Frank Gore advances to the final 15 for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (Only three of these final 15 are likely to be elected for the Class of 2026.) To read: 'https://www.nbcsportsbayarea.com/nfl/san-francisco-49ers/frank-gore-hall-of-fame-finalist/1903281/

If the 49ers lose and Rams win in Week 18, the Rams would get the 5th seed based on the NFL’s No. 3 tie-breaker: Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games. The Rams beat HOU, JAX, TB. The 49ers lost to all three to nullify SF’s wins over ATL and CAR (the teams that beat LA).

The practice window has officially closed for 49ers rookie QB Kurtis Rourke. He will remain on the reserve/ non-football injury list for the remainder of the season.

Essentially, four of the five Bears offensive linemen did not make any meaningful contact with 49ers defensive players on the final play of the game. The 49ers got some pressure to disrupt Caleb Williams while having most of their resources in coverage.

Well, that was fun 😅 @mattmaiocco.bsky.social, @rodbrookstv.bsky.social and Carlos Ramírez break down San Francisco's thrilling win over the Bears on "49ers Now," streaming here at 2 p.m. PT: tinyurl.com/yc5nxc4c

Actually, Robert Saleh did not call the two-man rush on the final play of the game. Tatum Bethune and Dee Winters went off-script with great results, as Bethune disclosed on the @KNBR postgame show. To read: www.nbcsportsbayarea.com/nfl/san-fran...

NFC playoff picture Division leaders 🏈Seahawks 13-3* 🏈Bears 11-5* 🏈Eagles 11-5* 🏈 Panthers 8-8 Wild cards 🏈49ers 12-4* 🏈Rams 11-4* 🏈Packers 9-6-1* *-Clinched playoffs Still alive in NFC South: Buccaneers 7-9

An epic 49ers victory and it will be them or Seattle for homefield advantage in the NFC.

When the NFL schedule was released in the spring, my first thought was, "Oh, that 49ers-Bears game in Week 17 will be flexed out."

49ers injury report: LT Trent Williams (hamstring) is officially ruled out for the game.

The 49ers take a 28-21 lead at halftime. Christian McCaffrey has 121 yards and a TD on 18 carries, and two catches for 20 yards.

Brock Purdy scores his second rushing TD of the game and the 49ers take a 28-21 lead 3:23. Two plays were called in the huddle, and Purdy got them out of the first play and went with the read-option.

Touchdowns through 17 1/2 minutes: C-Edmunds 34 INT return SF-Tonges 1 pass from Purdy SF-Purdy 10 run C-Burden 35 pass from Williams SF-McCaffrey 5 run C-Loveland 36 pass from Williams Bears 21 49ers 21

After 23 possessions without punting, the 49ers are stopped. Thomas Morstead enters the game.

It's a hamstring injury for Trent Williams, which he sustained after turning into a defender on the first-play pick-six.

49ers injury update: LT Trent Williams is questionable to return. Austen Pleasants played left tackle on the last series.

The 49ers move right back down the field after spotting the Bears a seven-point lead, and Brock Purdy finds Jake Tonges for a 1-yard TD pass. It's tied at 7-7.

Well, that did not take long for the Bears to generate a takeaway and a touchdown down. Brock Purdy's first pass resulted in a pick-six by Tremaine Edmunds. Bears up 7-0.

49ers starting offense QB- 13 Brock Purdy RB- 23 Christian McCaffrey FB- 44 Kyle Juszczyk WR- 15 Jauan Jennings WR- 1 Ricky Pearsall TE- 88 Jake Tonges LT- 71 Trent Williams LG- 74 Spencer Burford C- 64 Jake Brendel RG- 77 Dominick Puni RT- 68 Colton McKivitz

49ers inactives vs. Bears on Sunday Night Football: RB Isaac Guerendo WR Jordan Watkins TE George Kittle DL Kevin Givens CB Renardo Green LB Curtis Robinson DL Robert Beal Jr. WR Ricky Pearsall is active and ready to go after missing one game with ankle, knee injuries.

Five #49ers to watch: www.nbcsportsbayarea.com/nfl/san-fran...

NFL MVP Watch -Drake Maye (13-3): 71.7%, 4,203 yards, 30 TDs, 8 INTs, 112.9 rating; 409 yards rushing, 4 TDs -Matthew Stafford (11-4): 65.7%, 4,179, 40 TDs, 5 INTs, 112.1 rating.

Both Ravens-Steelers and Panthers-Bucs next week are, in essence, playoff games. The winners advance, while the losers begin ordering drinks with umbrellas in them.

Possibilities for Sunday Night Football in Week 18: -Ravens at Steelers for AFC North -Panthers at Buccaneers for NFC South -Seahawks at 49ers potentially for No. 1 seed in NFC playoffs

Unfortunately, the much-anticipated return of Greg Papa to the 49ers radio broadcast booth will not happen tonight. Papa: “I have decided it is not wise for me to do the game.” Papa is continuing to build strength in his courageous battle with leukemia.

Having already collected a $500K incentive, 49ers WR Kendrick Bourne has another $250K possibility. Bourne has 526 yards receiving. If he makes it to 600 yards in the regular season, he’ll cash in again for a total of $750,000 in incentives.

If the Packers lose to the Ravens, the Chicago Bears will clinch the NFC North and be locked into a top-three seed in the NFC playoffs.

