Bears 28-20 49ers, 1:17, 4th quarter

Kaepernick is looking for Steveie Johnson in the near corner of the endzone but it’s overthrown. It’s 3rd & 12 now and we have whistles - a delay of game.

Yikes.

That makes it 3rd & 17, and the Niners have 16 penalties for 118 yards, which is a lot.

Kaepernick has Gore, right over the middle for eight yards.

So now it will be 4th & 9 at the 17...

Bears 28-20 49ers, 1:29, 4th quarter

Derek Carrier is inside the 20 after a running catch down Broadway - gain of 14. Niners hurry up - it’s a Kaepernick keeper for -1. Timeout San Francisco.

Bears 28-20 49ers, 2:07, 4th quarter

After Kaepernick scrambles for seven it’s 4th & 6. The Niners are going to go for it from the Bears 41...but not yet. San Francisco burn their first timeout.

Bears 28-20 49ers, 2:40, 4th quarter

Kaepernick has lots of time, and Crabtree on the far sideline for a first down.

Meanwhile, Vernon Davis won’t return with a bad ankle.

Niners on the Bears 43, and then here comes Young again! He gets to Kaepernick and wraps him up at midfield.

Big 3rd & 13 here for SF...

Bears 28-20 49ers, 4:47, 4th quarter

San Francisco start at their 20 and Kaepernick is taken down immediately by Young! A loss of six on the play as the Bears “D”, as beat up as it is right now, asserts itself!

But wait, Kaepernick comes right back - a gain of 13 to Boldin, and on the ensuing 3rd & 3, the Niners QB runs to the near sideline for 13 yards to save the drive. They’re at their own 42.

Bears 21-20 49ers, 7:27, 4th quarter

Now it’s 2nd & 5 on the 37 and Cutler tosses left sideline and has Jefferey! The Bears suddenly look amazing on offense and defense! That’s a 29-yard gain to the eight!

Bears 21-20 49ers, 9:24, 4th quarter

The drive continues - it’s Stevie Johnson on the near sideline - it’s good enough for a first down.

Then he’s sacked by Allen and Mclellin! It’s a loss of five yards.

Now, after an eight yard pickup on a completion to Vernon Davis, a false start means it will be 3rd & long...it’s about 12 yards...

Bears 21-20 49ers, 11:51, 4th quarter

On 2nd & 7, Kaepernick finds Carrier on the far sideline, but he’s short of the first down. That makes this a big 3rd & 2 now...

And in the second half the yellow thing became the Bears best friend.

Bears 7-20 49ers, 13:50, 4th quarter

Cutler tosses to Forte out of the backfield and runs down to the Niners six!

It’s 2nd & 4 and now Forte takes it on the ground and is stuffed!

That sets up big a 3rd & 3.

Come on Hunter, you don’t need to rub it in my face.

Bears 7-20 49ers, 00:34 3rd quarter

Bears on the move, approaching midfield now, mounting a lng drive of their own after San Francisco dominated the ball on the opening drive of the second half. Of course, they’ve had some help, but they’ll take whatever they can get.

Cutler hits Marshall over the middle after Brandon fakes towards the sideline. Pretty little move there - he’s down to the 49ers 41 after the catch.

Now they’re down to the 25 - Cutler has loads of time and Santonio Holmes open...

...then Cutler hooks up with Bennett for five yards - they’re at the 21 now, but have to burn a timeout.

Bears 7-20 49ers, 3:18 3rd quarter

On 3rd & long, Cutler is look Jefferey down the far sideline and he’s not even close. Don’t worry, Dantae Johnson is flagged for illegal contact and that’s another automatic first down for Chicago.

I’m running out of adjectives here...

Bears 7-20 49ers, 3:39 3rd quarter

Charles Tillman is out with a torn triceps injury, the same injury that did him in last season. That’s tough for the Bears secondary, and Tillman, who was in tears according to NBC TV..

Quickly, Cutler fances a 3rd & 9. The crowd smell blood, and are loud.

Shotgun, Cutler is incomplete looking for Marshall.

