49ers players recall tense moments of final, game-winning drive vs. Bears

SANTA CLARA — In the 49ers’ 42-38 win over the Bears on “Sunday Night Football,” Caleb Williams and Chicago went toe-to-toe with Brock Purdy and San Francisco’s offense up until the end of the fourth quarter. With just over two minutes remaining in regulation, the Bears put together a 15-play drive, their longest of the game, attempting to leave Santa Clara with a win. Chicago moved the ball all the way to the 2-yard line but was unable to get into the end zone. San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan was proud of his defense that had everyone watching the game on the edge of their seats. “They stepped it up huge, man,” Shanahan said. “I mean, that team’s had more fourth-quarter comebacks, I think, than anyone in the history of the NFL. There’s a lot we can clean up from the whole game. Probably made too many mistakes. But, to get it done, they were at their best when their best was needed and stopped them on that last drive was huge.”Like all the fans watching the game, all that quarterback Brock Purdy and the offense could do was watch the 15 plays, hoping to keep their hopes for the No. 1 seed alive with a win. “Yeah, I was praying that whole drive,” Purdy said. “Not only that, just like pulling for our guys because it’s been a crazy year and for all those guys on defense to be able to step up and be able to compete their butt off, for them to finish out the game like that, I was so happy for them. “But obviously, yeah, I was sitting there not really being able to do anything but watch. And for them to do a great job with the defensive line containing Caleb and the boys doing a great job in coverage and then him throwing the ball short, and then to be able to celebrate. It’s a cool team win. There’s nothing like that. So, I thought it was special.”Running back Christian McCaffrey, who had racked up an impressive 181 scrimmage yards, had confidence in his defensive teammates, but shared that, like Purdy, praying was the best option while watching the game clock slowly tick down. “That’s the only thing to do at that point,” McCaffrey said with a smile. “I was just so proud of our defense and the way they stepped up. It took every single play for them and I know those guys in the locker room, they want to get better this week, but to show up and to make a play when it counts at the end is a huge deal and we will keep getting better.”Fullback Kyle Juszczyk believed that defensive coordinator Robert Saleh would come up with a way to keep the Bears out of the end zone, maybe more than most. Even with the losses of Nick Bosa and Fred Warner earlier in the season and Upton Stout leaving the game with a concussion, the fullback did not have doubt in the defense. “If I’m being completely honest, I had all the confidence in the world they were going to go make that play and make that stop,” Juszczyk said. “No matter how many [points] they give up, I’m confident that Saleh and those guys will find a way to make a play when it’s needed and that’s exactly what he did.” Linebacker Tatum Bethune, who was making all of the defensive calls on the field, was happy about the result, but believes that it should not have not come down to the wire the way it did. In the drive prior to the Bears’ final push, Bethune was called for unnecessary roughness for diving low towards an opposing player in attempt to make a stop. Still, the linebacker was ecstatic to get the win. “We shouldn’t have even let it get to that point,” Bethune said. “The offense was giving us chances. We got in the huddle and were like, ‘We got to get a stop.’ I ended up getting a penalty. Just playing hard physical and we are just out there competing and we just did what we had to do.”Cornerback Chase Lucas, who has been a solid special teams contributor, was called up in place of Stout at the nickel position. The defensive back had a feeling the game would come down to the wire“The whole week they said you got to empty the tank,” Lucas said. “Coach Kyle, all the captains said this was going to be an ice bag game, an empty the tank kind of game, so I emptied it out. I’m surprised I didn’t throw up out there. It was a good game. I’m glad we got the W.”It all came down to the final play. With four seconds left on the game clock, Williams took the snap and attempted to get away from both Bryce Huff and then Yetur Gross-Matos. Unable to get a clear view of his receivers in the end zone, the quarterback finally attempted a pass into a sea of red jerseys. “There was not much said,” Lucas said. “We couldn’t really talk. Everybody was tired, but I think coach Saleh, he called man to man and by the grace of god, [Williams] couldn’t find the man. He was wide open in the back of end zone, and I was there. I was there in the back of the end zone, which is why he didn’t throw it.” Corner Deommodore Lenoir, who had prevented a touchdown on a hook-and-ladder play on the previous down, shared he talked up Lucas to make sure he was ready for the final play of the game. “That last drive, it was a shootout today so just that whole drive I was talking to myself, you got to be on your stuff, everything has got to be tight,” Lenoir said. “If they come to you, you got to make the play. “I told Chase you got to nut up and that tired s–t is out the window. We are full fledge and we are going to make this play and we are going to win this game.” Lenoir was right. The 49ers now have a short week to prepared to host the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday to determine who will have the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Download and follow the 49ers Talk Podcast

49ers players recall tense moments of final, game-winning drive vs. Bears

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