The 49ers elevated TE Brayden Willis and LB Eric Kendricks from the practice squad to be available to play Sunday night against the Bears. Willis would serve as a special-teams player and No. 3 tight end if George Kittle (ankle) is declared out.

The NFL fined 49ers CB Deommodore Lenoir $11,593 for a late hit when he tried to punch the ball away from Colts RB Jonathan Taylor. The NFL did NOT fine either Indianapolis defensive players Germaine Pratt or Camryn Bynum for their borderline hip-drop tackles vs. George Kittle.

49ers injury report Out CB Renardo Green (neck) QB Kurtis Rourke (knee) Questionable TE George Kittle (ankle) WR Ricky Pearsall (ankle, knee)

The 49ers are on the practice field. Ricky Pearsall is out there and appears to be tracking toward playing Sunday night against the Bears. There was no sign of George Kittle, who remains iffy for the game.

NFC playoff picture Division leaders 🏈Seahawks 12-3* 🏈Bears 11-4* 🏈Eagles 10-5* 🏈 Panthers 8-7 Wild cards 🏈49ers 11-4* 🏈Rams 11-4* 🏈Packers 9-5-1* *-Clinched playoffs Still alive in NFC South: Buccaneers 7-8

49ers injury report on Christmas Day No practice TE George Kittle (ankle) Limited WR Ricky Pearsall (ankle, knee) CB Renardo Green (neck) DL Yetur Gross-Matos (hamstring) Full participation LB Tatum Bethune (ankle) DE Sam Okuayinonu (ankle) QB Kurtis Rourke (knee)

Wow, Deebo Samuel looked like Peak 49ers Deebo Samuel on that bruising 41-yard catch-and-run for the Commanders. He entered the game with 68 receptions but averaging just 9.4 yards a catch. He has 13 rushing attempts for 49 yards (3.8 yards a carry).

49ers participation report No practice TE George Kittle (ankle) DL Yetur Gross-Matos (hamstring) RB Christian McCaffrey (rest) LT Trent Williams (rest) Limited WR Ricky Pearsall (ankle, knee) CB Renardo Green (neck)

The 49ers have gone 21 consecutive possessions since calling on Thomas Morstead to punt: At CLE (3) - TD, FG, end of game Vs. TEN (8) - TD, TD, FG, TD, TD, fumble, FG, FG At IND (10) - TD, TD, TD, FG, missed FG, TD, FG, TD, INT, End of game

Here’s my Official Roll-Out-Of-Bed-And-Compile-My-Personal-NFL-Rankings Project: Team (Rec, Streak) 1, Seahawks (12-3, W5) 2, Jaguars (11-4, W6) 3, Rams (11-4, L1) 4, Broncos (12-3, L1) 5, Chargers (11-4, W4) 6, Texans (10-5, W7) 7, Bills (11-4, W4) 8, 49ers (11-4, W5)

Six 49ers were named to the Pro Bowl team, the NFL announced: RB Christian McCaffrey FB Kyle Juszczyk TE George Kittle LT Trent Williams ST Luke Gifford LS Jon Weeks *RS Skyy Moore is an alternate. To read: www.nbcsportsbayarea.com/nfl/san-fran...

49ers defense (60 plays): DL — Bryce Huff 35, Keion White 34, Clelin Ferrell 32, Sam Okuayinonu 29, Jordan Elliott 26, Alfred Collins 24, Kalia Davis 22, CJ West 20, Yetur Gross-Matos 18 LB — Dee Winters 55, Tatum Bethune 49, Eric Kendricks 10, Garret Wallow 4, Luke Gifford 3

1 of 2 49ers snap count on offense (66 plays): QB — Brock Purdy 63, Mac Jones 3 RB — Christian McCaffrey 53, Kyle Juszczyk 36, Brian Robinson 10, Jordan James 3 WR — Jauan Jennings 54, Kendrick Bourne 46, Demarcus Robinson 29, Jordan Watkins 8, Skyy Moore 7

NFC playoff picture Division leaders 🏈Seahawks 12-3* 🏈Bears 11-4* 🏈Eagles 10-5* 🏈 Panthers 8-7 Wild cards 🏈49ers 11-4* 🏈Rams 11-4* 🏈Packers 9-5-1 *-Clinched playoffs Also … Lions 8-7 Buccaneers 7-8

Alfred Collins registers the first sack of his NFL career. Earlier tonight, fellow rookie CJ West picked up the first sack of his career.

Brock Purdy becomes the first 49ers QB in franchise history to throw five TDs on MNF.

Brock Purdy achieves a career high with his fifth TD pass of the game. It's Purdy to Christian McCaffrey for 9 yards and a 41-27 lead.

With Tatum Bethune exiting the lineup, Eric Kendricks makes his 49ers debut.

George Kittle (ankle) is questionable to return. Kittle has seven catches for 115 yards.

Jauan Jennings just caught his seventh TD pass since Week 9. The 49ers take a 31-17 lead with 10:58 left in the third quarter.

In the 12 quarters since the first half of his three-interception game against the Panthers, Purdy is 61 of 85 (71.8%) for 707 yards, seven TDs, no INTs and a passer rating of 124.0.

Christian McCaffrey has four receptions giving him 90 on the season. He has passed Derek Loville (87) for No. 2 on the list. Roger Craig holds the 49ers single-season record for receptions by a RB with 92.

There is Kendrick Bourne's reception (11 yards) and a $500K bonus.