San Francisco 49ers vs. Chicago Bears: 2021 Week 8 Recap

Game story

In Week 8 of the 2021 NFL season on 2021-10-31, the San Francisco 49ers took care of business against the Chicago Bears, pulling away with a 33–22 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 24 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Fields (Chicago Bears) paced the passing game, with +14.19 total EPA, and +4.8% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Garoppolo (San Francisco 49ers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +15.11 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+26.8% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Chicago Bears changed the game: (9:43) 1-J.Fields scrambles left end for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN. SF-54-F.Warner was injured during the play. His return is Probable.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 J. Garoppolo · San Francisco 49ers · Passing · +15.11 total EPA · 29 snaps · +0.52 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Fields · Chicago Bears · Passing · +14.19 total EPA · 42 snaps · +0.34 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Samuel · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +10.12 total EPA · 9 snaps · +1.12 EPA/play
4. 4 M. Goodwin · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +4.05 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.35 EPA/play
5. 5 M. Sanu · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +3.95 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.99 EPA/play
6. 6 D. Mooney · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +3.32 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.37 EPA/play
7. 7 J. James · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +3.29 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.10 EPA/play
8. 8 E. Mitchell · San Francisco 49ers · Rushing · +3.21 total EPA · 18 snaps · +0.18 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Chicago Bears — J. James (J. Fields pass) (Q2 42:09)
• San Francisco 49ers — J. Garoppolo (Q3 21:00)
• San Francisco 49ers — E. Mitchell (Q4 14:21)
• Chicago Bears — J. Fields (Q4 9:43)
• San Francisco 49ers — J. Garoppolo (Q4 6:38)

Field goals

• Chicago Bears — C. Santos (Q1 49:43)
• San Francisco 49ers — J. Slye (Q1 47:56)
• San Francisco 49ers — J. Slye (Q2 39:38)
• Chicago Bears — C. Santos (Q2 31:20)
• San Francisco 49ers — J. Slye (Q2 30:02)
• Chicago Bears — C. Santos (Q3 23:36)
• San Francisco 49ers — J. Slye (Q4 2:00)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: The quarter finished even at 3–3. Chicago Bears connected on a field goal from the SF 21 (Q1 49:43) — (4:43) 2-C.Santos 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-P.Scales, Holder-16-P.O'Donnell.; San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the CHI 30 (Q1 47:56) — (2:56) 14-J.Slye 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky..

The second quarter: Chicago Bears won the period 10–6. Chicago Bears found the end zone from the SF 8 (Q2 42:09) — (12:09) 1-J.Fields pass short left to 18-J.James for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Chicago Bears added 1 points from the SF 15 (Q2 42:03) — 2-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-48-P.Scales, Holder-16-P.O'Donnell.; San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the CHI 34 (Q2 39:38) — (9:38) 14-J.Slye 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.; Chicago Bears connected on a field goal from the SF 22 (Q2 31:20) — (1:20) 2-C.Santos 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-P.Scales, Holder-16-P.O'Donnell.; San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the CHI 4 (Q2 30:02) — (:02) 14-J.Slye 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky..

The third quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 6–3. Chicago Bears connected on a field goal from the SF 7 (Q3 23:36) — (8:36) 2-C.Santos 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-P.Scales, Holder-16-P.O'Donnell.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the CHI 2 (Q3 21:00) — (6:00) (Shotgun) 10-J.Garoppolo left end for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

