Getty Justin Fields may struggle to lead the rebuilding Bears against the loaded 49ers.
Justin Fields and Matt Eberflus are trying to turn the Chicago Bears into winners, but the rebuilding process faces a tough start against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1. Last season’s NFC runners-up have put Trey Lance ahead of Jimmy Garoppolo at quarterback but remain loaded at every other position on the roster.
Home advantage could help the Bears, but this is a team still evolving under first-year head coach Eberflus and general manager Ryan Poles.
The game (1 p.m. ET) will be televised on Fox in select markets. If the game is in your market, you can watch a live stream on FuboTV or DirecTV Stream, which both include Fox in the most markets and come with a free trial.
Those are the two best options if the game is in your market, but there are some other alternatives, including some for out-of-market viewers, so here’s a full guide on the different ways to watch the 49ers vs Bears streaming live online today:
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FuboTV
Note: This is an option if the game is in your market
You can watch a live stream of Fox and 100-plus other live TV channels on FuboTV, which comes with a free seven-day trial:
Once signed up for FuboTV, you can watch the 49ers vs Bears live on the FuboTV app or FuboTV website.
Compatible devices for the FuboTV app include Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
You can also watch the game live on the Fox Spots app or FoxSports.com. You’ll need to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but you can use your FuboTV credentials to do that.
DirecTV Stream
Note: This is an option if the game is in your market
DirecTV Stream has four different channel packages: “Entertainment,” “Choice,” “Ultimate” and “Premier.” Fox is included in every one, and you can pick any package and any add-on you want with your free five-day trial:
Once signed up for DirecTV Stream, you can watch the 49ers vs Bears live on the DirecTV Stream app or DirecTV Stream website.
Compatible devices for the DirecTV Stream app include Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Samsung TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
You can also watch the game live on the Fox Sports app or FoxSports.com. You’ll need to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but you can use your DirecTV Stream credentials to do that.
Hulu With Live TV
Note: This is an option if the game is in your market
You can watch a live stream of Fox and 65+ other TV channels via Hulu With Live TV, which now also includes access to both ESPN+ and Disney+ at no added cost:
Once signed up for Hulu With Live TV, you can watch the 49ers vs Bears live on the Hulu app or Hulu website.
Compatible devices for the Hulu app include Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, PlayStation 4 or 5, Nintendo Switch, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
You can also watch the game live on the Fox Sports app or FoxSports.com. You’ll need to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but you can use your Hulu credentials to log in and watch.
SundayTicket.TV
Note: This is an option if the game is out of your market
You can watch a live stream of every out-of-market, non-nationally televised NFL game via SundayTicket.TV. Unfortunately, the service is only available for people who live in residences where DirecTV Satellite isn’t available (apartments, condos, etc.), residents of a few select metropolitan cities or college students. You can check your eligibility and sign up here:
Once signed up, out-of-market fans can watch the 49ers vs Bears live on the NFL Sunday Ticket app or NFL Sunday Ticket website.
Compatible devices for the NFL Sunday Ticket app include Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Firestick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, PlayStation 4 or 5, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), Samsung Smart TV, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
DirecTV Satellite
Note: This is an option if the game is out of your market
This is different from “DirecTV Stream,” which is a live-streaming service that comes with no contract and doesn’t offer Sunday Ticket in any of its packages.
DirecTV Satellite is a cable option, which comes with a contract, but it’s worth mentioning here because for many people, it’s the only way to get Sunday Ticket and watch live out-of-market games in the United States. Sunday Ticket is currently included at no extra cost with the “Choice” ($69.99 per month) and above TV bundles:
Once signed up for DirecTV, out-of-market viewers can watch the 49ers vs Bears live on the DirecTV app or DirecTV website.
NFL+
You can watch in-market games live and out-of-market games as replays after their conclusion on NFL+, which comes with a free seven-day trial and then costs $4.99 per month or $29.99 per year after that:
Once you’re signed up for NFL+, you can watch the 49ers vs Bears live on the NFL app or NFL website.
Compatible devices for the NFL app include Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Firestick, Apple TV, Xbox One or Series X/S, PlayStation 4 or 5, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
If You Live in Canada: DAZN
Viewers in Canada can watch a live stream of every NFL game (preseason, regular season, postseason), NFL Network and NFL RedZone via DAZN, which comes with a free trial:
Once signed up, viewers in Canada can watch the 49ers vs Bears live on the DAZN app or DAZN website.
Compatible devices for the DAZN app include Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Firestick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Samsung Smart TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
49ers vs Bears Preview
Field is a budding star, but questions remain about whether the Bears have put enough talent around him. There are some useful options, including Darnell Mooney, a 1,000-yard wide receiver.
Mooney is joined by tight end Cole Kmet and running back David Montgomery. This trio can help Fields take the strides he’s expected to make in his second season.
Fields’ athleticism caused the 49ers problems when the two teams met in Week 8 last season. One of the game’s highlights was this 22-yard touchdown run by Fields:
.@justnfields ARE YOU SERIOUS?!? 🤯
The Niners’ attempts to keep Fields in the pocket more often will depend on edge-rusher Nick Bosa. He sacked Fields twice last season, and Bosa is tipped by ESPN’s Nick Wagoner to get to the quarterback three times this Sunday.
Bosa isn’t the only the only pass-rusher Fields will have to worry about. There’s also rookie defensive end Drake Jackson and tackle Arik Armstead in a deep and destructive 49ers rotation set to attack in waves.
San Francisco’s defense can keep Fields quiet, but those efforts will count for naught if Lance can’t make the grade. The 49ers traded three first-round picks to draft the dual-threat signal-caller with the third pick in 2021, so head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch need Lance to live up to the hype.
Said hype looked ill-founded when the 49ers opted against trading or releasing Garoppolo and instead brought him back on a new one-year deal. Shanahan spoke to KNBR’s Jake Hutchinson and downplayed what Jimmy G’s return means for Lance’s status
Kyle Shanahan on @KNBR on if 49ers are truly committed to Trey Lance after bringing back Garoppolo, not making Lance a captain.
“Guys, this is Trey’s first year starting for us. We were letting go of a $24 million starting quarterback to do that. We got him for a backup price.”
Lance has a good chance to impress if he quickly builds a rapport with the many talented skill players at his disposal. They include wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, both of whom are proficient gaining yards after the catch, as is tight end George Kittle.
Keeping all of these playmakers in check won’t be easy, but Eberflus established his reputation as a successful defensive coordinator with the Indianapolis Colts. His attempts to replicate the same success in Chicago hinge on franchise single-season sack leader Robert Quinn and sideline-to-sideline linebacker Roquan Smith.
Just like on offense, they are some notable names on the Bears’ defense, but not enough overall talent to keep pace with an opponent as well-stocked as the 49ers.