Final takeaways: Wow, Robbie Gould just beat the Bears with five FGs

Thoughts and observations from the Bears’ against the 49ers on Sunday.

SECOND HALF

1. How good will Jimmy Garoppolo be for the 49ers? That’s what I thought when he completed a 16-yard pass over the middle to receiver Louis Murphy between three Bears defenders and with defensive lineman Akiem Hicks about to hit him in the third quarter.

And that’s what I thought when he completed a 20-yard pass over the middle to receiver Trent Taylor on a third-and-eight play and with outside linebacker Sam Acho having a free run at him.

… and that’s what I thought when he completed an 18-yard pass to Taylor on a third-and-nine play right before the two-minute warning and with outside linebacker Lamarr Houston closing in.

1(b). Murphy? Taylor? Garoppolo got it done with some unheralded receivers.

1(c). 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said he scaled things back for Garoppolo in his first start for them. Really? Whatever he did, it worked. Garoppolo completed 26 of 37 passes for 293 yards. Cornerback Kyle Fuller’s first-quarter interception began as a reception by Murphy.

2. Did the Bears really lose to five field goals by kicker Robbie Gould? Wow.

2(b). Wow.

2(c). Wow.

2(d). But seriously, wow. Gould has been great since the Bears cut him for Connor Barth.

3. The Bears’ run game had another disappointing performance. A week after the Bears gained six yards on 14 carries against the Eagles, running back Jordan Howard had 13 carries for 38 yards. The 49ers entered the game with the No. 30 run defense, allowing nearly 130 yards per game.

4. Rookie Tarik Cohen was the Bears’ best player Sunday.

5. Rookie quarterback Mitch Trubisky (12-for-15, 102 yards, touchdown, 117.2 passer rating) was better against the 49ers than he was against the Eagles. That should have been expected, but it still was good to see nonetheless. He was accurate on several of his completions. In the end, though, the offense didn’t do enough win. Not even close.

6. The Bears lost 15-14 to the 49ers. Will coach John Fox be fired on Monday?

FIRST HALF

1. Holy Moses, Tarik Cohen. What a punt return. The rookie running back initially went backward on his 61-yard score in the second quarter, but his ability to abruptly change direction and then turn on his jets make him a special threat. Is the risk always worth the reward? Absolutely not. But special-teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers rightfully gives him some freedom because of his big-play skills.

2. Trubisky completed his first four throws for 37 yards and an eight-yard touchdown to receiver Dontrelle Inman. It was a positive start for the rookie, especially after his accuracy and fundamentals were questioned after the Bears were blown out by the Eagles last week.

2 (b). It also helped to play an inferior team.

3. That said, Garoppolo also had a good start in his first start. Garoppolo had three first-half drives end in field goals by Gould, but he didn’t look overwhelmed whatsoever.

3(b). Why are Bears fans booing Gould?

4. Accountability? Receiver Josh Bellamy started for the Bears. His loud, expletive-filled argument with Tre McBride led to McBride’s release this past week. Bellamy also said that he didn’t regret his part in it. (He made a four-yard catch in the fourth quarter. It was his only catch of the game.)

5. Injuries are finally a good excuse … at least, on defense. The Bears are a battered bunch. Veteran Chris Prosinski, signed off the street on Thursday, started at safety. Receiver Trent Taylor beat Prosinski for a 17-yard gain early in the second quarter.

The Bears also lost outside linebacker Pernell McPhee to a shoulder injury during the 49ers’ game-opening drive. It left the Bears with only Acho and Houston at outside linebacker. Houston also was claimed off waivers on Wednesday.