Tonight’s contest involved two leading NFC teams with two backups making their first starts for their current teams. One of those backups, Jason Campbell, a former first-round pick for the Washington Redskins, had started more than 60 games during his NFL career, and the other backup, Colin Kaepernick, a former Nevada Wolfpack star and second-round pick. 49ers round. in 2011, he had made exactly zero starts in his NFL career. With Campbell being a seasoned journeyman and regular starter as recently as last season, it was Kaepernick who most people thought he might be shaky. However, we were so, so, so wrong.

With a commanding performance from their defense and a spirited performance from Kaepernick and the 49ers’ offense, the San Francisco 49ers easily outscored the Chicago Bears 32-7.

Led by the fastest and most talented defense in the NFC, the 49ers displayed team play and great game planning on the first drive to score and take an early 3-0 lead on David’s 32-yard field goal. Akers. Kaepernick passed the 49ers to the Bears 14-yard line, however the drive was stalled on an incompletion intended for Vernon Davis.

When it was Campbell and the Bears’ turn to respond, they were held to -2 yards in 3 plays. Matt Forte rolled for 8 yards on the first two plays of the drive, but, in a picture of things to come for the rest of the night, Aldon Smith tore through the Bears’ offensive line to sack Campbell for a ten-yard loss.

After a punt by Podlesh, it took Kaepernick and the 49ers just four plays to put the nail in the Bears’ coffin. Facing a 3rd-and-7 from the San Francisco 40, Kaepernick hit Kyle Williams for a whopping 57-yard gain to get the 49ers within five. Vernon Davis caught a pass from Kaepernick in the right corner of the end zone to cap off the 4-play, 67-yard drive.

Once again, the Bears failed to generate a meaningful response on their ensuing drive moving the ball 24 yards in eight plays and punting the 49ers after a series of short passes and runs. However, they got a great punt from Podlesh, who pinned the 49ers deep in their own territory at their own 4-yard line.

The 49ers once again pummeled through the air and on the ground as it only took four minutes for them to go the 96 yards for the touchdown. The 49ers used a ton of different formations that seemed to confuse the Bears’ talented and experienced defense, and Kaepernick’s ability to escape pressure and complete a pass downfield was simply too much for the Bears’ once-proud defense. Kendall Hunter capped the drive with a 14-yard TD run for a 17-point lead with 12:47 remaining in the second quarter.

The rest of the half was relatively uneventful with Akers kicking another short field goal and the Bears struggling to make it all work. At the half, the game was safe for the 49ers who led 20-0. The battle of the starting quarterbacks was being dominated by Kaepernick, who had thrown just three incompletions and led four scoring drives.

The second half started with another 49ers drive. Time after time, Kaepernick escaped pressure from Peppers and the Bears defense to move the ball downfield. The drive culminated in a 10-yard reception by Michael Crabtree. On that scoring play, Kaepernick displayed veteran poise as he made all three of his progressions before finding Crabtree in the left corner of the end zone.

However, the Bears would not go down without a fight. Campbell managed to rally his troops for a good trip. After successful runs by Campbell and Michael Bush, the Bears moved the ball into San Francisco territory to the 45-yard line, where on second down and 10, Campbell hit Bush on a screen to the left side for an 18-yard pickup. . On the next play, the ex-49er, Rachal received a holding order that set up the Bears on 1st down and 20 on 28. After an incompletion on second down, Campbell was sacked on third down for a loss. of 7 yards. However, Aldon Smith was called for illegal use of the hands, and what seemed like a disastrous drive turned fruitful in the end when Campbell hit Brandon Marshall five plays later for a 13-yard touchdown.

The remainder of the game was controlled by the defenses, as the 49ers defense stopped any chance of a Bears comeback by constantly pressing and causing penalty after penalty for the 49ers. Give credit to the Bears defense though, as they could have given up on a game they clearly weren’t going to win. They held the 49ers to just five points, all of which were on turnovers, and showed some grit and pride by keeping the score semi-respectable.

Kaepernick finished the game 16-23 for 243 and 2 touchdowns. Vernon Davis had his most productive day in a long time as he caught 6-83 and a touchdown. Campbell finished his night 14-22 for 107 with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions.

The 49ers now sit 7-2-1 with a trip to New Orleans on Sunday. The Bears fall to 7-3 and will face the Vikings on Sunday. With this game being vital to playoff qualifying, the 49ers got a much-needed win, and with a brutal division schedule remaining for the Bears, they passed up the chance for a team with a new quarterback who could really go after them. when it comes time for the playoffs.

In a game with two new quarterbacks, Kaepernick and the 49ers proved that sometimes experience isn’t everything.