49ers at Chicago Bears

Rex Grossman threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns and the Chicago Bears crushed the 49ers 41-10 at Soldier Field. Thomas Jones ran for 111 yards and a touchdown. Alex Smith threw two interceptions. Antonio Bryant caught a touchdown. Frank Gore ran for 111 in the loss. The Bears scored 31 first-half points. The 49ers fell to 2-5 with the loss.[1][2][3]

Rex Grossman went for 252 yards and three touchdowns Sunday morning at Soldier Field. The Chicago Bears crushed the 49ers 41-10 in the kind of cross-conference road loss where, against the league's likely-best team, the box score's three-score deficit by halftime confirmed the year's structural gap between the 49ers' rebuilding year and a real Super Bowl-caliber operation.

Frank Gore ran for 111 in his fourth 100-yard game. Antonio Bryant caught a touchdown. Alex Smith threw for 135 with two interceptions. Vernon Davis caught one for 32. The defense surrendered 41 to a Bears offense that had been averaging 27 points a game.

2-5. The kind of road loss that, against the league's best, was the kind of result the line predicted. The Minnesota Vikings come to Candlestick next Sunday in another NFC home game. The kind of October where the year's competitive identity is now about the back-half of the schedule rather than any standings consequence.

Bears 41, 49ers 10. Margin: -31. Seven-game record: 2-5, -101 differential.

* Rex Grossman: 23-of-29 for 252, 3 TDs, 0 INTs.
* Thomas Jones: 23 carries for 111, 1 TD.
* Alex Smith: 14-of-25 for 135, 1 TD (Bryant), 2 INTs.
* Frank Gore: 12 carries for 111.
* Antonio Bryant: 4 catches for 44, 1 TD.
* Bears 31 1H points.
* 49ers 2-5; Bears 7-0.

A 41-10 road blowout at Soldier Field. The 49ers fall to 2-5 in the first game back from the bye.

How it unfolded

Chicago scored on its opening drive with a Grossman touchdown to make it 7-0. The Bears added a second touchdown to push the lead to 14-0. The Bears' third drive ended in a third touchdown to make it 21-0. Thomas Jones added a rushing touchdown to make it 28-0. Bryant caught a touchdown from Smith to make it 28-7. The Bears added a field goal to make it 31-7 at halftime. The second half was a Joe Nedney field goal and another Bears touchdown to close it 41-10.

The turning point

The Bears' three first-quarter touchdowns. With the league's likely-best team playing at home off the bye-week sting of going against a 2-4 49ers team, Chicago's opening 15-minute offensive period removed any chance the 49ers' identity tape could match the Bears'.

By the numbers

Smith 135 passing on 25 attempts with a TD and two INTs. Gore 111 rushing on 12 carries (kept the year's identity tape alive in defeat). Bryant 44 receiving with a TD. Vernon Davis 32 receiving. Grossman 252 on 29 attempts with three TDs. Thomas Jones 111 rushing with a TD.

Personnel watch

Frank Gore's fourth 100-yard rushing game, the year's lone bright spot in defeat. Alex Smith's two-INT game. The defense's 41-point surrender, the year's worst against the league's best. The Bears' opening three-touchdown explosion the kind of moment that defined the cross-conference gap.

What it means

2-5 with the Vikings at home next Sunday. The kind of cross-conference road blowout that, against the league's likely best, was the kind of result expected. The Norv Turner offense's productive moments cannot keep up with a Bears defense that is also playing at the league's best level.