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Bengals vs. 49ers: What's the Game Plan for San Francisco?

Dec 18, 2015
CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 25:  The San Francisco 49ers square off against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on September 25, 2011 in Cincinnati, Ohio.  (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 25: The San Francisco 49ers square off against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on September 25, 2011 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

The San Francisco 49ers' Week 13 overtime win over the Chicago Bears was a bit of an abomination as was revealed by the team's subsequent effort in Cleveland against the Browns—a game that saw San Francisco fall 24-10. 

And now, the 4-9 Niners will try to stage an upset against the 10-3 Cincinnati Bengals at Levi's Stadium on Sunday.

Cincinnati is dealing with its own problems. Quarterback Andy Dalton (hand) won't be able to start, and injuries to tight end Tyler Eifert (concussion) and defensive backs Adam Jones (ankle) and George Iloka (groin) change the nature of this bout.

Jones was able to practice this week, per CBS Sports.

Still, it's hard to gauge what San Francisco's game plan will be on Sunday. After last week's debacle, fans must be wondering if the 49ers' offensive and defensive approaches look something along the lines of this:

But the 49ers have been a better team at home this season. Three of their four wins have come at Levi's Stadium, and a banged-up Bengals squad opens up a little more opportunity for San Francisco.

Can the 49ers reach for their fifth win of the season?

In order to do so, coordinators Geep Chryst and Eric Mangini should dial up a game plan that focuses on the following elements and matchups.

Offensive Game Plan 

The 49ers will need to avoid the nine sacks of quarterback Blaine Gabbert when they face the Bengals.
The 49ers will need to avoid the nine sacks of quarterback Blaine Gabbert when they face the Bengals.

Last week, the 49ers offense mustered a mere 221 total yards against a Browns defense that ranked at or near the bottom of nearly every significant category this season.

And quarterback Blaine Gabbert was sacked nine times, which tied a team record.

Let those numbers sink in for a moment.

OK, it doesn't get much better in Week 15. The Bengals boast the second-best defense in the league this season with just 229 points allowed. And their defense is ranked No. 9 against the run with just 1,250 yards on the ground.

This doesn't bode well for a 49ers rushing attack that has managed just 79.5 yards over the last four games.

Injuries to Jones and Iloka could open up some things for Gabbert and the passing game, though. Cincinnati is slightly more susceptible to the aerial attack—ranking No. 16 in the league here with 3,154 yards allowed through the air.

But to combat this, the Bengals boast one of the better pass-rushing units in the league. Four Cincinnati defenders have four-plus sacks, and defensive end Carlos Dunlap has 12 on the season, per Pro Football Focus. Oh, and he'll frequently line up opposite right tackle Erik Pears.

PlayerPass-Rush GradeSacksQB HitsQB Hurries
DL Geno Atkins34.111949
DL Carlos Dunlap9.2121532
DL Domata Peko1.021226
DL Michael Johnson-6.251226

The 49ers will need to help Pears out, so it wouldn't be surprising to see Chryst slide a tight end over in that direction or assign fullback Bruce Miller on that side in base formations.

Even if the pass protection is adequate enough, Gabbert will need to focus on one key component that was largely absent in Week 14: accuracy.

Here is a prime example of this weakness.

Gabbert will target wide receiver Torrey Smith on this play with fellow wideout Anquan Boldin drawing two Browns defenders down the field with him. The design is, essentially, a pick on Cleveland's defensive back covering Smith.

Wide receiver Torrey Smith (yellow arrow) will be the target of Gabbert's pass.
Wide receiver Torrey Smith (yellow arrow) will be the target of Gabbert's pass.

At this moment, Smith makes his cut (note the three Browns defensive backs out of position). He has a chance to make a big play if Gabbert hits him in stride.

Three Browns defensive backs (red arrows) are out of position as Smith hits his cut.
Three Browns defensive backs (red arrows) are out of position as Smith hits his cut.

Instead, Gabbert's pass is thrown slightly behind Smith, which forces him to slow down to make the reception. Smith is quickly tackled by the converging defensive back despite a fairly wide-open window to exploit within the secondary (white triangle).

Had Gabbert hit Smith in stride, this play could have gone for much longer than just 17 yards.
Had Gabbert hit Smith in stride, this play could have gone for much longer than just 17 yards.

The play went for a modest 17-yard gain instead of something, potentially, much bigger.