But get this - illegal hands to the face by Lemonier bails out the Bears - that’s a first down for Chicago.

Amazing. It’s 100 yards of penalties by San Francisco tonight, so I hear.

Bears 7-17 49ers, 6:01 3rd quarter

On 3rd & 6 they run Gore up the middle. Why? I have no idea. He gets nowhere and here comes the field goal unit - it’s a 24-yard attempt.

Michael Aston says:

Just got in, I’m a big Cutler fan, (wish he’d come to Oakland back when)..dude is a baller, arrogant, yes, but he has that unfathomable that surprises.....reading your MBM, 49’ers dominate but...it’s a one score game DA BEARS! Come on JAY!!!

Bears 7-17 49ers, 7:28 3rd quarter

Hyde gets wrapped up in the backfid, so a key down here - it’s 3rd & 11.

Wideout Stevie Johnson gets separation and Kaepernick finds him near the far sideline - the Niners are at the 11 now.

Then an offsides call puts them on the six - more sloppy play from the Bears. First & goal.

Bears 7-17 49ers, 10:15 3rd quarter

Niners seem a steadier ship - Kaepernick links up with Crabtree for a big gain and SF are marching across midfield on the 41 of the Bears. Now the SF QB is on the run - it’s a keeper, down to the 30.

On the next play Kaepernick dances out of trouble for no gain.

So a lot of Kaepernick and a lot of progress. Tillman of the Bears secondary is down and that pauses play.

There were 17 penalties in the first half for 128 yards. Think we can top it next half?

The Niners Kaepernick was 10/19 for 122 yards, 25 yards rushing with a passing TD and an INT.

Cutler was 10/20 for 64 yards and a TD.

Forte had eight yards rushing for Chicago, Gore 50 for SF.

Niners wideout Michael Crabtree had four catches for 39 yards, the Bears TE Bennett had five receptions and 29 yards for Chicago.

This is a disjointed, messy, awful football game and none of these teams look any good at all. It’s particularly shameful for the home team, who should be more careful with the football.

But none on the Marshall play - that would have sent us all to the ledge.

Bears 0-17 49ers, :25 2nd quarter

Little pass to Marshall sets up a 3rd & 2 - clock is ticking...

Bears 0-17 49ers, :49 2nd quarter

Cutler is incomplete, throwing way downfield, but he is bailed out by a Perrish Cox illegal contact flag, for whatever reason. That’s an automatic first down and a break for Chicago.

There’s a flag on the next play also by golly. Chris Cook has a sideline catch for a sizable gain, but he was out of bounds and then came back into play, and that’s not allowed.

There’s a flag on the next play also by golly. Roughing the passer by Quinton Dial, who just destroys Cutler, helmet into ribs, and the Bears QB somehow remains in the game.

After all this, we have a 2nd & 11 at the Niners 26.

Bears 0-17 49ers, 1:18 2nd quarter

Cutler is complete again - this time to Brandon Marshall for four yards. Flag on the play, it’s defensive holding.

Ho hum.

Hang on - here goes Cutler. He is running, and running, and running, right down the center of the field - that is a big gain, yes indeed it is. It’s a 25-yard run, and for the Bears, that’s comparable to a 75-yard run.

Quickly however, it’s 3rd & 10 at the Niners 40. Can they convert?

Bears 0-10 49ers, 2:27 2nd quarter

Here’s Derek Carrier, who has a big catch over the middle and gets totally destroyed by Tillman. Somehow he hangs on and it’s a 22-yard reception down to the Bears eight.

Bears 0-10 49ers, 7:52 2nd quarter

Very quickly it’s 3rd & 11. Cutler, in the shotgun, he runs a little left, a little right, then a little forward...to the sideline. It’s nowhere near enough and the Bears will punt for the fourth time.

There’s a flag on the punt. Yes sir-ee. NBC TV says there are four flags on the field at once. How about that? And they’re all by the Bears...we got:

• Illegal use of hands
  
• Player ran out of bounds
  
• Holding
  

Hey, that’s only three - I count that as a disappointment.

