire) should be solely set on getting Kyle Shanahan or Sean McVay. Don’t settle for getting someone on the coaching tree when you can just get the tree. Instead, the Bears are going to win an empty calories game against a 49ers team that’s currently a shell of themselves and give Brown hope. The only silver lining of a Bears win will be giving Shanahan a front-row seat to potentially fall in love with Williams.
Tyler Buterbaugh (7-5): Bears 28, 49ers 21
Now that the Bears' main problem is off the team, I believe they'll finally breathe and have a little more pep in their step. Thomas Brown has made a great impression as the offensive coordinator and in being a likable interim head coach. The 49ers are missing Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason, a pair of huge losses for their offense. Brock Purdy hasn't played well when McCaffrey is out, and the San Francisco defense hasn't played to the level it should. I believe the Bears will have a new fire under Brown's direction, and they'll break their six-game losing streak in San Francisco.
Sean Sears (7-5): Bears 19, 49ers 13
I’m not sure why I picked this score – I’m numb to the Bears nonsense right now because I keep seeing Nico Hoerner trade rumors … but yes, the Bears! 49ers linebacker Fred Warner mentioned it earlier this week to the San Francisco media and I agree – teams that fire coaches typically come out in their next game with something to prove. But the Bears have had something to prove since, what, 1986? So the Bears will win, but it will be kind of ugly. Also, don’t trade Nico, Jed.