Chicago Bears vs. San Francisco 49ers: Live updates from Levi's Stadium in California

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The Chicago Bears begin their next chapter on Sunday in California. The team is playing its first game since firing head coach Matt Eberflus. This will mark the first game with interim head coach Thomas Brown in charge.

The Bears (4-8) have lost six consecutive games. The 49ers (5-7) are also struggling amid a rash of injuries. Bears quarterback Caleb Williams has been hot since Brown took over the offense three weeks ago. The Bears hope that continues on Sunday.

Shaw Local Bears beat writer Sean Hammond will be reporting live from Santa Clara, California. Follow Hammond on X at @sean_hammond, on Instagram at @bears_reporter and on Threads at @bears_reporter. Shaw Local enterprise reporter Michal Dwojak will be reporting from Chicago. Follow Dwojak @mdwojak94 on X and at the same handle on Threads. Shaw Local Bears analyst Marc Silverman will provide his thoughts on X at @WaddleandSilvy.

Stay here all game long for live updates.

49ers win

The 49ers closed out a dominant win, 38-13, at Levi’s Stadium. The Bears dropped to 4-9 on the season with the loss and they now have lost seven consecutive games. The 49ers out-gained the Bears with 452 yards to the Bears' 162 total yards.

Caleb Williams finished his day with 134 passing yards and two touchdowns on 17-for-23 passing. Rome Odunze totaled four catches for 42 yards and two touchdowns.

Odunze scores again

Bears rookie receiver Rome Odunze scored his second touchdown of the afternoon to cap off a quick scoring drive in the fourth quarter. Caleb Williams tossed a 14-yard touchdown pass over the middle of the field for Odunze. Odunze has four catches for 42 yards and two touchdowns.

The 49ers lead, 31-13, with 11:48 to go.

After a Williams turnover, 49ers score again

On the following Bears possession, Caleb Williams turned the ball over on what was ruled a fumble. Williams tried to stop his arm as he was throwing and he lost control of the football. The ball bounced straight into the ground and was ruled a fumble with replay assist.

After the turnover, the 49ers scored on a 4-yard touchdown run from rookie running back Isaac Guerendo.

The 49ers lead, 31-6, with 14:57 remaining in the game.

Rome Odunze scores touchdown

The Bears received the kickoff after halftime and quarterback Caleb Williams led the offense on a 70-yard touchdown drive. The Bears capped the possession with a 4-yard touchdown pass from Williams to fellow rookie Rome Odunze.

Odunze, the No. 9 overall draft pick, hadn’t found the end zone since Week 3. It was just his second touchdown of the season.

The 49ers still lead, 24-6. The Bears went for an unsuccessful two-point try.

49ers add field goal

The Bears offense went three-and-out for the third time and punted for the fourth time in four possessions. It was an inauspicious start for Caleb Williams and the Bears offense.

Meanwhile, the 49ers scored on an easy field goal from kicker Jake Moody. San Francisco extended its lead to 24-0 with 1:50 to go in the first half.

The 49ers took that lead into halftime. They out-gained the Bears with 319 total yards compared to four yards for the Bears in the first half.

Jennings scores 2nd touchdown

The 49ers were well within field goal range when they faced a fourth-and-1 at the Bears' 23-yard line. Rather than kick the field goal, San Francisco went for a potential early knockout punch. Quarterback Brock Purdy successfully picked up a yard on a QB sneak and the 49ers kept rolling.

A few plays later, Purdy found receiver Jauan Jennings for a 16-yard touchdown pass. It was Jennings' second touchdown of the afternoon.

The 49ers took a three-possession lead, 21-0, with 7:41 to go in the second quarter.

49ers rookie RB Guerendo scores touchdown

After San Francisco scored a touchdown quickly on its opening drive, the Bears and 49ers traded punts several times. The Bears went three-and-out on their first possession and were forced to punt back to the 49ers. On their second offensive drive, they picked up one first down but quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked on a third-and-10 to force another punt.

The 49ers, who were already without left tackle Trent Williams, lost interior lineman Ben Bartch to an ankle injury.

Later, 49ers rookie running back Isaac Guerendo made an acrobatic catch down to the 1-yard line. On the next play, Guerendo scored an easy 1-yard touchdown.

The 49ers extended their lead, 14-0, with 1:39 to go in the first quarter.

49ers score first

The Bears won the coin toss but elected to defer until the second half.

So it was the 49ers who received the opening kickoff. They drove 70 yards in just five plays and scored on a 7-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Brock Purdy to receiver Jauan Jennings.

San Francisco went up, 7-0, very quickly. The drive used only 2:40 of game time.

Bears announce inactive players

DJ Moore and D’Andre Swift are both active and expected to play Sunday. Both players entered the day listed as questionable with quad injuries, but both will suit up.

The following Bears players are inactive and will not play Sunday: receiver Tyler Scott, running back Roschon Johnson, offensive lineman Ryan Bates, defensive end Dominique Robinson, safety Elijah Hicks, defensive back Ameer Speed and offensive tackle Larry Borom.

Latest injury updates

Notably, the 49ers already ruled out All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams and star pass rusher Nick Bosa on Friday afternoon. Those are two big blows for the 49ers in the trenches. They were already expected to be without running backs Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason, who both went on injured reserve this week.

Expect rookie Isaac Guerendo to start at running back and see the majority of the touches for head coach Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers.

For the Bears, receiver DJ Moore and running back D’Andre Swift are both listed as questionable with quad injuries, but both are widely expected to play. The Bears ruled out offensive lineman Ryan Bates (concussion), running back Roschon Johnson (concussion) and safety Elijah Hicks (ankle) on Friday.

The team called up running back Darrynton Evans and safety Adrian Colbert from the practice squad on Saturday for additional depth at those positions.

What to expect from Thomas Brown

The big question this week is what does this Bears team look like now that it has turned the page on the Eberflus era?

Brown will continue to call plays for the offense. He promoted wide receivers coach Chris Beatty to offensive coordinator. Brown also designated Beatty as his clock management guy in the waning minutes of each half. Managing the end of halves was Eberflus' biggest flaw as the head coach. Brown hopes they can do it better.

These final five games are a huge opportunity for Brown. Just three weeks ago, he was the passing game coordinator, two rungs below head coach on the organizational chart.

Can Brown win over his bosses and keep the job? It’s not out of the realm of possibilities, but the Bears must play well over the final five games.

General manager Ryan Poles and team president Kevin Warren will begin an “exhaustive” search for the team’s next coach.

With Poles and Warren working in tandem during the search, Silvy is wondering who is really in charge of this hiring process. Read his full weekly column here.

Here’s the ultimate list of Bears head coaching candidates, including more than 30 potential names to consider.

Here’s the latest on the 49ers

The 49ers have lost three consecutive games. This is a team that represented the NFC in the Super Bowl less than a year ago. But Shanahan’s group is struggling right now.

Here are the top five storylines to watch in Week 14.

In his first few media sessions, Brown has been a much different personality than Eberflus. Here’s what Brown said this week about his vision for the team moving forward.

Williams' development at the quarterback position will continue to be the most important thing to watch over the final five games. Here are five young Bears players to watch over the final five games.

What else did I miss this week?

Here’s what else was happening at Halas Hall this week.

[ Before the Bears fired Matt Eberflus, frustrations boiled over in post-game locker room on Thanksgiving ]

[ Hammond: Matt Eberflus’ clock had run out, the Chicago Bears had no choice but to move on ]

[ The ultimate list of potential coaching candidates for the Chicago Bears ]