Gabbert focused more on his accuracy during training camp and less on his velocity. But this particular play reveals the pinpoint throwing efforts weren't exactly up to par. And it wasn't as if Gabbert was under pressure either.

His throws will need to be on target against a Bengals secondary having allowed just 15 passing touchdowns on the season.

Targeting Bengals cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick might also be a part of the offensive game plan. Lined up opposite Jones, Kirkpatrick is posting a minus-10.6 pass-coverage grade, per PFF.

Look for Gabbert and his receiving targets to try to exploit this.

Defensive Game Plan 

Defensive tackle Quinton Dial was the lone 49ers starter not to have a missed tackle in Week 14.
Defensive tackle Quinton Dial was the lone 49ers starter not to have a missed tackle in Week 14.

The San Francisco defense suffered a total breakdown in fundamentals last Sunday, and missed tackles were a primary culprit.

Entering the game, Cleveland owned the league's worst rushing offense but somehow managed to rip off 230 yards on the ground.

According to PFF, the 49ers had nine missed tackles over the course of the game, and defensive tackle Quinton Dial was the lone starter not to miss a tackle, per Ryan Sakamoto of NinerFans.com. Those aren't exactly the kinds of numbers one would want to see from a developing defense.

The Bengals boast a two-headed monster out of the backfield. Both running backs Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard have over 600 yards on the ground this season and a combined 10 rushing touchdowns.

With rookie quarterback A.J. McCarron getting his first start in Dalton's stead, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Cincinnati offense focus on the running game, especially after what was seen last week from the 49ers defense.

So let's expect Mangini to add additional defenders to the box in an attempt to take away the Bengals' ground efforts. If San Francisco's run-stoppers can emulate their efforts from Week 12 versus the Atlanta Falcons (12 yards on 12 carries for running back Devonta Freeman), the defense might have a chance with McCarron under center.

To get the rookie signal-caller off his game, the 49ers should look to attack both Cincinnati's center and right tackle positions. Offensive lineman Russell Bodine and Andre Smith Jr. both rank as the Bengals' lowest-grading starters in pass protection, per PFF.

PlayerOverall GradePass BlockRun BlockSacks AllowedQB HitsQB Hurries
LT Andrew Whitworth24.69.912.23110
LG Clint Boling14.3-0.613.63221
C Russell Bodine-19.0-8.3-11.22024
RG Kevin Zeitler21.85.715.90213
RT Andre Smith Jr.-16.2-8.8-3.92119

This means the Bengals are vulnerable to interior pressure and pressure from their right side. So look for Mangini to bring blitzes from the middle of the 49ers front seven and from their left. Can outside linebacker Aaron Lynch (concussion) return soon enough?

Eifert is listed as doubtful for this game, which is a bonus for San Francisco. He's the Bengals' biggest red-zone threat with a team-leading 12 touchdown grabs.

Still, Cincinnati boasts wide receiver A.J. Green, who leads the club with 1,169 receiving yards and eight touchdowns of his own. Veteran cornerback Tramaine Brock will frequently be lined up in coverage opposite Green and has put together a decent season with three interceptions, 10 passes defended and a plus-4.3 pass-coverage grade, per PFF.

Overall, the 49ers' defensive game plan should be simple—take away the Bengals' running game and make McCarron look like a rookie under center.

Key Players and Matchups 

Quarterback A.J. McCarron (left) and wide receiver A.J. Green (right) will look to connect against a 49ers defense Sunday.
Quarterback A.J. McCarron (left) and wide receiver A.J. Green (right) will look to connect against a 49ers defense Sunday.

Brock versus Green should draw a lot of attention. Cincinnati's top receiver will likely be a heavy target for McCarron on Sunday, so Green will need to be the focal point of San Francisco's secondary. It wouldn't be surprising to see safety Eric Reid help out in coverage here, especially with Eifert not likely in the equation.

But forcing pressure on the rookie quarterback will also need to be a part of the plan.

Lynch, who is still listed as questionable, could be a factor given the weakness along the right side of Cincinnati's O-line. And it wouldn't be surprising to see defensive end Arik Armstead working in tandem with Lynch, should he be ready to go, as illustrated by Brandon Thorn of CBS Sports:

The 49ers also have their fair share of O-line concerns—namely, Pears versus Dunlap in a clear case of strength against weakness.

