Bears bold predictions for massive Week 17 clash against 49ers

This is as big a regular-season game that the Bears have seen this season. While beating the Green Bay Packers in overtime allowed them to gain a 1 1/2-game lead in the NFC North, a victory over the San Francisco 49ers on the road will clinch the division for the Bears and deliver an opportunity to earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

This is an equally huge game for the Niners, because if they beat the Bears and the Seattle Seahawks in the final week of the season, the Niners will finish the regular season as the NFC’s top seed.

The Bears have been through a remarkable turnaround under the leadership of first-year head coach Ben Johnson and second-year quarterback Caleb Williams. The team has demonstrated a remarkable ability to perform in the 4th quarter. The end-of-game performance has given the Bears the impetus to rise from last place a year ago to a remarkable position this season.

Byard and Wright must produce 2 takeaways against 49ers attack

This week’s game against the 49ers will require the team’s best effort of the season. The 49ers are at home and they have won 5 straight games. The Niners offense is functioning at a very high level as head coach Kyle Shanahan’s team is averaging 34.2 points during the winning streak.

Brock Purdy has been under center throughout the 5-game winning streak, and he has been on fire in his last 3 games. He threw 5 TD passes in the 48-27 victory over the Indianapolis Colts Monday night, and he has a 9-1 TD to interception ratio in wins over the Browns, Titans and Colts.

While Purdy has been hot, running back Christian McCaffrey is the key to the offense. He has rushed for 1,039 yards and 9 touchdowns and he has also caught 92 passes for 849 yards and 7 TDs. McCaffrey leads the Niners in rushing and receiving.

Chicago will need a sensational effort on defense if that unit is going to contain the Niners.

The Bears defense has been successful this season largely because of their ability to take the ball away from opponents. Safety Kevin Byard has a league-leading 6 interceptions along with 83 tackles and 7 passes defensed. He will need to come away with at least 1 interception of Purdy’s throws.

Cornerback Nahshon Wright has had a sensational and unexpected season. He is right behind Byard with 5 interceptions, and he also has 1 team-leading 11 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries and 67 tackles. He has to continue to produce against the Niners.

Williams will throw 2 TD passes and D.J. Moore will catch 1 of them

There is no doubt that Williams has demonstrated his ability to come through in the clutch this season. He has overcome below average or ordinary starts with his ability to come through in the most critical moments of the game. That may not be good enough against the streaking 49ers.

Williams has...