The Chicago Bears will battle the San Francisco 49ers on the road in prime time in Week 17, where there’s plenty at stake for both teams in the NFC playoff race.

The Bears, fresh off their improbable comeback win over the Green Bay Packers in overtime, are one win (or Packers loss) away from clinching their first NFC North title since 2018. They’re also one of four teams still in the hunt for the No. 1 seed in the NFC. If they hope to emerge victorious over a red-hot 49ers squad, they’re going to need their offense to show out in a big way. And they have the players and play caller to get it done.

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Here’s a look at three keys for the Bears offense as they battle the 49ers on Sunday Night Football:

Get off to a fast start

The Bears have struggled getting off to fast starts, which has prompted their six comeback wins this season. But there’s a sense of urgency to rectify that against a 49ers team with an explosive offense that could jump out to a first-half lead that might be difficult to overcome. While Chicago has earned a reputation as the cardiac kings of the league — and they’re never quite out of a game — getting off to a fast start is going to be crucial heading into the postseason against the NFC’s best. Capitalizing in the red zone and scoring touchdowns, rather than settling for field goals, will play a key role in that success. Last week, the Bears didn’t score points until the third quarter or a touchdown until the final minute. That cannot happen against this team.

Establish the run

The Bears have leaned on their top-two run game in some of their biggest games, including their Black Friday win over the Eagles, and this is the perfect opportunity to establish the tone early in the trenches. D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai are one of the league’s best running back duos, and a healthy dose of the run, particularly early, would help Chicago get off to a faster start and open up play-action to attack downfield in the passing game. It won’t be easy against a 49ers run defense that ranks eighth in the NFL, allowing 102.9 yards per game, but the Bears have a dominant offensive line, led by Pro Bowlers Joe Thuney and Drew Dalman, to help Swift and Monangai get the job done.

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Limit the mistakes

This is a battle between two playoff football teams, which often means the team that makes the fewest mistakes will emerge victorious. The Bears have struggled at times with self-inflicted penalties that have set them back on offense or extended drives for the opposing offense. While Chicago has improved in that area, the penalties crept back up in last week’s improbable comeback win over the Packers, where the Bears had 10 penalties for 105 yards. That can’t happen against the 49ers. The good news is, Chicago has been one of the better teams protecting the football. The Bears have a +21 turnover differential (first in the NFL), and they’ve only turned the ball over 10 times, which is tied with the Texans for the fewest turnovers in the league. If Chicago can limit the penalties and protect the ball, they have a good chance to win.

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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears vs. 49ers: 3 keys for Chicago’s offense in Week 17