The Chicago Bears play their first game since their midseason coaching change Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif.
Thomas Brown, who replaced the fired Matt Eberflus, will make his debut as interim head coach and try to help the Bears (4-8) dig out of a six-game losing streak.
The 49ers, meanwhile, have lost three games in a row to the Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers and Buffalo Bills to drop to 5-7 amid a slew of injuries.
As kickoff approaches, here’s our snapshot look at the game.
Person in the spotlight
Thomas Brown
When Brown was asked Friday whether he prepared his pregame speech for his first game as interim coach, he joked he was going to wing it. But in reality he has been collecting his thoughts over the last week to share with his players as he leads the first game post-Eberflus.
“I believe in preparation, for sure,” Brown said. “It has been a slow build throughout the week. I do have some talking points, but I don’t believe in wasting words. Also, when guys are in the right spot in the moment, less is more. As the week goes on, I talk less and the players talk more. And when it comes down to it, I’ll have a few things to say to the guys. I’m looking forward to this game. I’m excited about it.”
Brown said preparation was crucial, too, as he dives into how he will balance being the offensive play caller with leading the entire team and how he will handle different game-management scenarios for the first time.
The Bears staff has implemented several instruction points for the situational scenarios, including a 10-minute “situational masters presentation” from newly named offensive coordinator Chris Beatty on Fridays to go over issues that have popped up around the league.
“Then it’s just more about doing a really good job of staying poised and calm in the moment and being a decisive communicator,” Brown said.
Pressing question
Can Caleb Williams continue his progress after another wild week at Halas Hall?
Williams saw the offensive coordinator and head coach that drafted him fired in the span of three weeks last month amid a six-game losing streak. The rookie quarterback admitted it hasn’t been easy navigating the Bears’ trials.
“Human nature, we’re not necessarily meant to be consistent for 365 days,” Williams said. “So that is the battle to fight for myself, for my teammates and coaches and everybody. I will say it’s not easy to keep going and roll with the punches and keep fighting and things like that, but you have to do it.”
Williams and Brown adjusted fairly well in their three games together with Brown as coordinator, and they’re hopeful that they can continue Sunday against a 49ers defense that has stumbled recently. The 49ers gave up 73 points and 697 yards in their last two games against the Packers and Bills. And they very well could be playing Sunday without star defensive end Nick Bosa, who was listed as doubtful with hip and oblique injuries.
Brown pointed to 49ers linebacker Fred Warner as “being a problem in more ways than one, with the way he communicates.” Warner, who this week told reporters he is playing through a fractured ankle, has two interceptions, including a pick-six, six passes defended, four forced fumbles and 88 tackles this season.
“You try to find different ways to get him looks,” Brown said. “If you give him the same presentation, he will diagnose it, communicate with his defense and meet you at the ball. You have to try and figure out how to make some adjustments with that.”
Keep an eye on …
49ers running back Isaac Guerendo
The rookie steps into the spotlight this week after the 49ers planned to place their top-two running backs, Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason, on injured reserve with knee and ankle injuries, respectively.
The injuries are a blow to Kyle Shanahan’s offense, which defensive coordinator Eric Washington said is “really, really intent on running the football when they are at their best.”
Guerendo, who was a fourth-round pick out of Louisville, has 42 carries for 246 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games while taking a backseat to Mason and then McCaffrey, who missed time early with Achilles tendinitis.
Now the 49ers will need more from Guerendo to complement their passing game led by quarterback Brock Purdy, tight end George Kittle and wide receiver Deebo Samuel.
Washington, who will take over calling plays, called Kittle a matchup issue and Samuel a very versatile player.
“(Samuel) can align at multiple positions,” Washington said. “He is the key to everything that they desire to do. He’s a very versatile player, strong possession guy, can also get behind you. A runner once he possesses the football. So we have to be aware of that and make sure that we understand how they’re utilizing him and that we do a good job of managing his personnel packages.”
Positive energy
Bears wide receiver DJ Moore looked around a noisy Friday afternoon locker room when asked how the team has handled the recent coaching changes.
“You hear it? It’s like a brighter day in here,” Moore said. “We’ve still got time to go put some wins out there and stack ’em. That’s what everybody is looking forward to.”
At least on the surface, Bears players seemed motivated this week to orchestrate a turnaround after the recent upheaval. Moore said he could feel energy in practice and in the locker room during the week.
Cornerback Jaylon Johnson said he thinks there is personal motivation for players and coaches too amid the changes as they realize they could have some new people to impress very soon.
“Individually, guys have got to show up, got to make plays, because if Thomas isn’t the one that is here, a lot of us have got to restart,” Johnson said. “And whoever comes in we’ve got to reprove ourselves to them and figure out a way to stay on the roster. … I think everybody is really trying to make sure their resume speaks for itself in these last five games.”
Injury report
Moore and running back D’Andre Swift, who both have quad injuries, were limited in practice Friday and listed as questionable to play in the game. Brown said they ran two to three plays per period and looked pretty good.
Moore smiled and said, “Maybe, we’ll see,” when asked if he would play Sunday. He said he injured himself at the beginning of the game last week.
“I played through it,” he said. “I play through everything.”
The Bears ruled out safety Elijah Hicks (ankle), running back Roschon Johnson (concussion) and guard/center Ryan Bates (concussion).
Brown said Travis Homer, whom he coached when they were both at Miami, can be a dependable replacement for Johnson.
Offensive linemen Darnell Wright and Coleman Shelton, safety Kevin Byard and wide receiver Keenan Allen, who battled injuries during the week, are good to play.
For the 49ers, left tackle Trent Williams, safety George Odum, linebacker Dre Greenlaw and Mason have been ruled out. Bosa is doubtful. Guard Aaron Banks, linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles and safety Talanoa Hufanga are questionable.
Predictions
Brad Biggs (8-4)
It feels counterintuitive picking the Bears. We’re at the point at which they should have to show they can do it to believe it’s going to happen, right? Especially considering how they’ve crumbled in so many wildly different clutch moments. But the 49ers are a shell of what they were a season ago. They have been wracked by injuries like really no other team in the league. Extra time off for the Bears should help coming off the Thanksgiving Day disaster. Making this selection even more iffy is the health of wide receiver DJ Moore and running back D’Andre Swift, among others. Confidence in this pick is very low, but the Niners have a preseason-finale depth chart at too many positions.
Bears 21, 49ers 20
Colleen Kane (8-4)
It’s difficult to know what to expect from the Bears in the most tumultuous of weeks at Halas Hall. Can Thomas Brown handle both offensive play calling and head coaching duties? How will Eric Washington fare in taking over defensive play calling for Matt Eberflus? Will the players falter in light of all the change or find a spark because of it? What we do know is the 49ers are a heavily injured team that hasn’t been playing well lately. And the Bears are a team that hasn’t been able to close out close games — and hasn’t won a road game under rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, beyond the London “home” game. The Bears’ recent track record doesn’t inspire enough confidence to predict the end of their losing streak.
49ers 24, Bears 21
Dan Wiederer (8-4)
Weeks ago I vowed that I could not in good conscience pick the Bears again until they had won again, needing evidence that this team still has what it takes to stop their alarming free fall. But I’m lifting that self-imposed restriction this week. Why? Well, there’s a sense that Matt Eberflus’ exit and Thomas Brown’s promotion has elevated the energy and purpose inside Halas Hall and created a surge of belief that should be evident Sunday. The Bears still need to be tough and physical and sharp in game-defining moments. But here’s one vote of confidence that they can get that done.
Bears 24, 49ers 23
