A well-placed 30-yard deep pass from Brock Purdy to wide receiver Ricky Pearsall helped the San Francisco 49ers get back into a strong position and move into Chicago's territory. This was one of several key plays that set the tone for a first half full of action. By the end of the first half, the 49ers led the Bears 28-21 in a tightly contested game with big playoff implications.
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| PHOTO: Brock Purdy |
Facing an 11-win Chicago team known for its late-game heroics, the 49ers focused on keeping control.
Purdy played a crucial role in that. He was undefeated in primetime games before Week 17 and kept improving with smart decisions, timely runs, and calm leadership. By the end of the half, Purdy had three total touchdowns, throwing for 164 yards and adding 23 more on the ground, including two rushing touchdowns. Whether he was making big plays on third down or running himself when needed, he kept the 49ers on track and minimized the momentum swings that the Bears are known for.
That calmness was also helped by Christian McCaffrey, who once again led the way for the offense.
The All-Pro running back had 121 yards and a touchdown on 18 first-half carries, helping keep the game steady whenever it started to get fast-paced. With McCaffrey setting the pace and Purdy directing the team, the 49ers balanced their explosive plays with control.
However, the Bears remained a threat.
They had six fourth-quarter comebacks all season and a defense that can change games with big plays. Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams has shown all year that he thrives in chaotic situations, so the second half was sure to be unpredictable.
For Purdy, this kind of performance has become routine.
Once the last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft — forever called "Mr. Irrelevant" — he has created one of the most unlikely success stories in the league. After taking over as the starting quarterback in San Francisco due to injuries, he went 5-0 and guided the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game. In his second season, he silenced any doubts, leading the NFL in efficiency stats, earning a Pro Bowl spot, and taking the team to Super Bowl LVIII, where they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in overtime.
His journey began long before the NFL.
Growing up in Queen Creek, Arizona, Purdy was determined to play quarterback from the age of five, inspired by Tim Tebow and influenced by a competitive family. At Iowa State, he became a record-breaking quarterback, throwing for over 12,000 yards and 81 touchdowns while setting school records. Despite that impressive resume, scouts doubted his arm strength and athletic potential — concerns that led to him being picked last in the draft.
Now, those doubts seem like a distant memory.
As halftime ended on Sunday night, the 49ers were exactly where they wanted to be: ahead on the scoreboard, in control of the game's tempo, and confident in their quarterback to complete the job. The 49ers were 4-0 in primetime before the game, and one more steady half could take them to 5-0 — provided they could hold off a Bears team that has built a reputation for turning pressure into wins when games get tight.
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