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Chicago Bears vs. San Francisco 49ers: Preview, Broadcast Info, Live Stream

By Jordan Campbell

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Sep 7, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte (22) rushes the ball against the Buffalo Bills during the second half at Soldier Field. Buffalo Bills defeat the Chicago Bears 23-20 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

The last time the Chicago Bears were part of a regular season debut of a new NFL stadium, it was on the opening game of the 2008 season when the team opened the season against the Indianapolis Colts’ new stadium, Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Bears entered that game being heavy underdogs against Peyton Manning and the Colts. But behind the efforts from a rookie running back Matt Forte, who rushed for a 50-yard touchdown in the first quarter, the Bears were victorious. Forte finished the game with 123 rushing yards on 23 attempts while scoring the aforementioned touchdown. The Bears’ defense was in prime form as the team recovered two fumbles, one of which that went for a touchdown. Behind the efforts of Forte and the defense, the Bears upset the Colts in the regular season debut of Lucas Oil Stadium 29-13.

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    • The Bears are looking for a similar feat on Sunday.

    The Bears are playing the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday in the regular-season debut of the 49ers’ new stadium, Levi’s Stadium.

    If the Bears are going to upset the 49ers on Sunday night, then the team will need to depend on Forte like they did against the Colts in 2008.

    There is no doubt that the Bears are constructed as a passing team. But with wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery dealing with lingering injuries from the Bears’ Week 1 game against the Buffalo Bills, there is a chance that neither Jeffery nor Marshall play on Sunday night. As proved last week, Cutler is not as effective when Marshall and Jeffery are not in the game. Cutler finished the game against the Bills 3-of-8 passing after Jeffery left the game with a hamstring injury.

    Not to mention, that Cutler has notoriously struggled against the 49ers. Cutler has lost his only two games that he has played against the 49ers while throwing 1 touchdown and 6 interceptions.

    Therefore, the Bears need to free Forte.

    With Cutler’s struggles against the 49ers and the injuries to Marshall and Jeffery, Forte gives the Bears the best opportunity to win. The benefits to an emphasis of Forte on Sunday night would be two fold. The first benefit would be that an emphasis of Forte would limit the opportunity for Cutler to make a mistake while potentially playing with inexperienced wide receivers. The second benefit would be that an emphasis of Forte would keep the Bears’ offense on the field and the 49ers’ offense on the sideline.

    Speaking of the 49ers’ offense, quarterback Colin Kaepernick is perhaps the best quarterback in the NFL at running the zone-read. The Bears can not stop the zone read on defense. Meaning Kaepernick will likely operate with zone-read until the Bears’ defense proves they can stop it. Spoiler alert, the Bears can’t stop it. Once again, that would be the reason why the Bears need to utilize Forte and keep the 49ers’ offense off the field.

    More from Chicago Bears

    Prediction

    The Prediction here is that the 49ers’ will defeat the Bears on Sunday 34-27. Cutler will have a bounce back game from last week, but the Bears’ defense simply is too bad to warrant a predicted victory over the 49ers’.

    Broadcast Information

    Start Time: 7:30 p.m.

    Television Channel: NBC

    Radio Information: WBBM 780 AM

    Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra

    Social Media

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