Bears vs 49ers Free Pick, NFL Free Picks, NFL Predictions 12/8/24

Chicago vs San Francisco (SF -4, 43.5)

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Bears vs 49ers Free Pick, NFL Free Picks, NFL Predictions 12/8/24

Chicago vs San Francisco

The Chicago Bears are in the midst of a six-game losing streak, with their latest setback coming in a frustrating loss to the Detroit Lions. That defeat marked the end of the road for Head Coach Matt Eberflus, whose poor time management during the final drive sealed his dismissal. Despite Caleb Williams continuing to develop and gain valuable experience, the Bears’ season has been a major letdown, especially after their promising 4-2 start.

Fortunately for Chicago, their upcoming opponent has also struggled mightily. Coming off a Super Bowl appearance last season, they have underperformed to levels rivaling, if not surpassing, the Bears’ disappointing campaign. This matchup offers a rare opportunity for both teams to salvage some pride in a season filled with unmet expectations.

Unlike the Bears, the 49ers’ struggles aren’t coaching-related; instead, they’ve been plagued by the injury bug. Key players like Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk, and Dre Greenlaw have all missed significant time this season, severely impacting the team’s performance. Quarterback Brock Purdy also missed their Week 12 loss to Green Bay after suffering a shoulder injury the week prior.

Purdy is set to play in this matchup, but the 49ers will still be without their star running back, McCaffrey, as well as Jordan Mason, who admirably stepped in earlier this season. Both players have been placed on injured reserve, leaving San Francisco’s offense short-handed once again.

Despite their injury struggles, the 49ers enter this matchup as 3.5-point favorites against a Bears team now under the leadership of interim head coach Thomas Brown. Brown’s primary focus for the remainder of the season will be the continued development of rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, who has shown flashes of brilliance but struggled to maintain consistency over four quarters. While Williams has done well to protect the football, with only five interceptions on the year, his tendency to hold onto the ball too long has resulted in 49 sacks—second-most in the NFL, trailing only the Browns.

The Bears' running game hasn’t done much to ease the pressure on their young quarterback, ranking in the bottom third of the league in most rushing categories. Their lone bright spot has been their ability to find the end zone on the ground, averaging one rushing touchdown per game.

If the Bears hope to keep Williams upright and continue his growth as their franchise QB, they’ll need to find a way to neutralize the 49ers’ ferocious pass rush, led by Nick Bosa, Leonard Floyd, and Fred Warner. Protecting Williams and avoiding another high-sack outing will be critical in this challenging matchup.

The 49ers currently find themselves on the outside looking in at the playoff picture—a shocking position for a team that hasn’t missed the NFC Championship game since the 2020 season. San Francisco has officially entered must-win territory, where every loss could spell the end of their postseason hopes.

Fortunately for the 49ers, they’re led by one of the league’s best coaches, who has a proven ability to maximize his roster, regardless of injuries or setbacks. With their backs against the wall, expect Kyle Shanahan to come out aggressive and determined in the first half, even with a roster that’s far from full strength. This is a team built to fight, and they’ll need every ounce of that resilience to keep their playoff dreams alive.

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49ers -4