Well, it’s official: after Chicago’s 34-17 road win over Seattle on Monday night, the San Francisco 49ers have a new team to worry about in the NFC.
The Bears have looked dangerous for a while, but the way they handled the Seahawks only sharpened the warning signs for San Francisco. Chicago didn’t just win; it looked like a team that belonged in the conversation at the top of the conference.
A big reason is Caleb Williams, who has taken another step forward. He already looked strong in 2025, and that’s saying plenty after the season he had last year. The 49ers got a firsthand reminder of what Chicago’s offense can do in that wild Week 17 matchup last season, when San Francisco escaped with a 42-38 win in a game the Bears still had a chance to steal on the final drive.
That’s what makes a potential playoff meeting so intriguing. Both teams may be better now than they were a year ago, and if they end up crossing paths again, it could turn into a shootout with real fireworks.
Before Monday, it was still reasonable to point to Seattle and the Los Angeles Rams as San Francisco’s biggest NFC challengers. The Seahawks and Rams were clearly better than the Niners last season, Seattle knocked San Francisco out in the divisional round, and the Rams beat Chicago in an epic NFC Championship game.
But the picture has changed. Seattle doesn’t have a lot of offensive firepower beyond wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and the Rams have already dealt with some well-known struggles and ugly losses this season.
Chicago, meanwhile, looks like a team on the rise. The Bears added Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, and they could still keep working the trade market after being linked to Los Angeles Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack.
That puts pressure on the 49ers to stay aggressive too. If San Francisco could land someone like Mack, it could matter a lot in a possible postseason matchup. The margin in that 2025 game was razor-thin, and one impact player could swing the result.
At 6-2, the Bears are positioned to challenge San Francisco for the No. 1 seed. The Minnesota Vikings are in the mix too, but their offense doesn’t exactly scare anyone. Seattle and Los Angeles both sit at 4-4 and need a strong second half to stay in the race, while the Detroit Lions also can’t be overlooked.
And there’s one more wrinkle that could shape everything: where the game would be played. Facing Chicago in January at Soldier Field is a very different proposition than hosting the Bears in Santa Clara, and home-field advantage could end up being one of the biggest storylines of the rest of the season.
In Other News...
DeForest Buckners Return Gives 49ers A Pass-Rush Jolt
DeForest Buckner is back where his NFL career began, and the timing could not be much better for a 49ers defense looking for a lift after the bye. San Francisco brought him back in a trade, adding a familiar face to a pass rush that can always use another proven interior presence. Buckner has four sacks this season, and his return gives the 49ers another disruptive option as they head into the second half.
For Buckner, the move was about more than just a reunion. He said he wanted to come back to San Francisco because of his familiarity with the organization and his focus on getting better week to week, a mindset that should fit right back into the 49ers' locker room. Now the question is how quickly he can settle in and make an impact again, with the team hoping his presence helps sharpen a defense that already knows exactly what he brings. [Read more 🡒]
49ers May Already Have A Bigger WR Problem Than Expected
The 49ers have spent real draft capital on wide receivers in recent years, but the position is already looking like a longer-term issue than they probably hoped. CBS Sports Ryan Wilson has San Francisco eyeing Indiana junior Nick Marsh in his 2027 NFL mock draft, a nod to how much the team continues to value size and physicality on the outside, especially from a player who can win contested catches.
Marshs profile fits the kind of receiver room the 49ers have tried to build, but the need is being sharpened by the present-day reality of the roster. Ricky Pearsall is out for the year with a knee injury, and DeZhaun Stribling is expected back only in December after ankle surgery, leaving the team to navigate a position that may need help now and down the road. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Suddenly Hold A Trade Chip Baltimore Might Desperately Need
The quarterback picture in Baltimore has gone from shaky to urgent, and it has suddenly put a familiar name on the radar in San Francisco. With Lamar Jackson dealing with a thumb injury that requires surgery and likely sends him to injured reserve, and Tyler Huntley also banged up, the Ravens are staring at a thin depth chart at the worst possible time as they try to keep their season from veering off course.
That is why the 49ers have become part of the conversation, with Mac Jones emerging as a possible answer if Baltimore decides it needs a veteran bridge option. Jones has handled himself well in a starting role, which only adds to his appeal, but San Francisco has been reluctant to move him and would not be expected to make it easy for a desperate team to pry him loose. [Read more 🡒]