After their turnover-filled loss at home in stormy weather just a week earlier, the entire 49ers team was happy to see nothing but clear skies at Chicago's Soldier Field come kickoff. But even without the rain and wind that caused problems in Week 7 against the Colts, things would go awry on San Francisco's opening possession. Marching into field goal range to start the game, 49ers kicker Joey Slye would attempt a 48-yard field goal to give his team an early lead, but instead missed wide right as the game remained scoreless. That was until Chicago who was without head coach Matt Nagy due to Covid, converted on a 39-yard field goal attempt by kicker Cairo Santos on their first possession of the ballgame. And while Slye would redeem himself one possession later by splitting the uprights from 48-yards out to tie the game, the Bears would aim for bigger and better things on their next possession. Hitting a trio of different receivers, Chicago's rookie QB Justin Fields showed poise early on and didn't try to overdo or force things as he eventually marched the offense into the end zone, hitting tight-end Jesse James for an 8-yard score.
With both teams exchanging field goals on their next possessions, the 49ers got the ball back with 1:16 remaining in the first half. And at the 25-second mark, it appeared that Chicago would take a seven-point lead with them into the locker room. Instead, Jimmy Garoppolo went for the home run pass and connected with receiver Deebo Samuel for a 50-yard completion before being brought down on the doorstep of the end zone at the Chicago 4-yardline. Spiking the ball with 8-second remaining, the Niners tried their luck with one shot at the end zone, but were unsuccessful as they settled for the field goal to bring them within four at 13-9. Opening the second half with another field goal, Chicago brought their lead back up to seven. Meanwhile, whatever pep talk coach Shanahan gave during halftime, seemed to resonate for the 49er offense as Garoppolo and co. came out swinging to begin the second half. Facing a 3rd and 19, Jimmy G and Deebo Samuel engaged in a simple game of pitch and catch as the receiver caught the short pass and took it 83-yards before being tripped up at the 1-yardline. Garoppolo would do the rest, finding the end zone for the touchdown. But after a missed PAT by Slye, Chicago would hang onto a 16-15 lead.
Following the first punt of the day by either team on Chicago's ensuing possession, the 49ers again struck pay dirt, this time by rookie running back Elijah Mitchell who received a little help from the offensive-line, pushing him over the goal-line and into the end zone for the score. A pass from Garoppolo to Brandon Aiyuk would result in a successful two-point conversion attempt that gave the 49ers their first lead of the day at 23-16 to start the fourth quarter. Chicago would answer with a touchdown of their own with arguably their best possession of the game, capped off with the most impressive play from their rookie quarterback. Facing a 4th and 1 at the San Francisco 22 yard-line, Justin Fields appeared to be going down for a sack as the 49er defense had him dead to rights and in their sights before he sprinted free and broke loose for a highlight-worthy run that ended with him finding the end zone. Unfortunately for him, his kicker would miss the game-tying extra-point. Fields' dazzling play would be the last time that Chicago found the end zone on Sunday.
With no Khalil Mack to worry about along the Bears' defense for Jimmy Garoppolo who was kept upright on his feet all day without taking a single sack, San Francisco received big plays from running backs Elijah Mitchell and JaMycal Hasty before Garoppolo plowed into the end zone for the second time of the day. After Joey Slye's fourth and final field goal on the game, the San Francisco defense sealed the 33-22 win with a tip-drill interception by Josh Norman. San Francisco became just the second team to not turn the ball over or punt the ball all game long against Chicago since 1940. Prior to Sunday, only the archrival Green Bay Packers in Week 4 of the 2014 season went the entire game without a turnover or punt versus the Bears. And on the four year anniversary of the trade that sent Garoppolo from New England to the Niners, Jimmy G would have his best game of the season statistically.
By throwing for a season-high 322 yards and rushing for a pair of touchdowns in a single game for the first time of his career, Garoppolo joined some elite company on Sunday by becoming one of only three 49er QB's since 1950 with 300+ passing yards and two rushing touchdowns, something only Steve Young and Jeff Garcia had accomplished before him. He would also pass both Colin Kaepernick and John Brodie for the 4th-most games with 300+ passing yards among San Francisco QB's since 1950, as San Francisco is 7-0 in games when Garoppolo has over 300 yards passing. Garoppolo's counterpart Justin Fields also had his best game yet on Sunday and was just as dangerous with his feet as he was with his arm, becoming the first Bears QB with 175+ passing yards and 100+ rushing yards in a game since at least 1950, to go along with his rushing and passing touchdowns. The quarterback's weren't the only ones breaking and setting records as 49ers receiver Deebo Samuel who has already set a career-high in receiving yards this year with 10 regular season games remaining, joined Hall of Famer Jerry Rice (1986, 1996) and Dwight Clark (1982) as the only 49er receivers with 50+ receiving yards in each of the team's first seven games. Samuel's 819 receiving yards are the most in 49ers franchise history through the first seven games of a season, surpassing Rice's record of 781 yards set in 1986.
Running back Elijah Mitchell also had himself a game to remember, becoming just the second 49ers rookie with two straight 100+ yard games in team history (Billy Kilmer). After a career-high 107 yards rushing a week ago, Mitchell set a new personal-best with 137 yards rushing on 18 carries. His 433 yards on the ground are also the most rushing yards by a 49ers running back through their first five career games since at least 1970, surpassing Ricky Watters' mark of 397 yards set in 1992.
Week 9: The 49ers (3-4) return home to host the Arizona Cardinals (7-1) in Week 9. Coming off their first loss of the season which came at the hands of Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football, Arizona hopes to receive a bounce back performance from quarterback Kyler Murray whom Green Bay's defense made look rather pedestrian after an MVP-caliber start through their first seven games to begin the season. With the winning-streak ending on a game-sealing interception thrown by Murray in the end zone, the last standing undefeated team has finally fallen and will look to get back on track against their division rival. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and company has other plans as they look to both return to .500 on the year as well as gain some ground in the NFC Western Division standings. This time with Garoppolo under-center, hopefully San Francisco can receive better play from the quarterback position than what Trey Lance was able to provide in his first career start on the road in Arizona back in Week 5 when he was held touchdown-less and threw an interception. Expected to get a few players back from injured-reserve including George Kittle, the Niners will welcome all the help they can get. One player who will not be on the field to help his team in Week 9 or any other week this season for that matter, is 49ers second-year defensive-lineman Javon Kinlaw who underwent season-ending knee surgery over the weekend.
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