NFL Week 17 picks include Jaguars, Steelers and Niners
Lorenzo Reyes shares his three picks for NFL games through Christmas week.
NFL fans will be in for a treat during the penultimate “Sunday Night Football” game of the 2025 regular season.
The San Francisco 49ers are set to host the Chicago Bears in a battle between two playoff teams that could help to decide who ends up earning the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC.
The Bears are fresh off a critical, come-from-behind Week 16 win over the Green Bay Packers that gave them control of the NFC North. Caleb Williams has continued to improve in his first season under Ben Johnson’s tutelage while the upgraded offensive line in front of him has coalesced nicely as the campaign has progressed.
Meanwhile, Kyle Shanahan once again has the 49ers poised to be contenders despite enduring a boatload of injuries during the 2025 NFL season. Brock Purdy has been on fire in five starts since returning from a six-week absence due to a toe injury – completing 70.2% of his passes for 1,151 yards, 13 touchdowns and just four interceptions – but will face a nice test against a Bears defense that entered Week 17 leading the NFL in interceptions with 21.
The 49ers are in need of a win to set up a potential winner-take-all battle against the Seattle Seahawks in what is currently a tight NFC North race.
The Bears will need a victory to stay in the running for the NFC’s No. 1 seed, so both teams have plenty to play for as the 2025 NFL regular season winds down.
USA TODAY Sports will provide live updates, highlights and more from the 49ers vs. Bears game.
What TV channel is the 49ers vs. Bears game?
The Week 17 game between the San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears game will be broadcast by NBC on Sunday. Mike Tirico (play-by-play), Cris Collinsworth (game analyst) and Melissa Stark (sideline reporter) will be on the call for the “Sunday Night Football” contest.
What time is the Bears at 49ers game?
The 49ers vs. Bears game will kick off at 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday, Dec. 28.
49ers vs. Bears live stream
Per usual, NBC will simulcast its “Sunday Night Football” offering on Peacock, its proprietary streaming service. Cord-cutters can also catch the action on the NFL’s own streaming service, NFL+.
Watch “Sunday Night Football” with Peacock
49ers vs. Bears prediction, picks
Here’s how the NFL experts at USA TODAY Sports believe the Week 17 matchup between the 49ers and Bears will shake out:
Jarrett Bell:Â 49ers, 26-24Nick Brinkerhoff:Â 49ers, 28-24Chris Bumbaca:Â 49ers, 29-25Nate Davis:Â 49ers, 24-23Tyler Dragon:Â Bears, 25-21Mike Middlehurst-Schwartz: 49ers, 35-2849ers vs. Bears odds, moneyline, O/U
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 6:15 p.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML):Â 49ers -200 (Bet $200 to win $100) | Bears +165 (Bet $100 to win $165)Against the spread (ATS):Â 49ers -3.5 (-105) | Bears +3.5 (-115)Over/Under (O/U): 52.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
The 49ers’ star tight end is officially inactive for tonight’s game.
Kittle was considered “highly unlikely” to play on “Sunday Night Football” against the Chicago Bears, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. He was expected to test his ankle before the team announced its inactives but it appears he needs more time to recover.
RB Isaac GuerendoWR Jordan WatkinsTE George KittleDL Kevin GivensCB Renardo GreenLB Curtis RobinsonDL Robert Beal Jr.QB Case KeenumWR Rome OdunzeWR Olamide ZaccheausCB Dallis FlowersDB Nick McCloudLB Ruben Hyppolite IIOL Luke NewmanSeattle Seahawks (13-3, NFC West leaders)*Chicago Bears (11-4, NFC North winners)*Philadelphia Eagles (11-5, NFC East winners)*Carolina Panthers (8-8, NFC South leaders)San Francisco 49ers (11-4, wild card No. 1)*Los Angeles Rams (11-4, wild card No. 2)*Green Bay Packers (9-6-1, wild card No. 3)*
In the hunt: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)
Denver Broncos (13-3, AFC West winners)*New England Patriots (13-3, AFC East winners)*Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4, AFC South leaders)*Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7, AFC North leaders)Houston Texans (11-5, wild card No. 1)*Los Angeles Chargers (11-5, wild card No. 3)*Buffalo Bills (11-5, wild card No. 3)*
In the hunt: Baltimore Ravens (8-8)
An asterisk (*) denotes teams that have clinched
The 49ers enter tonight’s game tied with the Rams in second place in the division. They are ahead by virtue of the division head-to-head record.
Seattle Seahawks (13-3)San Francisco 49ers (11-4)Los Angeles Rams (11-4)Arizona Cardinals (3-13)
The Bears have locked up the NFC North division title for the first time since 2018 after the Packers’ loss to the Ravens on Saturday in Week 17.
Chicago Bears (11-4)* NFC North winnersGreen Bay Packers (9-6-1)Minnesota Vikings (8-8)Detroit Lions (8-8)Week 17: at San Francisco 49ers (11-4)Week 18: vs. Detroit Lions (8-8)
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Here’s a look at the latest draft order for the first round with strength of schedule information via Tankathon:
Las Vegas Raiders: 2-14; .544 SOSNew York Giants: 3-13 record; .531 strength of scheduleNew York Jets: 3-13, .548 SOSTennessee Titans: 3-13, .576 SOSArizona Cardinals: 3-13; .577 SOSCleveland Browns: 4-12, .494 SOSWashington Commanders: 4-12; .504 SOSNew Orleans Saints: 6-10; .491 SOSKansas City Chiefs: 6-10; .511 SOSCincinnati Bengals: 6-10; .520 SOSAtlanta Falcons (pick belongs to Los Angeles Rams): 6-9; .498 SOSMiami Dolphins: 7-9; .487 SOSTampa Bay Buccaneers: 7-8, .530 SOSDallas Cowboys: 7-8-1; .430 SOSDetroit Lions: 8-8; .493 SOSBaltimore Ravens: 8-8; .507 SOSMinnesota Vikings: 8-8; .515 SOSIndianapolis Colts (pick belongs to Jets): 8-8; .537 SOSCarolina Panthers: 8-8, .521 SOSPittsburgh Steelers: 9-7; .513 SOSGreen Bay Packers (pick belongs to Cowboys): 9-6-1; .479 SOSLos Angeles Chargers: 11-5; .461 SOSPhiladelphia Eagles: 11-5; .469 SOSBuffalo Bills: 11-5, .472 SOSHouston Texans: 11-5; .530 SOSSan Francisco 49ers: 11-4, .494 SOSLos Angeles Rams: 11-4, .526 SOSJacksonville Jaguars (pick belongs to Browns): 12-4; .487 SOSChicago Bears: 11-4; .450 SOSNew England Patriots: 13-3; .386 SOSDenver Broncos: 13-3; .425 SOSSeattle Seahawks: 13-3; .494 SOS