The fourth quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 18–6. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the CHI 5 (Q4 14:21) — (14:21) (Shotgun) 25-E.Mitchell left guard for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers registered a safety from the CHI 2 (Q4 14:11) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 10-J.Garoppolo pass to 11-B.Aiyuk is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.; Chicago Bears found the end zone from the SF 22 (Q4 9:43) — (9:43) 1-J.Fields scrambles left end for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN. SF-54-F.Warner was injured during the play. His return is Probable.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the CHI 5 (Q4 6:38) — (6:38) (Shotgun) 10-J.Garoppolo left end for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. CHI-36-D.Houston-Carson was injured during the play.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the CHI 15 (Q4 6:34) — 14-J.Slye extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.; San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the CHI 14 (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) 14-J.Slye 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Chicago Bears (Q4 9:43) — (9:43) 1-J.Fields scrambles left end for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN. SF-54-F.Warner was injured during the play. His return is Probable. [WPA +26.8% · EPA +3.87]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q3 22:28) — (7:28) (Shotgun) 10-J.Garoppolo pass short left to 19-D.Samuel for 84 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Official reviewed the runner broke the plane ruling, and the play was REVERSED. (Shotgun) 10-J.Garopp [WPA +22.0% · EPA +7.90]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q4 8:50) — (8:50) 25-E.Mitchell left end to CHI 29 for 27 yards (96-A.Hicks). [WPA +9.7% · EPA +1.73]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q2 30:25) — (:25) (Shotgun) 10-J.Garoppolo pass deep middle to 19-D.Samuel to CHI 4 for 50 yards (22-K.Vildor). [WPA +9.6% · EPA +3.10]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q4 14:21) — (14:21) (Shotgun) 25-E.Mitchell left guard for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +9.1% · EPA +1.29]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• San Francisco 49ers (Q3 22:28) — (7:28) (Shotgun) 10-J.Garoppolo pass short left to 19-D.Samuel for 84 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Official reviewed the runner broke the plane ruling, and the play was REVERSED. (Shotgun) 10-J.Garopp [WPA +22.0% · EPA +7.90]
• Chicago Bears (Q4 9:43) — (9:43) 1-J.Fields scrambles left end for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN. SF-54-F.Warner was injured during the play. His return is Probable. [WPA +26.8% · EPA +3.87]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q1 54:53) — (9:53) 14-J.Slye 48 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky. [WPA -8.1% · EPA -3.84]
• Chicago Bears (Q3 27:17) — (12:17) (Shotgun) 1-J.Fields pass short middle to 84-M.Goodwin to SF 16 for 22 yards (4-E.Moseley). [WPA +7.3% · EPA +3.44]

Quarterback report card

J.Fields led all passers in efficiency for Chicago Bears, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• J.Fields (Chicago Bears) · 42 dropbacks · 45.2% completion · +4.8% CPOE · +0.34 EPA/play · +14.19 total EPA
• J.Garoppolo (San Francisco 49ers) · 29 dropbacks · 58.6% completion · -4.7% CPOE · +0.52 EPA/play · +15.11 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Despite the final score, San Francisco 49ers generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.29 vs +0.07), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Chicago Bears: 8 drives, +5.87 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• San Francisco 49ers: 9 drives, +20.53 total EPA, 7 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• San Francisco 49ers leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• J. Garoppolo (San Francisco 49ers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• J. Fields (CHI) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• J. Garoppolo (SF) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Chicago Bears FG (+3) — Q1 49:43 · SF 21 · Score 0-3
   (4:43) 2-C.Santos 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-P.Scales, Holder-16-P.O'Donnell.
2. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q1 47:56 · CHI 30 · Score 3-3
   (2:56) 14-J.Slye 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.
3. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q2 42:09 · SF 8 · Score 3-9
   (12:09) 1-J.Fields pass short left to 18-J.James for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q2 42:03 · SF 15 · Score 3-10
   2-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-48-P.Scales, Holder-16-P.O'Donnell.
5. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q2 39:38 · CHI 34 · Score 6-10
   (9:38) 14-J.Slye 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.
6. Chicago Bears FG (+3) — Q2 31:20 · SF 22 · Score 6-13
   (1:20) 2-C.Santos 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-P.Scales, Holder-16-P.O'Donnell.
7. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q2 30:02 · CHI 4 · Score 9-13
   (:02) 14-J.Slye 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.
8. Chicago Bears FG (+3) — Q3 23:36 · SF 7 · Score 9-16
   (8:36) 2-C.Santos 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-P.Scales, Holder-16-P.O'Donnell.
9. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q3 21:00 · CHI 2 · Score 15-16
   (6:00) (Shotgun) 10-J.Garoppolo left end for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q4 14:21 · CHI 5 · Score 21-16
    (14:21) (Shotgun) 25-E.Mitchell left guard for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. San Francisco 49ers Safety (+2) — Q4 14:11 · CHI 2 · Score 23-16
    TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 10-J.Garoppolo pass to 11-B.Aiyuk is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.
12. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q4 9:43 · SF 22 · Score 23-22
    (9:43) 1-J.Fields scrambles left end for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN. SF-54-F.Warner was injured during the play. His return is Probable.
13. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q4 6:38 · CHI 5 · Score 29-22
    (6:38) (Shotgun) 10-J.Garoppolo left end for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. CHI-36-D.Houston-Carson was injured during the play.
14. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q4 6:34 · CHI 15 · Score 30-22
    14-J.Slye extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.
15. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q4 2:00 · CHI 14 · Score 33-22
    (2:00) 14-J.Slye 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.