And it will also be interesting to see how Marcus Martin handles himself at left guard after the 49ers lost former starter Alex Boone (knee) for the season. Martin owns a minus-42.1 PFF grade—the lowest out of all eligible centers this year. Can he perform better at guard?

Lastly, can Gabbert bounce back from last week? How will he handle a tough Bengals pass rush, and will accuracy woes continue to plague him?

Prediction 

Gabbert and the 49ers will have a tough hill to climb in order to upset a deep Bengals squad at Levi's Stadium.
Gabbert and the 49ers will have a tough hill to climb in order to upset a deep Bengals squad at Levi's Stadium.

Even with a rookie quarterback starting, the Bengals are still in a position to dominate a weak and disorganized 49ers team this Sunday.

Cincinnati has a top-tier defense—one the San Francisco offense won't be able to easily overcome unless a near-perfect game plan is drawn up and executed.

But signs don't point to this being the case in Santa Clara right now, as James Brady of SB Nation pointed out. Citing a source, Brady noted a lack of cohesion within the 49ers coaching staff. This doesn't bode well facing a Bengals team looking to cap off the AFC North.

McCarron could provide the 49ers with some opportunities on defense. And, potentially, the Bengals may overlook a weak San Francisco squad while focusing more on playoff aspirations.

If the 49ers hang around long enough, there may be a chance.

Still, it doesn't seem likely this will happen. Look for the Bengals to come away with a victory in Week 15. The outcome may not be a total embarrassment, but the 49ers are far from being capable of knocking off a Cincinnati team, despite injuries, loaded on both sides of the ball.

A 24-13 victory for the Bengals sounds about right.

All statistics, injury reports, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and ESPN.com unless otherwise indicated.

Peter Panacy is a Featured Columnist covering the San Francisco 49ers for Bleacher Report. Follow him @PeterPanacy on Twitter.

Last week's loss to the Cleveland Browns feels as if it set the San Francisco 49ers franchise back a good 10 years as the team now looks to regroup against a 10-3 Cincinnati Bengals team coming to Levi's Stadium in Week 15...

49ers vs. Browns: What's the Game Plan for San Francisco?

Dec 11, 2015
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith (82) celebrates a game winning touchdown with his teammates during the overtime of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015, in Chicago. The 49ers won 26-20. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith (82) celebrates a game winning touchdown with his teammates during the overtime of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015, in Chicago. The 49ers won 26-20. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

The San Francisco 49ers have a chance to do something once thought unfathomable earlier this season: win back-to-back games on the road.

This is the scenario as the 4-8 49ers travel to take on the 2-10 Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium in Week 14.

San Francisco is coming off a 26-20 overtime victory over the Chicago Bears and will look to capitalize on that momentum against quarterback Johnny Manziel and a struggling Browns team ranking near the bottom in nearly every significant offensive and defensive category.

Despite being listed as one-point underdogs, per Odds Shark, the 49ers have an excellent chance to build on last week's positives and reach for their fifth victory in 2015.

So how will San Francisco go about doing this?

Offensively, running back Shaun Draughn will have a chance to get some revenge against the team that released him earlier this season. Defensively, San Francisco will look to continue what it did well in Chicago—eliminating big plays and, hopefully, coming away with a turnover or two.

So what should fans expect out of the 49ers in Week 14 on both sides of the ball?

An effective ground game with running back Shaun Draughn (right) will help set up play action for quarterback Blaine Gabbert (left).
An effective ground game with running back Shaun Draughn (right) will help set up play action for quarterback Blaine Gabbert (left).

Offensive Game Plan

Despite last week's victory, the 49ers offense remains problematic in a number of critical areas. Moving the ball efficiently enough against a suspect Bears defense was difficult, as the 49ers were outgained 364 yards to 291.

Factor in the two missed field goals by Chicago kicker Robbie Gould, and San Francisco shouldn't have even had an opportunity to win in overtime.

Punter Bradley Pinion was busy on the day with nine punts, but the 49ers had some slight improvement on third down, converting seven of 16 attempts.

A balanced approach will be the mandate for San Francisco's offense. And it will start by establishing the running game.

Take a look at the Browns' 2015 defensive statistics:

Points AllowedYards AllowedPass Yards AllowedNet Pass Yards/AttemptRush Yards AllowedYards/Attempt
Defensive Stats3474,7863,1507.61,6364.6
NFL Rank312925313128

Cleveland ranks near the bottom defensively, and its run defense is particularly vulnerable. This unit stands at No. 31 out of 32 NFL teams, and the 4.6 rushing yards allowed per attempt opens up plenty of opportunity for Draughn.

