The 49ers end their three-game losing streak while the Bears cannot recover from a disastrous first half

A week after the Buffalo Bills knocked them out, the San Francisco 49ers had their own chance to bully.

The 49ers hosted the Chicago Bears in Chicago’s first game since firing head coach Matt Eberflus and took advantage of a confused opponent to win 38-13 in a game that quickly became one-sided.

The rebound may not be enough to save San Francisco’s slim playoff chances. But the performance should encourage the 49ers as they enter an offseason in which they can negotiate with quarterback Brock Purdy, and it should remind the 49ers that they are far more capable than their recent exit suggested.

The Bears, meanwhile, fell to 8-4 with their seventh straight loss and first under interim coach Thomas Brown. The offense regressed from its recent improvements and the defense seemed completely lost without its defensive playmaker. Your schedule will only get more difficult from here on out.

The 49ers began with an explosive attack down the field. Running back Isaac Guerendo managed a 23-yard dump-off on one play, while quarterback Brock Purdy hit tight end George Kittle for 33 yards on the next. After just five plays, fullback Jauan Jennings cut to the left and scored the game’s first touchdown.

The Bears responded with a three-and-out.

The 49ers’ second touchdown drive went just as smoothly as the first. Guerendo and Kittle once again rattled Chicago’s defense despite the absence of 49ers playmakers like Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk and Jordan Mason.

Were the Bears shaken by the organizational shakeup or perhaps they no longer received as clear defensive direction after the departure of their head coach and defensive game director?

Jennings sputtered his defender out of rhythm to catch and run for a 16-yard touchdown with 12:20 left in the second quarter.

At halftime the game was even more one-sided when the lead looked 24-0.

According to the broadcast, Chicago’s meager four yards was the Bears’ smallest first-half effort since 1991; The 315-yard difference at halftime was the largest of any NFL game this season.

According to TruMedia Sports, the Bears’ 0.2 yards per play was the third-lowest first-half yardage average since 2012.

The Bears’ second-half improvement was too little, too late

The Bears switched to a more balanced attack early in the second half after the pass-heavy product gave Williams four sacks in the first half.

By reinstating the run, the Bears managed to mount better third-down attempts, and Chicago extended its drive for more than nine minutes in the third quarter.

And as Chicago reached the end zone, Williams dropped back on third-and-goal to hit fellow rookie Rome Odunze on an out route for a four-yard touchdown. Odunze caught an aerial pass in the back right corner of the end zone and made sure to get both feet in before falling out of bounds.

The two-point conversion attempt went through Cole Kmet’s arms, but Chicago’s defense forced a punt to keep the momentum … until Williams let a return pass slip out of his hands, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan reset the initial incomplete pass rule question that would be repealed. San Francisco defensive tackle Evan Anderson recovered the fumble.

The 49ers turned their turnover possession into another touchdown. And then: Williams found Odunze again for the second goal. But it was too little, too late.

The 49ers would pull their starters before time expired.

Bears safety Jonathan Owens, who is married to Simone Biles, intercepted 49ers backup Brandon Allen with 1:59 to play.

Purdy completed 20 of 25 pass attempts for 325 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Kittle led all arms with 151 yards on just six targets. He caught all of his targets for more than 10 yards, including three for 30 yards.

Guerendo, who was in the lead back role after injuries to McCaffrey and Mason, managed 128 yards from scrimmage.

Williams completed 17 of 23 passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns. He recorded seven sacks, giving him a league-high total of 56.