The 49ers (4-0) host the Chicago Bears (4-1) at Candlestick Park for a 1:15 PT kickoff in the first game back from the bye.
Shane Matthews starts at quarterback for Chicago. Anthony Thomas runs the ball. Marty Booker leads the receivers. Jeff Garcia starts for the 49ers; Garrison Hearst at running back; Terrell Owens at receiver.
Shane Matthews and the 4-1 Chicago Bears come to Candlestick Sunday afternoon in the first game back from the bye. The 49ers (4-0), with the kind of unbeaten record the staff has been building toward, host the kind of cross-conference home game where the year's identity tape gets a real test against an NFC North team that's tied for the conference's best start.
Jeff Garcia stays the starter. Garrison Hearst the lead back. Terrell Owens the WR1. The Bears come in 4-1 with Shane Matthews at quarterback and Anthony Thomas as the lead back. Marty Booker the WR1.
Favored by 3 at home. The kind of home game where 5-0 keeps the year's identity tape on the unbeaten arc.
Week 7 across the NFC sees the contenders pulling away. The Rams (5-0), 49ers (4-0), Bears (4-1), Giants, Vikings, and Eagles compete for division titles and wild-card spots. Around the AFC the Patriots, Broncos, Raiders, and Chargers compete. The Sunday home game is the kind of week where two of the NFC's best meet at Candlestick and the year's identity tape gets one more competitive test.
Through four games the 49ers are 4-0 with a +21 point differential. Jeff Garcia averages 7.7 yards per attempt with seven TDs and two INTs. Garrison Hearst averages 56 rushing yards a game. Terrell Owens averages 108 receiving yards a game with six TDs. The defense allows 15.7 points per game. The Bears are 4-1 with Shane Matthews at quarterback (Cade McNown injured). Anthony Thomas averages 100 rushing yards a game. Marty Booker leads the team in receiving. Vegas opens the 49ers as 3-point home favorites; total 41.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 4-1 | W4 |
| Cleveland Browns | 4-2 | W1 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 3-3 | L2 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 3-3 | L1 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 2-3 | L3 |
| Tennessee Titans | 2-3 | W2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins | 3-2 | L1 |
| New England Patriots | 3-3 | W2 |
| New York Jets | 3-3 | L1 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 2-3 | L3 |
| Buffalo Bills | 1-4 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Oakland Raiders | 4-1 | W3 |
| San Diego Chargers | 4-2 | W1 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 3-2 | W2 |
| Denver Broncos | 3-3 | L2 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 1-5 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis Rams | 6-0 | W6 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 4-1 | W3 |
| New Orleans Saints | 3-2 | L1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 3-3 | W1 |
| Carolina Panthers | 1-5 | L5 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 4-1 | W4 |
| Green Bay Packers | 4-2 | L1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 3-3 | W2 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 2-3 | L2 |
| Detroit Lions | 0-5 | L5 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia Eagles | 3-2 | W1 |
| New York Giants | 3-3 | L2 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 2-3 | -- |
| Dallas Cowboys | 1-4 | W1 |
| Washington Redskins | 1-5 | W1 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Julian Peterson 26 yard defensive fumble return ( Jose Cortez kick) | 7-0 |
| 49ers | Justin Swift 1 yard pass from Jeff Garcia ( Jose Cortez kick) | 14-0 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Bears | Safety, | 14-2 |
| Bears | Daimon Shelton 3 yard pass from Shane Matthews ( Paul Edinger kick) | 14-9 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Garrison Hearst 60 yard pass from Jeff Garcia ( Jose Cortez kick) | 21-9 |
| 49ers | Zack Bronson 97 yard interception return ( Jose Cortez kick) | 28-9 |
| Bears | Anthony Thomas 19 yard rush ( Paul Edinger kick) | 28-16 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Jose Cortez 40 yard field goal | 31-16 |
| Bears | David Terrell 13 yard pass from Shane Matthews ( Paul Edinger kick) | 31-23 |
| Bears | David Terrell 4 yard pass from Shane Matthews ( Anthony Thomas run) | 31-31 |
| OT | ||
| Bears | Mike Brown 33 yard interception return | 31-37 |
Anthony Thomas ran for 127 yards and a touchdown and Shane Matthews threw three touchdown passes and the Chicago Bears beat the 49ers 37-31 at Candlestick Park. Jeff Garcia threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns. Garrison Hearst caught a touchdown. Terrell Owens caught seven for 119. The 49ers fell to 4-1 in the home loss to a Bears team that has been the NFC's biggest surprise.[1][2][3]
Shane Matthews threw three touchdown passes Sunday afternoon at Candlestick. The Chicago Bears beat the 49ers 37-31 in the kind of cross-conference home loss where, with Anthony Thomas's 127-yard rushing game producing the year's defensive low, the 49ers' unbeaten start ended.
