Keys to beating the Bears, snapping skid - Marin Independent Journal

Keys to beating the Bears, snapping skid

The 49ers’ Isaac Guerendo (31) runs against the Cowboys’ Eric Kendricks (50) in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium on Oct. 27. NHAT V. MEYER — BAY AREA NEWS GROUP, FILE

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By Cam Inman

Bay Area News Group

SANTA CLARA >> They got lambasted in Lambeau. There were no-shows in the Buffalo snow. Now, the 49ers are home, alone in last place.

General manager John Lynch didn’t mince words when it came to what the 49ers (5-7) must do next, when they put their three-game losing streak up against the six-game skid of the Chicago Bears (4-7) in Sunday’s matinee at Levi’s Stadium.

“We’ve still got a lot of really good football players (who are) prideful, but you can’t get your ass kicked a couple of weeks in a row and not respond,” Lynch said Friday on KNBR 680-AM. “That’s what I fully expect, that we come out with a response that’s up to our standards.”

Here are three ways for the 49ers to kick their losing streak:

1. AVOID CMC HANGOVER >>

The 49ers have lost Christian McCaffrey twice in one season to injuries. Jordan Mason, his breakout backup, is also done. With Elijah Mitchell’s season nixed before it started, the 49ers now turn to Isaac Guerendo, whom they traded up to draft in the fourth round because his speed, his upright style and his talents compared favorably to former 49ers stud Raheem Mostert.

Guerendo started only once in six college seasons, and it came in his finale with a three-touchdown, 161-yard effort in Louisville’s bowl-game loss to USC. His previous start at running back before that was in fourth grade, after which he moved to wide receiver before reverting to running back at Wisconsin five years ago.

2. STOP. THE. RUN. >>

Coach Kyle Shanahan sounds outright disgusted when forced to rehash the past two defeats, and he promptly points to a run defense that allowed 125 yards by halftime in Green Bay and 141 yards in Buffalo. Each opponent ran for three touchdowns, meaning the 49ers have allowed 19 rushing touchdowns this season, six off the franchise single-season record.

3. SACK TIME >>

Caleb Williams may be making rookie strides, but he’s still been sacked 49 times. He won’t be Sunday by Nick Bosa, who will miss his third straight game with an oblique injury.

Tasked with leading the 49ers’ pass rush is Leonard Floyd, who’s been dependable but not anywhere near the dominant complement to Bosa they envisioned.

During the Bears’ six-game slide, Williams has been sacked 29 times (nine by New England) but he’s also had none of his 212 passes intercepted in that span. “He’s actually reading defenses and putting the ball where it needs to go,” Warner said. “He’s done a great job and obviously he has the legs to make things happen there. We’ve got to try to make his life hard (Sunday).”