49ers' defensive performance vs. Bears is a major worry point entering playoffs

Writing this after the San Francisco 49ers' epic Sunday Night Football win over the Chicago Bears seems somewhat churlish, but here we are.

I get this critique a lot, largely because I'm often critical of coordinator Robert Saleh's defensive unit, a criticism that's only intensified over the last few weeks, as San Francisco has looked completely unable to stop offensive units from as poor as the Tennessee Titans to as high-octane as last nights Caleb Williams-led corps.

The same issues keep showing up, too.

Once again, the 49ers had an anemic pass rush, although frankly, that's priced in at this point. Much-lauded rusher Bryce Huff has become part a disappearing act, while Cle Ferrell and Sam Okuayinonu have shown flashes but ultimately proved to be the NFL journeymen players as their careers to date have suggested. They're honest players who give a yeoman's effort, but they're not difference makers.

Trade deadline acquisition Keion White has frequently impressed, while the development of rookie defensive tackles CJ West and Alfred Collins has been promising, but there's nothing there to win a playoff game, not without some excellent scheming, at least.

That capability, however, is somewhat hamstrung by the rest of the defense.

If you can write off the pass rush as being affected by the loss of Nick Bosa (although the roster composition or the defensive coordinator should produce some pass-rush juice without the loss of a single all-world player being this much of a problem), then the middle of the defense is undoubtedly affected, possibly more so, by the loss of Fred Warner.

There's not a single Niners linebacker as good in coverage as Warner is, or even close, and that leaves the middle of the field consistently vulnerable. I'm a fan of both Tatum Bethune and Dee Winters, but their growing pains are vast. And in at least one case, their athletic deficiencies may be too much to make up. I can give Saleh something of a pass on that, and that's what has led to his usage of the "big nickel" defense, using three safeties quite regularly on the field.

The problem there is that Saleh's most established players -- defensive backs Deommodore Lenoir, Ji'Ayir Brown, Renardo Green and Malik Mustapha -- are letting the coordinator down. They frequently show a lack of awareness and ball skills, leading to a complete lack of turnovers, and worse yet, open lanes for the passing game.

It's easy to criticise the rush, for example, but Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers had his way usually within two or three seconds of the snap versus the 49ers pass defense a week ago, and Williams and the Bears did in much the same way on Sunday night. Perhaps in an even more damaging way, actually, as they were able to frequently hit on explosive plays.

Saleh did eventually find a combination that worked, even managing to do so without two of his top defensive backs on the field, calling the play that ultimately won the game, dropping almost everyone into coverage and confusing Caleb Williams on the final and most consequential play:

That proves Saleh can find a way through his limited talent, and he's going to have to do it more often than he might have anticipated, given what the Niners have on the docket.

No one can do anything about the players missing, that's just the way it goes. Unless (and until) Warner makes a dramatic return in the playoffs, the Niners will remain short of quality in some key areas.

What they can do, however, is clean some of the major things up: start playing the ball a little better, stop letting the ball over their heads, be stickier and more consistent in coverage. That task won't get any easier with nickel corner Upton Stout's concussion likely ruling him out of the regular-season finale against the Seattle Seahawks, but there's enough talent available in the secondary to work with, and hopefully Green's return can help, too.

One thing is for sure: as great as quarterback Brock Purdy and the offense's performance has been over the last few weeks, expecting the 49ers to score 40-plus points to win games on a regular basis will not fly in the playoffs.

Lets see if San Francisco can solve yet another puzzle in one of the strangest and most exciting seasons we've seen for a while.