Bears vs. 49ers: 3 keys for Chicago's defense in Week 14

The Chicago Bears (4-8) are attempting to rally after dropping six consecutive games, most recently losing to the powerhouse Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving last week.

Much has happened within the walls of Halas Hall over the Bears’ 10-day rest, with the organization most notably relieving Matt Eberflus of head coaching duties — the first time a head coach has been fired in-season in franchise history. Promising interim head coach Thomas Brown now inherits a talented roster, and he’s aiming to lead his team to a desperately needed victory this week over the San Francisco 49ers (5-7), who have similarly underachieved this season.

Amidst the agony of losing in such dramatic fashion over the last two months, the defense has proven its resilience in recent weeks, playing great football in spite of the odds. Their solid play has been marred with a few scarce but pivotal mistakes, however, and cleaning those mishaps up will be the next step in their progress. The 49ers present a great opportunity to have a statement game, but they’ll work their hardest to overcome their shortcomings and break their own losing streak.

Sunday will be a tale of two listless squads trying to keep their heads above water, so let’s break down the three keys for Chicago’s defense in Week 14.

1. Scheme defense around the 49ers' playmakers

San Francisco came into the 2024 season with a vast arsenal of offensive weaponry, but injuries had chipped away at their armaments, leaving the team with a much more vulnerable skill group. The 49ers lost explosive receiver Brandon Aiyuk and game-changing running back Christian McCaffrey for the year, and several other key players have been in and out of the line up with various ailments.It’s truly been the worst-case scenario for the 49ers, but their lack of playmakers is something the Bears can take advantage of on Sunday.

Chicago will likely key on their opponent’s remaining weapons, and that means receiver Deebo Samuel and tight end George Kittle have to be a priority this week. Both impact guys have had quiet weeks recently, and their lack of presence have contributed to San Francisco’s recent string of losses. Their opponents have figured out the formula to stifling head coach Kyle Shannahan’s offense, and promoted defensive playcaller Eric Washington will need to clue himself in to that solution.

In the absence of their number one receiver and running back, their offense will only be as productive as Chicago lets them be. Taking away all of their offensive options will go a long way towards a victory.

2. Pressure QB Brock Purdy

Despite Chicago losing their last three games to NFC North rivals in heart-wrenching fashion, the Bears managed to stay competitive throughout the entirety of each contest, even outplaying their foe in some instances. One aspect of the team that’s come to life in the last few weeks has been the pass rush – the Bears have notched nine sacks in the last three weeks. The pass-rushers have come to life, and they’ll need to continue their elevated level of play and harass 49ers passer Brock Purdy in Week 14.

The Bears’ nine QB takedowns is an accolade accomplished as a collective, as several defenders contributed to that mark. A solid rotation of effective rushers is certainly a nice thing to have, but Chicago could put San Francisco in a defensive chokehold if star QB hunter Montez Sweat is able to get into gear. The 49ers have been subject to lapses in pass protection as well, giving up two sacks in each of their last three games. Sweat, defensive tackle Gervon Dexter and the rest of the supporting cast may be in for a big day on Sunday.

3. Create turnovers

How’s that old saying go? “Win the turnover battle, win the game?” That certainly will apply to Sunday afternoon’s game, where the virtue of playing mistake-free football will loom large over the battle between two mistake-prone teams. Keeping possession hasn't been a problem in recent weeks for the Bears – they've committed only two turnovers in the last three games – but the once dominant Chicago defense has had a rough go of it taking the pigskin away. With head coach Thomas Brown's infectious energy coursing through the reinvigorated Bears, a renewed effort in making a game-changing play would be a welcome sight.

The 49ers will be without their top two running backs in Week 14, and their transition into a more one-dimensional passing offense may play into the Bears’ hands. They've anointed themselves as a stingy pass defense unit, and forcing Purdy to throw to a hurting receiving corps could open up interception opportunities. A couple of integral takeaways could be the deciding factor in a Bears win or loss.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears vs. 49ers: 3 keys for Chicago's defense in Week 14