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49ers vs. Bears: 5 key San Francisco matchups to watch in Week 13

By Peter Panacy

CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 06: Ka'Deem Carey #25 of the Chicago Bears carries the football for 4 yards toward the endzone, resulting in a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Soldier Field on December 6, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 06: Ka'Deem Carey #25 of the Chicago Bears carries the football for 4 yards toward the endzone, resulting in a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Soldier Field on December 6, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, IL – DECEMBER 04: Daniel Kilgore #67 of the San Francisco 49ers prepares to snap the football in the first quarter against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 4, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – DECEMBER 04: Daniel Kilgore #67 of the San Francisco 49ers prepares to snap the football in the first quarter against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 4, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

No. 5: 49ers Offensive Line vs. Bears Pass Rush

Chicago isn’t exactly having a great season, but its defense has played surprisingly well at home this year.

Amid a hostile environment, San Francisco is tasked with ensuring its newly minted starter at quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo, is adequately protected within the pocket.

QB protection hasn’t been a 49ers strength this year. According to Pro Football Focus, the Niners offensive line boasts a 76.8 pass-block efficiency rating, which is good for 19th in the NFL. While some of the numbers were the responsibility of former starter C.J. Beathard, no team in the league has allowed more quarterback hits than the 49ers through 12 weeks (94).

If there’s one helpful measure, the Niners won’t have to face the Bears’ best pure pass-rusher, Leonard Floyd, who is now on injured reserve with a knee injury.

But check out the sack totals from the Bears’ other notable pass-rushers:

Bears Active Sacks Leaders
Game Game Sack Sack Sack
No. Player Age Pos G GS Sk Tkl Ast
59 Danny Trevathan 27 LB 7 7 2.0 36 16
96 Akiem Hicks 28 DE 11 11 7.0 31 8
93 Sam Acho 29 LB 11 7 0.5 19 7
92 Pernell McPhee 29 lb/rolb 11 3 4.0 19 0

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/30/2017.

In contrast, EDGE Elvis Dumervil leads the 49ers with 4.5 sacks, and no one else has more than two.

Simply put, San Francisco’s pass protection will have to win the day against a still-potent Chicago pass rush.