Draughn is averaging just 3.3 yards per run over four games with San Francisco. But he has emerged as a nice pass-catching option out of the backfield. He had five catches for 50 yards in Chicago.

As a whole, the Browns grade out with a minus-55.6 grade against the run, per Pro Football Focus. But the 49ers have a minus-51.4 run-blocking PFF grade on the season. So this particular matchup looks to be more weakness versus weakness rather than a bout between two strengths. 

Draughn started off his 2015 in Cleveland before being released. Week 14 could provide added motivation.
Draughn started off his 2015 in Cleveland before being released. Week 14 could provide added motivation.

If the 49ers can establish the run early enough—potentially fueled by Draughn's added motivation against his former squad—quarterback Blaine Gabbert should have an easier time with play action.

Such was the case when Gabbert connected with wide receiver Torrey Smith for a game-winning 71-yard touchdown in overtime.

Take a look at how play action set up Gabbert's deep strike to Smith:

Cleveland's secondary is nothing like that of Chicago. (The Bears currently rank No. 2 in the NFL with just 2,530 pass yards allowed.) And the 49ers offense should have additional opportunities with Browns defensive backs Justin Gilbert (concussion) listed as doubtful for the contest and Joe Haden (concussion) ruled out, per head coach Mike Pettine.

A simple, yet effective offensive game plan will be the necessity for San Francisco's offense.

The Browns lack the playmaking ability to halt any rhythmic approach from an opposing offense, so the 49ers should be able to take advantage of this frequently and often.

The 49ers will need rookie defensive end Arik Armstead to disrupt the Browns offensive line on Sunday.
The 49ers will need rookie defensive end Arik Armstead to disrupt the Browns offensive line on Sunday.

Defensive Game Plan

San Francisco's defense has finally started to come on as of late. In back-to-back weeks, this unit has held both the high-flying Arizona Cardinals and Bears to a net total of 39 points and 701 yards over Weeks 12 and 13.

This is a vast improvement over what was seen earlier this season, and signs are pointing to defensive coordinator Eric Mangini having his squad effectively managing coverage schemes without risking too much in the way of assignment confusion.

The 49ers still have some hurdles to climb on this side of the ball, though.

Mangini's unit has allowed the fifth-highest yardage total in the league (4,741) and ranks No. 27 against the pass (3,239 yards allowed) and No. 28 against the run (1,502 yards allowed).

Overall, the 49ers are still stuck in the bottom tier, according to PFF:

OverallRun DefensePass RushPass CoveragePenalty
Defensive Grade-31.45.1-4.0-21.1-1.0
NFL Rank2519272524

Fortunately, Cleveland is suffering its own offensive woes on the season. While San Francisco ranks dead last on offense, the Browns come in at No. 30 with just 216 points scored.

Manziel will be a focal point of the 49ers defense. And as defensive tackle Mike Purcell noted earlier this week, keeping the mobile quarterback within the pocket will be a necessity for San Francisco's defensive efforts.

Keeping quarterback Johnny Manziel in the pocket will be focus for San Francisco's defense.
Keeping quarterback Johnny Manziel in the pocket will be focus for San Francisco's defense.

The Browns have done a solid job in pass protection this season with a plus-10.5 pass-blocking grade, per PFF. So that means the 49ers defensive front will have to win over at the line of scrimmage—an assignment likely suited for rookie defensive end Arik Armstead.

Armstead is seen here collapsing the right side of the Bears pocket last week using his sheer size to his advantage:

The rookie may not be able to pile up pressures on Manziel. But if he can box out one side of the pocket, allowing San Francisco's interior rushers to converge, the 49ers might be able to contain Manziel's mobility.

And when he's under pressure, Manziel's passer rating drops from 93.8 to 79.6, per PFF.

Another focal point for San Francisco is Browns tight end Gary Barnidge. He leads Cleveland with 60 receptions on the season, and six of his seven touchdowns have come within the red zone. 

It's not hard to see how much of a matchup problem he can be, according to Chris Trapasso of NFL.com:

Mangini's coverage schemes may vary to contain Barnidge's abilities. But we should expect linebacker NaVorro Bowman and safey Eric Reid to play a pivotal role in covering the 6'5" tight end.

