The immediate futures of the Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers were in the hands of backup quarterbacks after first Jay Cutler and then Alex Smith were ruled out of Monday night’s pivotal NFC battle at Candlestick Park because of concussions.
Second-year man Colin Kaepernick, starting for the 49ers in place of Smith, looked good early. He hit tight end Vernon Davis on a three-yard touchdown pass to put San Francisco ahead 10-0 with 6:14 to play in the first quarter. The TD was set up when Kaepernick connected with receiver Kyle Williams -- son of White Sox executive Ken Williams -- on a 57-yard pass play.
Kaepernick also sparkled on the game's opening drive. He directed a nine-play, 68-yard march that resulted in a 32-yard David Akers field goal and a 3-0 lead with 10:37 to play in the quarter.
Veteran Jason Campbell was informed he would have the starting nod for the Bears midway through last week. His first drive wasn't so successful: a three-and-out that ended with Campbell being sacked on a third-and-2 play.
The stakes for the Bears were high: With the Green Bay Packers (7-3) nipping at the Bears’ first-place standing in the NFC North, Monday night’s outcome took on added ramifications.
The last time the Bears beat the 49ers in San Francisco, Mike Ditka was the coach, Walter Payton was leading the ground attack and 350-pound defensive tackle William Perry was unveiled as a backfield threat. The Bears were 0-7 at San Francisco since then.
Times have changed since that 26-10 Bears win in 1985, but the stakes remain just as high.
Bears offensive coordinator Mike Tice knew he would be challenged to devise plays that exploited Campbell’s strengths and created a healthy balance that would showcase running back Matt Forte.
“He has played before ... watching him in practice he brings tremendous poise and leadership to the guys. The guys have rallied around him,” Tice said of Campbell. “He has had two good, rhythmic days of practice. I like the things he’s doing. Certainly he has his thoughts on things that he likes in the plan and things that he doesn’t like in the plan. As always, we try to communicate with our players as best we can to make sure we’re out there trying to call things that they feel good about, that they can execute properly. We probably just haven’t called enough of those type things."
The Bears entered Monday night’s game 2-2 in prime-time games this season. Both of those wins were on "Monday Night Football" against Dallas and Detroit.
Under coach Lovie Smith, the Bears entered 9-2 (.818) on "Monday Night Football," including wins in seven out of their last eight.
The Bears were 7-3 last season when Cutler went down with a broken right thumb. With Caleb Hanie and Josh McCown at quarterback, the Bears lost five of their last six to finish 8-8 and out of the playoffs.
“Last season, I remember, I was at Oakland,” Campbell said earlier this week. “Similar situation. We were having a winning season, I break my collarbone. And then Chicago comes to us to play us and I was at that game when it was pretty much a field goal blast. So, I understand the importance of it. At the same time, you know, it comes in a situation where it is the tough part of our season. You know, like I said, it’s the San Francisco 49ers and we just got to be ready. I understand a year ago what happened. I do know that. At the same time, I’ve got to do what I got to do.”
Smith said he was more confident this year with Campbell as a veteran backup to Cutler.
“We didn't handle last year well,” Smith said. “Of course, it's documented we didn't. That's why we went out and we felt like we've upgraded the position. I know guys have a lot of confidence in Jason. He's played a lot of football, started a lot of games. So we're hopeful.”
fmitchell@tribune.com
Twitter@kicker34
1st quarter: 49ers 10, Bears 0
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1st quarter: 49ers 10, Bears 0
