Chicago Bears, 28 – San Francisco 49ers, 20
GROWL!
It may have started as a pleasant Sunday hike. With new backpacks and hiking boots, our team proudly went tromping off into nature. The group made good time. Everything appeared to be going well. And then the unfortunate happened – they got eaten by a Bear.
The day began with the Niner’s defense providing excellent field position by blocking Chicago’s first punt. First and ten at the eight yard line – Sweet. On third and three, SFQB Colin Kaepernick lofted a 3-yard pass to Michael Crabtree for the touchdown. Golden foot Dawson added the point after and – with but 2:14 off the first quarter clock – our boys were up 7-0. After a Bears four and out, San Francisco’s next drive set the theme for the day: The ball would be moved via the air, not the ground. Passes to Anquan Boldin, Vernon Davis, Michael Crabtree and Carlos Hyde all made respectable gains. We saw both Frank Gore and Carlos Hyde meet stiff resistance at the line of scrimmage. We even saw a glimpse of daddy longlegs. The Niners could smell another touchdown, but settled for the field goal. Score, 10-0.
An unsteady path greeted us in the second quarter as both teams traded four and outs until the defense provided another gift – a punt reception (we shall call it a reception even though the catch was missed – it ended up being the Niner’s ball – so sue us) and resulting field position at the 50. The red and gold offense stepped boldly onto the field. They huddled. They approached the line with the determined vision of men who were bound for touchdown glory. Then the unthinkable – an interception. Kaepernick’s first pass which was intended for Anquan Boldin instead found the eager hands of Chicago free safety Chris Conte…but luckily nothing came of it.
In the following Niner drive with San Francisco at the Chicago 30, Colin attempted a quick dash…but coughed up the ball after 4-yards. Through slightly spread, face-covering fingers we awaited what Chicago would do with this turnover. Much to our delight, they offered a late quarter clinic on how to generate negative yardage. Surely an external force must be protecting us…from ourselves! With 3:25 on the clock, it took but four plays to find the end zone (Frank Gore’s 8-yard TD dash). The score: 17-0. Yes pilgrims, by this time we felt like nothing bad could happen. So we felt no alarm when Chicago, with only 2:22 left on the clock, managed an 80-yard drive capped off by a Jimmy Clausen to Brandon Marshall 17-yard pass for a touchdown. Robbie Gould’s extra point brought the halftime score to 17-7.
If the third quarter was – at least to the casual viewer – uninteresting, we point out that it is very rare to have only one possession for each team during a quarter. Whereas San Francisco’s 9:04 long effort yielded a Phil Dawson field goal, Chicago was still empty at the gun. Score, 20-7.
San Francisco entered the fourth quarter feeling ever so in tune with the day. They were up by a couple touchdowns. Yes, their scores had come from taking advantage of Chicago’s missteps, but points are points. All that was needed was to hold on…to play the tight defense and collect the Week 2 win.
Oh by the way, remember that Chicago had the ball at the end of the third quarter? Well they continued their drive all the way to the end zone via a Jay Cutler to Brandon Marshall 5-yard pass. Who??! Hold on – did nobody notice that Chicago had changed quarterbacks in the third quarter? Apparently not. Score 20-14.
San Francisco took it like men and resolved to hold the line against any further unwelcome point-scoring. After a 19-yard kick return by SF’s Bruce Miller, the Niners were first and ten on their own 22.
Then they saw their first glimpse of the Bear. On SF’s first play of the drive, Kaepernick’s pass intended for Michael Crabtree was intercepted by Chicago’s Kyle Fuller and returned to the six yard line. We were stunned. So was Captain K…so much so that he was provoked to a fit of over-expression…which floated the ball to the 3-yard line on a penalty. Replacement CQB Jay Cutler had no problem finding his man Martellus Bennett in the end zone…and with Robbie Gould’s extra point, we had been cornered; Score 21-20 Chicago.
“Time to get back on track” was surely muttered as the offense retook the field. This is nothing. With 13:14 left in the 4th there would be plenty of time to make one or even two scores. But the Bear was not having none of it. Starting at the SF 23, the offense fought for first downs. Short passes. Shorter runs. Chicago’s defense showed some spine.
It was time for a break-out play – a deep pass. Kaepernick dropped back and planted for the throw. It sailed in a great arc from the 49ers backfield ten, twenty then thirty yards to the Chicago 40-yard line where receiver Derek Carrier was to be waiting. But the Bear’s claw (in the form of defensive cornerback Kyle Fuller – yes, that pesky person from earlier in this same quarter) snatched it away…and returned it 18-yards to the SF 42.
Four plays later and given excellent starting field position, Chicago coasted to another Jay Cutler/Brandon Marshall touchdown. Chicago now owned a 28-20 lead.
Shocked! Shocked I tell you! (In that Claude Rains tone from the classic movie) With 6:55 left in the game, the Niner’s opponents were the Bear AND the clock. Chicago was now in the waiting game. Despite passing, scrambling for yardage and rushing, San Francisco could not manage to escape what was coming. An incomplete pass on fourth and 9 at Chicago’s 17 with only 1:11 remaining ended all hope. Victorious Chicago quarterback and Windy City hero-of-the-day Jay Cutler took the knees – and it was over.
What could not be imagined at the end of the first half was now fact: A loss for the first 49er’s regular season game at the LEVIathan.