Look for turnovers to be a factor in this game as well. Cleveland has a minus-five turnover differential compared to San Francisco's minus-two.

Tight end Gary Barnidge is the No. 1 threat against whom the 49ers will have to contend.
Tight end Gary Barnidge is the No. 1 threat against whom the 49ers will have to contend.

Key Players and Matchups

Bowman and Reid versus Barnidge will be one of the aspects upon which the outcome may hinge. San Francisco's perennial All-Pro linebacker had his issues in coverage early this season but finished the 49ers' last three contests with positive PFF marks (0.6, 1.3 and 0.4).

With Cleveland's rushing attack ranking dead last in the league (887 yards), Manziel's ability to move the ball through the air will be the primary threat to the 49ers defense.

Therefore, an effective pass rush will need to be applied. It may be difficult depending on the status of the 49ers' best pass-rusher Aaron Lynch (concussion), who is listed as questionable, which will put more pressure on Mangini and Co.

Browns wide receiver Travis Benjamin (shoulder) is listed as probable for the game and leads the team with 826 receiving yards. Pettine stated that he is "ready to go," so look for the 5'10" receiver to match up frequently against the 49ers' No. 1 cornerback, Tramaine Brock.

On the flip side, Gabbert's ongoing evaluation will continue and, beneficially, it will be against a weak Browns defense.

Veteran kicker Phil Dawson returns to Cleveland, where he spent 14 seasons as a member of the Browns.
Veteran kicker Phil Dawson returns to Cleveland, where he spent 14 seasons as a member of the Browns.

But the biggest offensive weapon San Francisco will employ is Draughn.

And one can't forget about 40-year-old veteran kicker Phil Dawson, who spent the first 14 years of his pro career in Cleveland. With Odds Shark's spread, this game could come down to a last-minute field goal off Dawson's leg.

Look for the 49ers to come away with their second road win of the season and fifth victory of the year.
Look for the 49ers to come away with their second road win of the season and fifth victory of the year.

Prediction

Both the 49ers and Browns are going through their own offensive woes in 2015. But San Francisco seems to have a slightly better edge on defense entering this contest.

It also doesn't hurt to have a little road momentum in the 49ers' favor.

Week 14 may reveal an ugly game for both sides—a contest featuring not knockout blows from two heavyweights, but rather a bout between two struggling franchises attempting to find their respective ways.

Yet the Browns seem to have more question marks on the field at this point compared to their counterpart 49ers. And this plays into San Francisco's favor despite being on the road.

The 49ers still have a long ways to go before returning to prominence. But Cleveland is a team San Francisco should be able to beat.

A 21-13 victory for the Niners seems about right.

All statistics, injury reports, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and ESPN.com unless otherwise indicated.

Peter Panacy is a Featured Columnist covering the San Francisco 49ers for Bleacher Report. Follow him @PeterPanacy on Twitter.

The San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears faced off in an ugly, poorly played contest at Soldier Field in Week 13 and found themselves locked into a 20-20 tie at the end of regulation, thanks to a missed field goal by the Bears with time expiring...

49ers vs. Bears: What's the Game Plan for San Francisco?

Dec 4, 2015
Chicago Bears tight end Martellus Bennett (83) catches a 3-yard touchdown in front of San Francisco 49ers safety Eric Reid (35) during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Chicago Bears tight end Martellus Bennett (83) catches a 3-yard touchdown in front of San Francisco 49ers safety Eric Reid (35) during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Two sub-.500 teams will square off in Week 13 as the San Francisco 49ers (3-8) and Chicago Bears (5-6) prepare for Sunday's matchup at Soldier Field. 

But both teams are trending in different directions. 

San Francisco is coming off a tough home loss to the Arizona Cardinals last week, while Chicago enjoyed a surprising road victory over its rival, the Green Bay Packers. With that win, the Bears still have an outside shot at making the postseason.

The 49ers will also be facing their former defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, secondary coach Ed Donatell and head coaching candidate Adam Gase—all now working for the Bears.

Fangio and Donatell may know a thing or two about the personnel on San Francisco's roster despite the wholesale turnover that took place with the 49ers during the offseason. But whether or not that makes a significant difference Sunday is anyone's guess.

Head coach Jim Tomsula will look to overcome any such advantages and get his team playing decently on the road—something that hasn't happened this season. 

What should fans expect out of San Francisco's efforts, both offensively and defensively, during this Week 13 bout?

