Final Score: Bears 28, 49ers 20
They are who they thought they were. Or are they?
Forever known for their defensive snarl and explosive special teams, the Bears are two weeks into the new season and they’re still struggling to fit into the wardrobe of a new part. An unfamiliar role.
In Sunday night’s 28-20 road win against the San Francisco 49ers, Chicago struggled with its identity on national television. At times, the Bears were the old, familiar Monsters of the Midway, taking the ball away from Colin Kaepernick and rocking the 49ers QB with a steady rush. At others, Chicago skill players were shredding San Francisco’s stout defense, which is exactly what we all thought they were going to do this year. Especially a receiver, Brandon Marshall, who’s ability to play in this game was jeopardized by a balky ankle last week.
On Sunday night, they were the ultimate party crashers, led by new and old identities. They were led by Marshall, a signature piece of the new-age Chicago Bears, and they were also paced by a swarming defense, which is, of course, a hallmark of the Bears of old.
No matter what you thought the Bears were going to be this season, there were plenty of surprises in San Francisco.
Jay Cutler Threw 3 TDs in the Fourth Quarter to Erase a 17-Point Deficit
Quick stats – Jay Cutler: 23/34 for 176 yds, 4 TD, 0 INT and a 119.2 QB rating. #CHIvsSF
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 15, 2014
Cutler led the Bears with 25 yards rushing.
The @49ers have blown a 17 point lead as they open up their new stadium. Down
21-20 in the 4th to the @ChicagoBears on @SNFonNBC.
— Newy Scruggs (@newyscruggs) September 15, 2014
Brandon Marshall and Martellus Bennett caught touchdowns from Cutler 21 seconds apart to take a 21-20 lead with 13:14 left in the fourth quarter. A Colin Kaepernick turnover (one of four) gave the Bears the ball on the three yard line for the Bennett score.
INTERCEPTION @ChicagoBears! They start with the ball on the 49ers 3 yard line! #SNF
— SNF on NBC (@SNFonNBC) September 15, 2014
Brandon Marshall Scored 3 TDs, Including a Ridiculous One-Handed Circus Catch
Brandon Marshall just made this ridiculous TD grab. #Bears #49ers
https://t.co/WQf8DqrMxu
— NFL EXPERT PICKS (@NFL_expertpicks) September 15, 2014
Touchdown #Bears! Brandon Marshall makes a beautiful one-handed, 17-yd catch in the end zone. #CHIvsSF
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 15, 2014
"Two hands are overrated" – Brandon Marshall, 2014 http://t.co/uJ6M6yl04X pic.twitter.com/NxTY5CgZuA
— SB Nation (@SBNation) September 15, 2014
Marshall scored a hat trick, but there was a chance he wasn’t even going to play in the game.
The following guys look like game-time calls: Alshon Jeffery, Brandon Marshall, DeAngelo Williams, Jordan Cameron,
— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) September 12, 2014
He caught five balls for 48 yards and Marshall’s 3 TDs were the difference.
Ugh I'm so mad I sat Brandon marshal in my fantasy
— REBEL Ti (@ninicerules) September 15, 2014
The three TDs moved Marshall into some impressive company.
With 3 touchdowns tonight Brandon Marshall is tied with Jimmy Graham for most TD catches since 2012 (27), when he first joined the Bears.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 15, 2014
While Cutler Sizzled, Colin Kaepernick Struggled
Não comento futebol americano, e entendo pouco, mas: que interceptação do Chris Conte pelo Chicago Bears https://t.co/DE1DOP14Xi
— davidbutter (@davidbutter) September 15, 2014
Kaepernick threw three interceptions and lost one fumble. On the first pick, Safety Chris Conte stepped in front of Kaepernick’s pass to Anquan Boldin and got the ball back for Chicago with 9:30 left in the first half. The Bears did nothing with it, going three and out on the ensuing possession.
#Bears DE Jared Allen gets to Colin Kaepernick, forces fumble. … Offense needs to hold up their own here. Two takeaways by defense.
— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) September 15, 2014
Jared Allen just took the ball and first born son from Kaepernick
#CHIvsSF
— Jay Cutler (@DrunkCutler) September 15, 2014
I honestly hate Colin Kaepernick
— brando 49ERS 1-0 (@69shadesofBS) September 15, 2014
Bears Rookie CB Kyle Fuller had 2 Huge Interceptions
Back-to-back interceptions for Kyle Fuller leading to the Bears win. Great new player. http://t.co/X9bWwwFdqi http://t.co/MXbjRjkV4H
— Mike Konczal (@rortybomb) September 15, 2014
The first-round pick intercepted Colin Kaepernick twice on the night. His first pick drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty out of Kaepernick for using inappropriate language. The penalty gave the Bears the ball on the three yard line.
