Barkley gets 1st win against old coach as Bears beat 49ers

Kaepernick had averaged more than 275 yards and more than 50 yards rushing per game in his last four contests prior to Sunday’s debacle.

But after failing to complete a pass before he led a momentum-shifting two-minute drill that resulted to a late second-quarter touchdown in the Bears’ 26-6 win Sunday at Soldier Field, Barkley found his groove. Using primarily a nickel unit even though the 49ers had the threat of running back Carlos Hyde (92 yards, 20 carries), the Bears had five down linemen and pressured Kaepernick while gambling his wide receivers wouldn’t be able to get open downfield, often against man coverage.

He’s spent his season traveling to scout college games and prepare for the upcoming free agent class. Like you would expect in a winter game like this, the running game led the charge.

Kaepernick attempted five passes and was sacked five times.

“Well, I think confidence at any position is huge”, Fox said. Sunday was Kaepernick’s seventh start of the season and, as it turned out, the only one of those games he did not finish.

Kelly said no decision has been made about who will start next week against the Jets.

Despite the humiliating performance, 49ers coach Chip Kelly explained that it doesn’t mean that Kaepernick will lose his starting job. The six total sacks suffered by the 49ers’ offense totaled 33 yards, leading to that six-yard net total on the day.

It was the first time in National Football League history that a quarterback threw for fewer than five yards and was sacked five times in a single game.

After the two-minute warning, the Bears’ dormant offense suddenly came to life as Barkley completed three straight passes, including a long one to Cameron Meredith.

“It’s not my place to really argue on the sideline”, he said.

Four games remain and this much is obvious about the 49ers: they are historically awful. It was 24-6 in favor of the Bears, sure, and the conditions were terrible.

Two special-teams miscues – a partially-blocked punt and a fumbled kickoff – provided the 49ers with chances to capitalize in the second quarter. Barkley went 11 of 18 for 192 yards against the struggling 49ers. “Maybe I was too cautious but it didn’t look like we were doing much in the passing game”.

The 49ers were true to their 2016 form.

After an injury-plagued first couple of seasons in which he was a Jay Cutler-like gunslinger, he’s truly, finally, evolved into the franchise quarterback the Lions envisioned when they used the top pick in the 2009 draft on him, especially after Jim Bob Cooter took over play-calling duties midway through last season. For what they’re worth – not a whole lot at this point in time – several mock drafts have Trubisky going No. 1 overall to the Browns.

Hicks, for one, was thrilled to see Floyd finish a masterful defensive day in which the Bears allowed only two first downs after halftime while keeping the 49ers from crossing midfield.

“We start off hot and we get cold”, linebacker Ahmad Brooks said. “When things get tough, not bow down to what is going on”.