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The Bears erased a 10-point third-quarter deficit by scoring 19 unanswered points to beat the 49ers 19-10 in the season opener Sunday at Soldier Field.
After a sluggish start, quarterback Justin Fields threw a pair touchdown passes in the second half to Dante Pettis and Equanimeous St. Brown, and a fourth-quarter interception by safety Eddie Jackson set up a Khalil Herbert rushing touchdown.
Fields threw for just 19 yards in the first half, completing 3 of his 9 pass attempts. The second-year quarterback finished the game with 8 of 17 completions for 121 yards and the two scores, earning an 85.7 rating.
The Bears defense excelled throughout the entire game, generating two takeaways. They held the 49ers to three points in the second half and held quarterback Trey Lance to a 46.4 completion percentage and a 50.3 rating.
On the 49ers' first drive of the game, cornerback Jaylon Johnson forced a fumble, which was recovered by rookie safety Jaquan Brisker. But San Francisco's defense quickly got the ball back as Talanoa Hufanga intercepted Fields at the Chicago 49.
After a scoreless first quarter, the 49ers reached the end zone with 10:17 to play in the first half. The drive was led by Lance's 20-yard pass to Ray Ray McCloud. On the subsequent third down, defensive tackle Justin Jones was offsides, giving the 49ers a first down at the four-yard line. Receiver Deebo Samuel then found the end zone from six yards out to give San Francisco a 7-0 lead.
The 49ers increased their lead to 10-0 on the first drive of the third quarter as Robbie Gould kicked a 25-yard field goal. Lance's 44-yard pass to receiver Jeff Wilson Jr., who beat cornerback Kyler Gordon downfield, put the 49ers at the Chicago 16. Lance rushed for another first down on the drive, but linebacker Roquan Smith and rookie defensive end Dominique Robinson teamed up for a sack on third down to hold the 49ers to the field goal.
Fields then orchestrated the Bears' first scoring drive of the day. On third down, his throw to St. Brown was incomplete, but a 49ers' facemask penalty kept the drive alive.
Two plays later, Fields escaped the pocket and rolled to his left, finding Pettis wide open across the field. The pair connected for a 51-yard touchdown pass, cutting into the 49ers lead at 10-7.
After the Bears defense forced a punt, Fields led another 10-play, 84-yard touchdown drive. The quarterback opened the drive with a 22-yard pass to receiver Byron Pringle. On third down, Fields scrambled and was hit while sliding, resulting in a 15-yard penalty and a Bears first down at the San Francisco 41.
Fields then hit St. Brown in the end zone for an 18-yard touchdown score. Kicker Cairo Santos missed the extra point, but the Bears took a 13-10 lead with 12:45 left in the game.
On the 49ers next drive, Jackson intercepted Lance and returned it to the San Francisco 21, setting up another score for the Bears. On second down, Herbert rushed for five yards, and defensive holding penalty on the same play led to a Bears first down at the 3.
Herbert then found the end zone from three yards out, building the Bears lead to 19-10 after another missed extra point.
Highlights: Bears vs. 49ers | 2022 Week 1
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