49ers vs. Bears: 5 key San Francisco matchups to watch in Week 13
By Peter Panacy
No. 4: 49ers Run Defense vs. Running Back Jordan Howard
San Francisco 49ers
The last time Bears running back Jordan Howard faced the 49ers, he netted a whopping 117 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Granted, the 2016 Niners run defense was as bad as it gets. But Howard still remains the primary offensive threat in Chicago’s arsenal. And the Bears like using him a lot, as he ranks third in the NFL in total carries this season (199).
San Francisco is giving up a lot of yards on the ground this year (1,425 — third most in the NFL), but that’s more because opponents are in position to run the ball against the Niners late, protecting leads and chewing up clock in the process. The 49ers’ 3.9 yards-against average on the ground actually ranks 10th in the league.
Chief among San Francisco’s best run stoppers is the rookie, Reuben Foster, whose 86.1 run-stopping grade ranks 10th out of all qualifying linebackers in this category, per Pro Football Focus.
Foster versus Howard should be a major matchup to watch this Sunday. And if it goes in the Niners’ favor, it opens up the door for the Bears to do something they’re not overly comfortable with yet — making quarterback Mitchell Trubisky throw the ball.