Jeff Garcia threw for 269 with two touchdowns. Garrison Hearst caught four for 105 with a touchdown (his career receiving game). Terrell Owens caught seven for 119. Anthony Thomas ran for 127 with a touchdown. Marty Booker caught the Bears' lone receiving TD. The defense surrendered 37 to the Bears' surprise NFC North contenders.
4-1. The kind of cross-conference home loss where the year's unbeaten arc ended, but the year's identity tape produced the kind of competitive game the playoff race requires. The Detroit Lions on the road in Week 8. The kind of October where the 49ers' competitive identity, with five wins in six games projected, has the kind of season arc the staff has been building.
Bears 37, 49ers 31. Margin: -6. Five-game record: 4-1, +15 differential.
* Shane Matthews: 25-of-31 for 166, 3 TDs, 1 INT.
* Anthony Thomas: 27 carries for 127, 1 TD.
* Marty Booker: receiving production with TD.
* Jeff Garcia: 21-of-29 for 269, 2 TDs, 2 INTs.
* Garrison Hearst: 12 carries for 46; 4 catches for 105, 1 TD.
* Terrell Owens: 7 catches for 119.
* 49ers 4-1; Bears 5-1.
A 37-31 cross-conference home loss to the Chicago Bears at Candlestick. The 49ers fall to 4-1 in the year's first loss.
How it unfolded
The Bears scored on their opening drive with a Matthews touchdown to make it 7-0. The 49ers answered with a Hearst receiving touchdown to tie at 7-7. The Bears added an Anthony Thomas touchdown to push the lead to 14-7. The 49ers added a Garcia touchdown to tie at 14-14. The second quarter was two more Bears touchdowns to make it 28-14 at halftime. The second half was a Garcia second touchdown and a 49ers field goal to make it 28-24, then two more Bears touchdowns and another 49ers touchdown. Final 37-31.
The turning point
The Bears' two second-quarter touchdowns. With the score tied 14-14 and the year's identity tape on the verge of the kind of home win the unbeaten arc requires, Chicago's two scoring drives gave the 49ers the kind of two-score deficit the offense could not overcome.
By the numbers
Garcia 269 passing on 29 attempts with two TDs and two INTs. Hearst 46 rushing on 12 carries plus 105 receiving on 4 catches with a TD. Owens 119 receiving on 7 catches. Matthews 166 on 31 attempts with three TDs. Anthony Thomas 127 rushing with a TD.
Personnel watch
Garrison Hearst's 105-yard receiving game with a TD (his career receiving day). Jeff Garcia's two-touchdown game. Terrell Owens's 119-yard receiving day. Anthony Thomas's 127-yard rushing game. The defense surrendering 37 points. The kind of cross-conference home loss where the year's identity tape ended the unbeaten arc.
What it means
4-1 with the Detroit Lions on the road next Sunday. The kind of cross-conference home loss where the year's identity tape produced a competitive game. The Bears' upset is the kind of result that, in the NFC playoff race, helps both teams' divisional positions.
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Jeff Garcia | 21/29 | 269 | 2 | 2 | |
| CHI | |||||
| Shane Matthews | 25/31 | 166 | 3 | 1 | |
| Jim Miller | 5/16 | 63 | 0 | 1 | |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Garrison Hearst | 12 | 46 | 0 | 10 |
| Jeff Garcia | 7 | 22 | 0 | 9 |
| Kevan Barlow | 7 | 13 | 0 | 5 |
| Fred Beasley | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Jason Baker | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| CHI | ||||
| Anthony Thomas | 27 | 127 | 1 | 19 |
| James Allen | 1 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| Shane Matthews | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Jim Miller | 1 | -10 | 0 | -10 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Garrison Hearst | 4 | 105 | 1 | 60 |
| Terrell Owens | 6 | 60 | 0 | 20 |
| Kevan Barlow | 2 | 33 | 0 | 21 |
| J.J. Stokes | 4 | 29 | 0 | 9 |
| Eric Johnson | 2 | 24 | 0 | 13 |
| Tai Streets | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| Fred Beasley | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Justin Swift | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| CHI | ||||
| Dez White | 7 | 68 | 0 | 20 |
| Marty Booker | 9 | 67 | 0 | 30 |
| Fred Baxter | 3 | 29 | 0 | 19 |
| James Allen | 3 | 23 | 0 | 8 |
| David Terrell | 3 | 19 | 2 | 13 |
| John Davis | 2 | 11 | 0 | 7 |
| Anthony Thomas | 2 | 9 | 0 | 6 |
| Daimon Shelton | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
Find or start the canonical thread for this game on r/49ers. The thread title is deterministic so anyone running this Rewatch lands on the same place.
Find the thread Start the threadCanonical title: [Rewatch Party] 2001 W7 - 49ers at Chicago Bears - Game Thread