Penalties Plagued Both Teams to the Tune of 176 Yards
Frank Gore's TD run that got called back [GIF]: http://t.co/oSaAG1b6d7
— Justin Russo (@FlyByKnite) September 15, 2014
Frank Gore had a 54-yard touchdown run called back when Anquan Boldin was whistled for holding on the play. In total, the 49ers were flagged for 16 penalties for 118 yards while the Bears were called for 10 penalties for 58 yards.
Jay took a big hit. #bears #snf https://t.co/0822GhjOK3
— Jarrett W. Payton (@paytonsun) September 15, 2014
Roughing the passer penalty against SF results in a #Bears 1st down at the SF 25. Cutler was hit hard. #CHIvsSF
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 15, 2014
Snoop Dogg Performed at Halftime
Great halftime performance by @SnoopDogg. https://t.co/xdSGjj7x7t
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) September 15, 2014
Chicago CB Charles Tillman Suffered a Potentially Serious Arm Injury
#Bears CB Charles Tillman has suffered a triceps injury and is out for the rest of the game.
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 15, 2014
Opening the New Levi’s Stadium, the 49ers Started Strong with a Blocked Punt and a Michael Crabtree TD
#49ers TD to Crabtree https://t.co/o23EB5pa9s
— ProFootballZone (@ProFootballZone) September 15, 2014
Aaron Lynch’s blocked punt gave the 49ers the ball on the Chicago eight. Kaepernick found Crabtree for a three-yard TD pass and the 49ers had a 7-0 lead 2:18 into the game. It was the first regular-season TD in the history of Levi’s Stadium.
People are not Happy that Ray McDonald is Still Playing for the 49ers
California’s Lieutenant Governor calls for 49ers to bench Ray McDonald: The 49ers, unlike the Panthers, h… http://t.co/14CS8VdHxP #NFL
— NFL IQ (@nfliq) September 14, 2014
McDonald’s alleged domestic violence case is pending in the courts. While he was on the field, team announcer Ted Robinson was suspended two games for insensitive comments he made about the Ray Rice domestic abuse situation. Rice himself has been released by the Ravens and is suspended indefinitely by the NFL.
McDonald was credited with two solo tackles as the Bears struggled to move the ball amassing only 93 yards in the first half.
California Lieutenant Governor and former San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsome and his wife, Jen Seibel Newsom, are asking the 49ers to sit McDonald:
“The City and County of San Francisco and the entire Bay Area has long stood staunchly on the forefront of domestic violence awareness and prevention,” the Newsoms said. “That’s why the 49ers’ continued insistence on playing Ray McDonald during his ongoing criminal investigation is a painful affront to every victim of domestic violence and sends a troubling message to our community and especially our children that ‘zero tolerance’ are empty words, not real actions. In light of the increased public awareness of this issue in the wake of the horrific Ray Rice assault and today’s decision by the Carolina Panthers to deactivate Greg Hardy, we strongly urge the 49er organization we grew up revering to do the right thing — right now — and bench Ray McDonald, pending the outcome of his felony domestic violence investigation by San Jose law enforcement.”
49ers domestic violence arrest puts spotlight on new NFL penalties http://t.co/G8V1jV67OM [Sale http://t.co/pdFAPT9xa6 ] #video
— Collected News (@CollectedN) September 1, 2014
Embattled Former MLB Slugger Barry Bonds Was Also at the Game
Hanging with big hitters! @BarryBonds and @ChefMichaelMina at @49ers @LEVIS stadium. pic.twitter.com/qotsAGsy3G
— Ronnie Lott (@RonnieLottHOF) September 14, 2014
It was the Grand Opening of Levi’s Stadium, the new Home of the 49ers
This is pretty awesome RT @49ers: The #FortyViners welcome the @ChicagoBears to @LevisStadium. https://t.co/834RGiUPPS
— Niners Nation (@NinersNation) September 15, 2014
It is the second embarrassing home loss so far in the life of the stadium. The 49ers suffered a 34-0 preseason loss to the Denver Broncos on their new home turf, which was peeling up during parts of Sunday’s game.
The #LevisStadium turf looks like a muni golf course on a Sunday afternoon…Divot City. #49ers
— GrandPaD (@_GrandPaD) September 15, 2014
Levi’s is considered one of the most technologically advanced stadiums ever built.
According to TechCrunch.com, the stadium seats 68,000 for football and comes with plenty of bells and whistles:
Fans will be treated to arena-wide WiFi, with more than 1,000 access points scattered throughout the stadium. It will have 40 Gbps of connectivity coming in, which is about 40 times the capacity of even the most connected stadiums out there.
The stadium will have an app that will allow fans to instantly watch replays from their mobile devices in the stadium, choosing from a variety of different camera angles. That app will also feature paperless ticketing and the ability to order food and drinks directly from your seat.
All in all, it sounds like just the type of stuff that folks in Silicon Valley would want while watching their local sportsball team.