The Bears and 49ers face off in a highly anticipated matchup on Sunday night. This game carries massive playoff implications, as the winner will put themselves in a great position to host a playoff game. Both teams currently stand at 11-4 and have a shot at claiming the NFC’s number one seed if they continue their strong performances over the final two weeks.
Given that these are two of the top teams in the conference, the game is expected to have a playoff-like atmosphere, making it an exciting and intense showdown.
### Bold Hypotheses for Sunday Night
#### Neither Team Punts Once
The 49ers’ offense has been absolutely on fire lately, and I expect them to continue rolling on Sunday night. For context, the Packers didn’t punt once last week, and Brock Purdy is a much more effective quarterback than the combination of Jordan Love and Malik Willis.
In fact, the 49ers themselves haven’t been forced to punt since their Week 13 game against Cleveland. Their offense has been downright unstoppable. I anticipate a high-scoring affair on Sunday night.
It’s worth noting that there have only been seven games in NFL history without a single punt. For this to happen, so many factors have to align perfectly—sometimes, unexpected mistakes or turnovers come into play (more on that shortly). Still, I feel there’s a real shot we witness the eighth such game in history.
#### Chicago’s Defense Forces Three Turnovers
When talking about things occasionally going wrong for an offense, it’s important to clarify that turnovers do not count as punts. Despite the 49ers’ offensive dominance, they have been prone to critical mistakes in the turnover department this season.
They have given the ball away 20 times, which ranks as the tenth-most in the league, and have suffered multiple turnovers in five games. I expect 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will turn the ball over a few times on Sunday night. Additionally, Chicago’s defense could force a fumble, pushing their turnover total to three by the end of the game.
The Bears currently lead the league with 31 takeaways, including nine games with multiple takeaways this season. Sunday night could very well mark their tenth such game.
#### Luther Burden III Finishes with 125 Yards and a Touchdown
Luther Burden III will return to the lineup after being sidelined with an ankle injury in last week’s loss to Green Bay. I expect him to have a big game.
Burden is coming off his best performance of the season, recording six catches for 84 yards against Cleveland. He has carved out a key role in Chicago’s passing attack.
The 49ers’ defense has struggled at times against the pass this season, allowing 3,582 passing yards (twelfth-most in the league) and 27 passing touchdowns (tied for sixth-most). With Sunday night’s game shaping up to be a surefire barnburner, Burden should have plenty of opportunities to showcase his talents.
I believe he will take full advantage of those chances and set a new career-high in receiving yards.
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### More Chicago Bears News
– The Bears have had one of the most improbable seasons of all time
– What to expect from Bears’ receiver Jahdae Walker going forward
– 49ers’ head coach Kyle Shanahan is a big fan of Caleb Williams
Stay tuned for what promises to be an electrifying Sunday night showdown between two NFC playoff contenders!
https://www.si.com/nfl/bears/onsi/news/3-bold-predictions-for-the-bears-49ers-game-on-sunday-night