SANTA CLARA, Calif. (Interstat) — In a game defined by offensive fireworks and a stunning early turnover, the San Francisco 49ers outlasted the Chicago Bears 42-38 in a high-stakes NFL showdown on Sunday, December 28, 2025, at Levi’s Stadium.

A crowd of 71,836 witnessed a contest that defied pregame projections, as the teams combined for 80 points, far surpassing the modest total predicted by oddsmakers. The victory improved San Francisco’s record to 12-4, while Chicago fell to 11-5.

The game’s pivotal moment arrived on the very first play from scrimmage. After the opening kickoff, San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy’s second pass attempt was intercepted by Chicago linebacker T.J. Edwards, who returned it for a touchdown. The stunning pick-six just 15 seconds into the game gave the Bears an immediate 7-0 lead and set a chaotic, high-scoring tone for the afternoon.

Purdy, however, demonstrated remarkable resilience. Shaking off the disastrous start, he led the 49ers on an immediate 10-play, 65-yard answering drive, culminating in a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jake Tonges. This began a pattern of relentless counter-punches that lasted the entire game.

The first half was an offensive clinic, with both teams trading blows. Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams connected with rookie receiver Luther Burden III on a 35-yard scoring strike later in the first quarter. San Francisco responded with two second-quarter touchdowns, one on a 5-yard run by Christian McCaffrey and another on a 3-yard scramble by Purdy, to take a 28-21 lead into halftime.

McCaffrey was a central figure in the 49ers’ attack, grinding out 140 rushing yards on 23 carries and adding 41 receiving yards, including a 16-yard run that set up his own touchdown.

The Bears clawed back in the third quarter, with D’Andre Swift plunging in from 2 yards out to tie the game at 28. Purdy again had the response, engineering a 13-play, 65-yard march that he finished with a 6-yard touchdown pass to fullback Kyle Juszczyk, restoring San Francisco’s lead at 35-28.

Chicago opened the fourth quarter with Swift’s second touchdown, a 22-yard burst, to knot the score once more at 35. The Bears then drove deep into San Francisco territory but stalled, settling for a 29-yard Cairo Santos field goal to take their first lead since the first quarter at 38-35 with just over five minutes remaining.

That left ample time for Purdy’s final act. Starting at his own 25, he methodically moved the 49ers downfield. A key 18-yard completion to McCaffrey and a critical defensive penalty on Chicago kept the drive alive. Facing a crucial third down near midfield, Purdy delivered his best throw of the day, a 38-yard strike down the seam to Jauan Jennings for the go-ahead touchdown with 2:15 left on the clock.

Williams and the Bears had one last chance, starting at their own 35. Williams, who finished with 330 passing yards and two touchdowns, drove Chicago to the San Francisco 11-yard line in the final minute. After a completion and lateral moved the ball to the 2, Williams spiked the ball with five seconds left. His final pass attempt into the end zone on the game’s last play fell incomplete, sealing the 49ers’ dramatic victory.

Purdy’s performance was the cornerstone of the win, completing 24 of 33 passes for 303 yards and three touchdowns, adding 28 rushing yards and another score on the ground. His ability to rebound from the opening interception, distributing the ball to nine different receivers, proved decisive.

For Chicago, Burden was a standout with 138 receiving yards on eight catches and a touchdown. Swift contributed 54 rushing yards and two scores. Edwards’ early interception return for a touchdown was a highlight for the Bears’ defense, which otherwise struggled to contain the 49ers’ versatile attack.

The game’s total points sailed over the projected over/under line of 51.5, a testament to the offensive execution that dominated the afternoon. The result solidified San Francisco’s playoff positioning while dealing a setback to Chicago’s postseason aspirations in the final weeks of the regular season.