SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) – Frank Gore ran for an 8-yard touchdown after a long scoring scamper was negated by a holding penalty, and the San Francisco 49ers had a 17-7 lead on the Chicago Bears at halftime of a sloppy, penalty-filled game Sunday night.
Jay Cutler helped the Bears get on the board with a 25-yard run late in the first half. He took a jarring hit from Quinton Dial with 56 seconds remaining, but stayed in the game and threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Marshall, who made a leaping, one-handed catch to pull the ball into his body as he fell into the end zone.
San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick committed two second-quarter turnovers after throwing a 3-yard touchdown pass to Michael Crabtree in the first quarter following a blocked punt.
Rookie Aaron Lynch blocked the punt by Patrick O’Donnell on Chicago’s initial series, giving San Francisco first-and-goal from the 8. Kaepernick found Crabtree – playing on his 27th birthday – in the right corner of the end zone three plays later to give the sellout crowd plenty to cheer for in the regular-season debut of Levi’s Stadium.
Looking for Stevie Johnson on his second series, Kaepernick threw an incomplete pass initially ruled an interception by Charles Tillman before being overturned on replay. San Francisco wound up capitalizing with Phil Dawson’s 27-yard field goal, using up a good chunk of the clock in the process.
Safety Chris Conte picked off a pass by Kaepernick midway through the second quarter, but Chicago missed another opportunity. Gore then broke several tackles for a 54-yard touchdown that came back on Anquan Boldin’s hold. Two plays later, Kaepernick lost a fumble.
San Francisco didn’t give the ball away once in a season-opening win at Dallas.
The 49ers outgained Chicago 197-93 and out-penalized the Bears 10-7 for 85 lost yards. The much-scrutinized field featured visible chunks of loose sod after new grass was laid for a third time since April.
Kaepernick made his breakout first career start against the Bears nearly two years ago, and then held onto the No. 1 job over Alex Smith.
Cutler didn’t face the 49ers during a November 2012 Monday night game at Candlestick Park because of a concussion.
A concussion to now-Chiefs QB Smith thrust Kaepernick into the spotlight that night, and he threw for 243 yards and two touchdowns as the Niners pounded the Bears 32-7.
The 49ers were embarrassed in a 34-0 rout by Denver in the first preseason game in the $1.2 billion stadium last month, but started well this time.
Chicago struggled after losing to the Bills 23-20 in overtime to begin the year. The Bears began a stretch with six of eight games on the road.
Dawson delivered for the raucous home crowd this time. Against the Broncos in the preseason opener, the veteran place kicker missed wide right from 55 and 44 yards. Tens of thousands of fans made early exits that day.
Chicago’s patchwork offensive line looked shaky with center Roberto Garza and left guard Matt Slauson each sidelined by ankle injuries.
Bears cornerback Sherrick McManis had a first-half quadriceps injury, while San Francisco tight end Vance McDonald injured a knee.
The 49ers won their three previous home openers under coach Jim Harbaugh.
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