It's not just a lack of playmakers like Bosa and Warner, but on-field adjustment and leadership that is personified by Warner's presence. Lot of blown/missed coverage and blocking assignments last night that the "Mike" linebacker (Bethune) is responsible for calling. Warner is the 49ers "Mike" when healthy. The San Francisco Chronicle graded the defensive effort last night with an F. Their summation:
The 49ers better hope All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner comes back for the postseason. The defense they rolled out Sunday night is not Super Bowl-caliber. Before the game-ending play — with Yetur Gross-Matos forcing Bears QB Caleb Williams into an off-balance throw — Robert Saleh’s unit had
the strength of a wet paper bag. The Bears rolled up 440 yards, averaged 6.9 yards per play, and the Niners didn’t intercept a pass or sack Williams on any of his 42 passes. The blame goes around: Ji’Ayir Brown was burned on a 35-yard TD pass; Tatum Bethune lost coverage on a 36-yard score; Bethune was flagged for an unnecessary roughness penalty that pushed the Bears into go-ahead field goal range; and Chicago converted both fourth-down tries for first downs and picked up three of its 26 first downs courtesy of 49ers penalties.
https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/49ers/article/49ers-game-grades-offensive-fireworks-defense-21265075.php
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