49ers use old ‘Stick to whack Bears

CANDLESTICK PARK — When the 49ers finally move into their new billion-dollar Santa Clara stadium, nobody will be happier than the Chicago Bears.

After Monday night’s 32-7 blowout, Chicago now stands 0-8 at Candlestick since 1985.

The losing streak includes a classic 1987 game in which the 49ers demolished the Bears 41-0. It got so bad in that game that head coach Mike Ditka fired his chewing gum into the stands, hitting one of the many heckling fans in the head.

It may be still be too early to say this season, but the 49ers look ready for the playoffs after beating the second tightest defense in football.

Most lingering questions about Colin Kaepernick’s ability as a quarterback were answered Monday night, especially given the tough Chicago defense. Kaepernick threw with strength and accuracy, going 16-of-23 for 243 yards with two touchdowns with a QB rating of 133.1.

On the 49ers second possession on 3rd and 7, Kaepernick connected with Kyle Williams on a 57-yard pass play to set up a 3-yard touchdown pass to Vernon Davis.

Kaepernick told the media after the game he felt comfortable on the field leading the team:

Post-Game Audio: 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick

“I wanted to show what I was capable of and show that I could be a starter and that’s what I’ve been trying to prove since I’ve been in the league.”

The 49ers were so efficient, they didn’t even have to punt until late in the second quarter.

The Bears had a massive dropoff without their starting quarterback, Jay Cutler. Like Alex Smith, Cutler sat out the game with a concussion. But unlike Kaepernick, backup Jason Campbell was simply overmatched, as Chicago was held to just 143 yards of total offense.

Campbell said after the game the Bears would need to learn from this game:

“We just need to use this as some form of wakeup call. We need to continue to grow in order to get to where we want to be. In a game like this, San Francisco, their team is going to be in the playoffs.”

In the first half, Campbell was never comfortable in the pocket. He threw one pass off his back foot and right into the arms of Tarell Brown. Late in the third quarter, he overthrew receiver Earl Bennett, delivering the ball instead to Dashon Goldson.

Campbell was 14-of-22 for 107 yards but sacked six times. Five of those sacks were credited to Aldon Smith. Campbell was roughed up all night by Aldon, Justin Smith, and other 49er defenders.

Aldon Smith said:

Post-Game Audio: 49ers defensive lineman Aldon Smith

“Coming in I’d say there were some questions about who may have been the better defense or just questioning us in general but obviously I think we came out and proved a point tonight.”

The Bears’ lone scoring play was in the third quarter when Campbell successfully rolled to his right and threw a perfect pass to Brandon Marshall, trimming the 49ers’ comfy lead to 27-7.

Davis hasn’t been utilized much, but in this game he had six catches for 83 yards including the game’s first touchdown.

Kaepernick said the team was focused on protecting the ball against the Bears, who lead the league in takeaways:

“That’s something we were very conscious of going through the week. We knew they had a lot of great players that tried to strip the ball and were going to try to make plays on the ball but at the same time we had to go out there and just play like we can.”