The 49ers make them kick it again. And there’s a flag on the field.

Really, you just have to laugh, don’t you? Otherwise you’ll jump onto Luquer Street.

This time it’s Ellington takes the kick to the 42, but holding takes it back to the 32 - that’s where the Niners will start.

Bears 0-10 49ers, 9:30, 2nd quarter

Forte goes nowhere. Then Bennett has a little reception out on the far side for a yard. It’s 3rd & 9 now - can the Bears keep this drive alive?

Well, he’s sacked by Justin Smith, so no. And we can tack on a holding call just for fun - it’s declined. They kick from the back of the Bears endzone. And while the waiting Ellington muffs (it’s not what you think) the catch, he recovers and San Francisco will begin on the 50.

Bears 0-10 49ers, 11:26, 2nd quarter

There was another penalty, but I didn’t see who it was on. Honestly, it’s hard to keep up.

The Niners do punt back to Chicago however, and get this - two flags on the kick.

Just kidding, it’s just one penalty - stunning misdirection by the refs. It’s holding on Christian Jones of Chicago, so they’ll back up 10 yards to their own 13 thanks to that.

We’re up to nine penalties if you’re keeping score at home.

After watching that, I deserve a self-promoting tweet.

Bears 0-10 49ers, 14:14, 2nd quarter

Matt Forte brings his nightly haul up to double digits yards after a seven yard gain to the Niners 41 - that’s a first down, and for Bears fans, that’s progress.

Bears 0-10 49ers, 1:16, 1st quarter

So, here come the Bears. Let’s see what they can do. Forte has the ball, running right for no gain - so far he has three carries for one yard.

Then Cutler finds Alshon Jeffery on the near sideline for four yards.

That means it’s 3rd & 6, and Cutler finds Bennett, but Bennett has the dropsies. No worries though, Jimmie Ward used his hands illegally for the Niners on the play, and the Bears have an automatic first down.

Whatever.

Bears 0-10 49ers, 2:48, 1st quarter

Ha! A flag, on the kickoff. Would you believe it? After the touchback, there’s a bit of unnecessary roughness on L.J. McCray of San Francisco, so the Bears will get to start at the 35 instead of the 20 - that’s great stuff. They’re gonna love that in the film session.

Bears 0-7 49ers, 2:53, 1st quarter

Kaepernick floats a pass to the far sideline - it’s well short, and San Francisco will bring out the field goal unit after the five-yard catch by Hyde.

Bears 0-7 49ers, 3:00, 1st quarter

More defensive holding, this time it’s Lamarr Houston, but it couldn’t stop another connection to Davis for 18 yards. Naturally, that penalty is declined.

So San Francisco on the move here - another catch, this time by Crabtree on the right sideline, which makes it 3rd & 5 on the Chicago nine yard line.

Then, and get this, we have a penalty. Seriously, it’s true. A false start sets up 3rd & 10 on the 14 for the 49ers, who burn a timeout.

Will this quarter ever end? #mess

Bears 0-7 49ers, 5:28, 1st quarter

Here’s a legitimate first down - Kaepernick, over the middle and across midfield to Vernon Davis for 14 yards. Then Gore gains seven, down to the 33 yard line, courtesy of a punishing run right after a little play fake by Kaepernick prior to the handoff.

Bears 0-7 49ers, 7:25, 1st quarter

Kaepernick steps up and avoids becoming a Bears sandwich and scrambles for a first down...but offensive lineman Joe Staley is holding Jeremiah Ratliff, and so now it’s 3rd & 20.

Or it’s 3rd & 15 after neutural zone infraction on the Bears.

I think I’m going to go to the bathroom soon.

But I can’t because I might miss another penalty. Like defensive holding on Kyle Fuller.

Can’t anyone here play this game?

Finally, a play without a penalty - tight end Vance McDonald can;’t come up with it, and it’s incomplete.

