SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The Bears keep marching toward the NFC playoffs, now with assurance that they’ll get there. That happened Thursday when the Detroit Lions lost.

They officially clinched the NFC North title Saturday night after the Green Bay Packers’ loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

[MORE: Bears clinch NFC North title with Packers’ loss to Ravens]

They’ll face yet another opponent already set for the playoff field Sunday night when they square off against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. The 49ers are beat up on defense especially, but head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense can score points. This team has been shockingly good, and is playing at a home venue a long ways from Chicago.

That means the Bears will be tested in their final regular-season road game of the season. If they want to lock down the NFC’s No. 2 playoff seed — there’s also still a shot at No. 1 if — the Bears must (yet again) find a way to win.

Here’s everything you need to know about this game and the keys to Chicago emerging victorious:   

How to watch

Kickoff: 7:20 p.m. CT on Sunday, Dec. 28

TV: NBC 5 Chicago; NBC stations throughout Bears market

Radio: ESPN Chicago (1000 AM), LATINO MIX 93.5 FM (Spanish); Westwood One

Out-of-market streaming: Peacock, NFL Plus

Wild card

Bears RB Kyle Monangai

D’Andre Swift has been steadily efficient, with one exception, for weeks now. His reliability and explosiveness have been paramount in the Bears run game’s overall success.

Monagai, a rookie, isn’t quite as consistent, but the Bears turn into a dominant force when he gets going and the run game reaches high gear. He’s a violent runner with great burst, and he could relentlessly attack an injury-plagued 49ers defensive front. If the Bears have a late lead and Monangai is rolling, the run game could be the ultimate closer.

[READ: Five Bears, 49ers players to watch in NFL Week 17 game in San Francisco]

X-factor

Bears DT Grady Jarrett

Jarrett had seven tackles, with six run stuffs, one quarterback hit and one batted pass last week against the Green Bay Packers. He had three key run stops, one sack and one QB hit the prior week against the Cleveland Browns.

The high-priced free agent had a slow start while dealing with a knee issue that he played through before it cost him some games, but he’s rounding into far better form of late and has become a force on the inside.

That will be key against the 49ers’ run game, taking away the interior runs (along with Andrew Billings) while allowing others to pursue all-world running back Christian McCaffrey and plug gaps in the zone scheme. Jarrett still has some pass-rush juice, and 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy can be had with strong interior pressure. A few splash plays from Jarrett could slow the 49ers’ offense just enough to make an impact and force some turnovers thrown down the field.

[READ: Bears injury report: Luther Burden III will play 49ers, Rome Odunze remains out]

Bold prediction

Luther Burden III’s big return

We don’t mean that literally, though the rookie wide receiver does have return experience. His impact should come from the outside and the slot, as the Bears get an exciting weapon back from injury.

DJ Moore and Colston Loveland still might be primary targets, but you can see Burden’s chemistry with Caleb Williams steadily building. That was clear in the games before he was hurt, when Burden had 10 catches (six for first downs) and 151 yards combined against the Packers and Browns.

Burden missed one week with an ankle issue, but he seems ready to cause trouble with well-timed runs after the catch. That third legitimate passing weapon with Moore and Loveland makes the Bears a lot tougher.

Game pick

49ers 31, Bears 27

We just pointed out many reasons why the Bears can beat a good 49ers team, but traveling this far and with illness impacting so many in the Chicago locker room is too much to handle right now. The Bears still put up a fight, but they fall behind and (this time) can’t catch up.