SANTA CLARA — That, folks, is how you bounce back.
After losing by a margin of 73-20 in their last two games, and carrying a three-game losing streak, the Niners turned in their finest all-around performance of the season Sunday and delivered a blowout of their own, beating the Bears 38-13 at Levi’s Stadium.
Here were the studs and duds of the beat-down.
STUDS
Related Articles
Instant analysis of 49ers’ 38-13 homecoming rout of hapless Bears
Live 49ers updates: Short-handed Niners lead Bears in fourth quarter
49ers-Bears pregame: Hufanga, Ward, Lenoir bolster secondary
49ers’ Brock Purdy, Chicago’s Caleb Williams take divergent routes as franchise quarterbacks
49ers make moves with Nick Bosa, Talanoa Hufanga, Jordan Mason, Aaron Banks
Jauan Jennings • WR
Another No. 1 performance from the Niners’ top receiver, catching seven passes for 90 yards and scoring two touchdowns. This guy barely separates and has slow-slow speed. It doesn’t matter — he’s the mule that can carry this offense.
Brock Purdy • QB
Ruthlessly efficient all game, Purdy had a near-perfect game on Sunday, completing 20 of 25 passes for 325 yards and two touchdowns. The advanced numbers were even better. Purdy had a QBR of 94.6 (out of 100) and a total of 22.8 expected points added.
Let me translate that: We’re getting a break from the “Should the Niners pay Brock” content.
George Kittle • TE
Kittle was undoubtedly open in this game, and Purdy found him repeatedly to the tune of six catches for 151 yards on Sunday.
With the Bears, down their head coach (also their defensive coordinator), running basic zone coverage — like it was the preseason — all game, Kittle had a field day slipping behind the Chicago linebackers and beating them in open space on screen passes.
It was just like old times.
Isaac Guerendo • RB
It wasn’t the prettiest game on the ground, but the output cannot be questioned. Guerendo averaged 5.2 yards per carry on 15 attempts (78 yards), scored two touchdowns, and added two catches for 50 yards. The 49ers’ offense hummed with him in the backfield, even if he did almost get Purdy killed with some of his pass protection.
Guerendo did go to the locker room with a foot injury with 6-plus minutes to play in the fourth quarter. That’s bad news with the Niners playing again on Thursday.
De’Vondre Campbell • LB
It’s was a flashback game for the much-maligned (particularly by me) linebacker. With Fred Warner again laboring while playing on a broken bone in his ankle, Campbell played his best game of the season Sunday and helped the Niners open a 24-0 lead, leading the team with seven tackles.
The 49ers’ pass rush
If only every game could be against the Bears’ offensive line. Regardless, the Niners’ pass rush — which has been abysmal without Nick Bosa — teed off on rookie quarterback Caleb Williams and the Bears’ abysmal protection. Standout games for Yetur Gross-Matos and Leonard Floyd led the way for San Francisco.
DUDS
Related Articles
Kurtenbach: Do the 49ers have any pride? We’re about to find out
Kurtenbach: The end of the 49ers’ season is a referendum on Brock Purdy
The music has stopped playing for the ‘last dance’ 49ers
49ers Studs and Duds: A blizzard of bad play as the Niners drop a third straight game
Kurtenbach: The 49ers can’t wait on their underperforming superstars any longer
Deebo Samuel • WR
He couldn’t get anything going on the ground or in the screen game against this all-you-can-eat buffet that is the Bears defense. Isn’t that telling?
Samuel had two catches for 22 yards and ran the ball five times for 13 yards.
The old Deebo is not there. He’s probably not coming back anytime soon.
Ji’Ayir Brown • S
The Niners played Talanoa Hufanga over him all game, but when an injury to Malik Mustapha put him in action, it was obvious he was on the field in both the run and pass game. And no, I don’t mean that in a good way. Just call him Touchdown Brown.
Kyle Shanahan (when he threw the flag for his first challenge)
It didn’t matter, and this is nitpicking, but Kyle Shanahan did challenge a spot that had already been adjudicated by instant replay moments before. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that. And, get this: he lost the challenge.
Jake Moody • K
Missed the landing zone after the Niners’ fourth score of the game. Why are the 49ers trying something out there? What happened that led to the failed execution? The error gave the Bears the ball at the 40-yard line with 1:50 to play in the second quarter. If it were any other team playing the Niners, that would have cost San Francisco at least 3 points.
Then he did it again in the fourth quarter!
The Bears’ defense
Not for being bland and awful all game, but for celebrating an interception of a backup quarterback down 38-13 with less than two minutes to play.
I asked before the game if the Niners had any pride. Do the Bears have any shame?