Bears 0-7 49ers, 9:27, 1st quarter

There’s Big Frank Gore, the 10-year vet, pounding up the middle for six hard earned yards. Then Kaepernick is on the move, rolling right, and hitting a fairly wide open Anquan Boldin who is streaking towards the near sideline up to the 46 for a 21-yard gain.

Very nice.

Bears 0-7 49ers, 10:32, 1st quarter

And they do, and Bruce Ellington is under it, making the catch and running just a few yards upfield to the Niners’ 19 before Sherrick McManis takes care of him. Great work by the Bears to get that punt off without issue.

Bears 0-7 49ers, 10:52, 1st quarter

Now a couple of incomplete passes means it’s third & 10. It’s a short pass to Bennett, complete, but it’s not enough for first down yardage, and that means Chicago will try to punt. Let’s see if they can pull it off this time.

Bears 0-7 49ers, 11:28, 1st quarter

Chicago are up and running now, and have themselves a first down thanks to Santonio Holmes - that’s a five-yard gain up to their own 32.

NBC gives us a look at the play clock, which had clearly expired on San Francisco before the snap to Kaepernick, so the 49ers should have been penalized for a delay of game, but instead, they’re up a TD. That is a reason to be just a wee upset if you’re a Bears fan.

On the 200th anniversary of one of the most difficult national anthems to sing, the Star Spangled Banner, Pat Monahan has the honor at Levi’s Stadium.

A bit on the rough side really. Surely they could have done a bit better considering. I’ll give it 5.5/10.

More confirmation of the news that’s come to light. Perhaps he is in the doomsday plane, flying over various venues ...while trying to avoid the UltraViolet folks of course.

49ers legends Joe Montana, Ronnie Lott and Jerry Rice, who some of you may have heard of, are in the house on the big night out at Levi’s Stadium.

I have to say, the place looks interesting and dynamic, which is hard to do because big football stadiums are generally speaking, charmless. For instance, the Giants and Jets spent $1.6m on MetLife Stadium and the place is soulless and uninspiring and generally speaking, quite awful. So, good for San Francisco on that front.

There has been a lot of injury speculation throughout the week, with the Bears brass making several moves to bolster their roster in the wake of injuries, but they are getting some good news according to the twitter-sphere.

Goodell has cancelled his trip to Levi’s Stadium, which is predictable. Some will call it cowardly, some will call it protecting the sanctity of the event for the team, some will call it good business, some will call it bad business.

Had he been in attendance, and looked up at just the right time, he would have seen a message from the National women’s advocacy organization UltraViolet, who flew these flags over several stadiums today and will tonight.

Here are the classified (American) football results:

• Bills 29-10 Dolphins
  
• Washington 41-10 Jaguars
  
• Cowboys 26-10 Titans
  
• Cardinals 25-Giants 14
  
• Patriots 30-7 Vikings
  
• Browns 26-24 Saints
  
• Bengals 24-10 Falcons
  
• Panthers 24-7 Lions
  
• Rams 19-17 Bucs
  
• Chargers 30-21 Seahawks
  
• Titans 30-14 Raiders
  
• Packers 31-24 Jets
  
• Broncos 24-17 Chiefs
  
• Ravens 26-6 Steelers
  
• Eagles vs Colts - Monday
  

So that Seahawks game stands out just a bit doesn’t it? That’s the first chink in the armor of the champions as Antonio Gates lit them up for three touchdowns in San Diego. We should mention the Bills moving to 2-0 and they jumped all over Miami with CJ Spiller returning a 102-yard kickoff for a touchdown. The Packers, Patriots and Cowboys bounced back from week one losses. And how about those Browns! A last second field goal helped them beat the Saints, who are now 0-2...although they haven’t played a home game yet.

Of course there’s much more where that came from, and The Guardian will have their regular NFL review coverage up and running shortly.

NBC TV here in the US says that Ray Rice will appeal his indefinite suspension on Monday with the NFL, which strikes me as a bit early, and perhaps, time wise, not so wise. Then again, that Rice would be appealing the very same league whose mishandling of the case is seen by some to be on par or worse than the act itself, is really kind of mind blowing. There isn’t a high road to be seen.