Nov 29, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) on the sideline during the third quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium. The Arizona Cardinals defeated the San Francisco 49ers 19-13. Mandatory Credit
Nov 29, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) on the sideline during the third quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium. The Arizona Cardinals defeated the San Francisco 49ers 19-13. Mandatory Credit

Offensive Game Plan

Despite the installation of quarterback Blaine Gabbert as the 49ers' No. 1 signal-caller, San Francisco's offense still ranks dead last in the NFL in total points (152) and all-purpose yards (3,250).

Gabbert has shown the ability to avoid sacks, despite taking two critical takedowns in Week 12, and maintain a better poise within the pocket. But red-zone woes and third-down conversions have still been problematic for the offense as of late.

The 49ers were 0-of-9 on third-down attempts versus Arizona.

This deficiency may not entirely be on the hands of Gabbert. Rather, the play-calling under offensive coordinator Geep Chryst should be questioned.

Here, the 49ers face a 3rd-and-long play needing to get to Arizona's 12-yard line for a first down. Gabbert will have five receiving options at his disposal. But even a casual observation of the pending routes suggests the offense will have only one option for a first-down play:

The 49ers will only have one option reaching the first-down marker on this 3rd-and-long play.
The 49ers will only have one option reaching the first-down marker on this 3rd-and-long play.

Take a look at the play as the route develops. Gabbert completes a pass underneath—well short of the first-down marker:

Gabbert completes a pass underneath, while the rest of the offensive options are mostly covered up for any possibility of a big gain.
Gabbert completes a pass underneath, while the rest of the offensive options are mostly covered up for any possibility of a big gain.

Granted, there aren't too many good options on 3rd-and-long plays. And it makes sense to let your receivers make a play in open space to pick up additional yards after the catch. But it would have been nice to see an additional option on the other side of the field take one or more of the Cardinals defenders deep.

Trying to execute this sort of approach won't be easy against Chicago's secondary.

The Bears have the second-best pass defense in the league with just 2,360 yards allowed through the air. And Chicago's crop of defensive backs grades out considerably well, according to Pro Football Focus

Defensive BackSnapsOverallRun DefensePass Coverage
Adrian Amos728+4.4+3.5-0.8
Kyle Fuller721+4.7+2.7+0.8
Tracy Porter545+2.5-0.5+3.3
Antrel Rolle398+0.7+0.2+0.2
Sherrick McManis258-8.7-2.1-7.1
Bryce Callahan238-0.1+1.5-2.1

Bears cornerbacks Kyle Fuller and Tracy Porter are having solid seasons. And the Chicago pass rush is formidable enough with edge-rushers Lamarr Houston and Pernell McPhee leading the way with five sacks apiece.

To combat this, San Francisco will need to be effective on the ground.

Running back Shaun Draughn will have a chance to take advantage of a suspect Bears rushing defense that ranks No. 29 in the league with 1,414 yards allowed on the ground and 4.8 yards per carry.

Draughn is averaging 3.4 yards per carry but could see that number increase given Chicago's problems here.

Getting the ground game going will be critical in avoiding 3rd-and-long plays as well as setting up play action—an example of which can be seen courtesy of the 49ers Twitter account on this reception by wide receiver Torrey Smith for 41 yards:

And don't be surprised to see Gabbert continue to use tight ends in the red zone. San Francisco's lone end-zone score last week came on a 19-yard touchdown completion on a route by tight end Vance McDonald.

A strong running game, combined with a more-aggressive approach from Chryst, should put the 49ers in a better position to increase their lowly 13.8 points-per-game total.

Linebacker Aaron Lynch will have to assert himself against a suspect Bears O-line.
Linebacker Aaron Lynch will have to assert himself against a suspect Bears O-line.

Defensive Game Plan

While not as bad as San Francisco, the Bears have endured their own share of offensive problems 13 weeks into the season.

Chicago's offense ranks No. 25 in the league with 231 points scored—an average of 21 points per game.

The Bears do have a number of weapons at the disposal of quarterback Jay Cutler. Wide receiver Alshon Jeffery leads Chicago's receiving targets in yards with 605. And fellow wideout Marquess Wilson is right behind him with 464.

Cutler's favorite target has been tight end Martellus Bennett, who leads the offense with 50 catches on 76 targets.

