On Monday\u2019s\u00a0Locked On 49ers Podcast<\/a>, host Brian Peacock provided a rundown of the Niners\u2019 game \u2014 including game notes and key takeaways \u2014 and handed out five game balls from the San Francisco 49ers\u2019 one-score loss to the playoff-bound Chicago Bears.<\/p>\n San Francisco\u2019s two-game winning streak came to an end in Week 16 at the hands of the Chicago Bears and their top-ranked defense, led by former 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. Despite the two team\u2019s dissimilar records \u2014 the Niners now sit at 4-11, while the NFC North champion Bears have recorded 11 wins in 2018 \u2014 San Francisco was in place to pull off a potential upset in the game\u2019s closing minutes. Unfortunately, 49ers quarterback Nick Mullens<\/a> ended the team\u2019s final drive, and the Niners\u2019 chances of victory, when the youngster threw a hail-mary pass out-of-bounds<\/a> instead of using his feet to easily convert a fourth-down try.<\/p>\n While Mullens\u2019 late mistake was inexcusable, the first-year QB hung tough against Chicago\u2019s ferocious defense for much of Sunday\u2019s contest. The 49ers had their\u00a0fair share of scoring opportunities throughout the game, but 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan\u2019s\u00a0lack of killer instinct and passive play-calling helped keep the team from getting the ball into the end zone. Even with an offense playing \u201cnot to lose,\u201d San Francisco stayed in the game thanks to an inexperienced but intense defensive unit that held the Bears to just two scores on the day:<\/p>\n 49ers defensive tackle DeForest Buckner<\/a> continued to play like a Pro-Bowler on Sunday, as the third-year interior lineman added to his team-high sack total, which currently stands at 12 on the season. Buckner also leads the Niners\u2019 defense in quarterback hits and tackles for loss by wide margins.<\/p>\n Buckner is the engine that makes San Francisco\u2019s defense run, which was evidenced by a key turnover on Sunday. Buckner immediately broke into the Bears\u2019 backfield at the snap, which ruined the timing of the play and forced QB Mitchell Trubisky<\/a> to throw\u00a0on the run as he tried to sprint away. When the quarterback\u2019s errant backward pass hit the ground, the high-motor defender then ran across the field to recover the fumble. Over the course of the 2018 season, Buckner has arrived as one of the top\u00a0defensive players in the NFL:<\/p>\n49ers DT DeForest Buckner<\/h3>\n