Moving the ball through the air will be a primary objective of Chicago's offense Sunday. With running back Matt Forte averaging just 3.9 yards per carry and backup Jeremy Langford averaging just 3.3, Cutler and the passing game will have to be a primary focus.

PlayerReceptionsYardsY/RTouchdowns
TE Martellus Bennett504258.53
WR Alshon Jeffery4360514.12
WR Marquess Wilson2846416.61
TE Zach Miller1522214.84
WR Josh Bellamy1214211.81

San Francisco's secondary hasn't exactly been stellar this season and ranks No. 26 in the league with a minus-24.4 pass-coverage grade, according to PFF.

To negate this, the 49ers defense will look to pressure Cutler as frequently as possible while not allowing Forte and Langford to establish the run.

Cutler has been sacked 15 times on the season, but the Bears have allowed 19 quarterback hits and 114 quarterback hurries, per PFF.

Bears O-lineman Charles Leno has been the primary culprit here with a minus-13.7 pass-blocking grade. Look for linebacker Aaron Lynch, who leads the 49ers with 6.5 sacks, to be a factor against Leno in the pass rush.

Blitzing might also be an effective technique against Cutler and the offense. According to PFF, Cutler's passer rating drops from 98.2 to 82.5 when blitzed. So expect defensive coordinator Eric Mangini to increase some of the pressure in Leno's direction.

Doing this may also negate the possibility of Cutler finding tight end Zach Miller, who has emerged as the Bears' best red-zone option this season with four touchdowns.

The 49ers will likely employ a safety/linebacker combination in this area to prevent Miller from having an impact.

November 29, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) hands the football off to running back Shaun Draughn (24) against the Arizona Cardinals during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-U
November 29, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) hands the football off to running back Shaun Draughn (24) against the Arizona Cardinals during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-U

Key Players and Matchups

The 49ers will need to get production out of Draughn and the running game in order to have any sort of chance to pull away with their first road victory of the season.

Thankfully, the Bears run defense isn't that good. And this should open up enough opportunities for Draughn to rip off some nice carries.

With Draughn and an effective passing game, San Francisco will look to get away from 3rd-and-long situations and improve on its woeful third-down conversion efforts in Week 13. 

Wide receivers Smith and Anquan Boldin will be fun to watch against Porter and Fuller, but look for Chryst's offense to get a little more out of No. 3 wideout Quinton Patton this game. He has just 20 receptions for 250 yards this season but could be an X-factor should the offense spread things out.

And can McDonald continue to be a reliable target for Gabbert as he has been in the previous two games?

Defensively, the 49ers won't want a repeat of their run-defensive efforts versus the Seattle Seahawks when running back Thomas Rawls rushed for 209 yards. On the road, San Francisco is giving up an average of 151.8 rushing yards compared to 95.5 at home.

Still, the passing offense remains the primary threat. Lynch vs. Leno will be a matchup to watch if the 49ers pass rush is to be effective.

Pressuring quarterback Jay Cutler should be an effective technique in slowing Chicago's offense.
Pressuring quarterback Jay Cutler should be an effective technique in slowing Chicago's offense.

Can San Francisco's pass defense contain Miller in the red zone and not let Jeffery impact the game as he's done so many times?

The Bears have momentum on their side, while the 49ers have yet to win a road game this season.
The Bears have momentum on their side, while the 49ers have yet to win a road game this season.

Prediction

Unfortunately, the 49ers haven't shown they can win on the road. Aside from their Sunday Night Football contest against the New York Giants, the 49ers have been all but blown out away from Levi's Stadium this year.

It's hard to predict any changes happening in Week 13. And the Bears' Week 12 victory over Green Bay, combined with the added rest and preparation since playing on Thanksgiving, gives Chicago even more of an edge here.

Can the 49ers pull off an upset?

If they play near-perfect football and execute a solid game plan on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, yes.

But San Francisco has yet to do this sort of thing with any regularity.

It's doubtful the 49ers go to 4-8 on the season, and a 24-17 win in favor of the Bears looks about right.

All statistics, injury reports, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and ESPN.com unless otherwise indicated.

Peter Panacy is a Featured Columnist covering the San Francisco 49ers for Bleacher Report. Follow him @PeterPanacy on Twitter.

The San Francisco 49ers dropped a tough NFC West matchup versus the Arizona Cardinals last week and will try to bounce back against a Chicago Bears team coming off an impressive Thursday Night Football win over the Green Bay Packers ...