This article was originally published on www.si.com/nfl/49ers/onsi as 3 changes the 49ers should make on defense before the 2025 playoffs. The San Francisco 49ers defense is not going to magically get Nick Bosa, Fred Warner or even Mykel Williams back, so it is hard to say that they can reach their peak level.

Before discussing how the 49ers match up against the parade of flawed teams they may face along the way, I’m going to explain how, to the surprise of even the most optimistic Niners watchers, the team is surviving the Fred Warner and Nick Bosa injuries on defense — and why that unit has real upside to be better in January.

The San Francisco 49ers' defense gets a boost ahead of their matchup against the Indianapolis Colts on "Monday Night Football."

The 49ers are in the playoffs, and the goal shifts to acquiring the highest seed. Three wins to close out the year and they complete an improbable run to the NFC’s 1 seed. The first step is beating the Indianapolis Colts tonight, which begins with stopping the league’s leading rusher, Jonathan Taylor.

Jauan Jennings may not be the best receiver in the NFL, but he sure is good at making plays in the clutch. The fifth-year wide receiver has essentially become their WR1 with Brandon Aiyuk away from the team and Ricky Pearsall still coming into his own. Jennings has 49 receptions for 599 yards and a team-leading eight touchdowns in 13 games.

Robert Saleh's message to the San Francisco 49ers defense during the game helped the unit tighten up in the second half of Monday night's win.

Discover the 49ers' keys to beating the Bears on Sunday Night Football, from dominating the run game to limiting mistakes and controlling the trenches.

The only active 49ers defenders to ever start a playoff game in their careers are safety Ji’Ayir Brown and cornerback Deommodore Lenoir.

The Bears’ running game has been consistently effective for the most part with D’Andre Swift (204 carries for 993 yards, 4.9 average, seven touchdowns) and rookie Kyle Monangai (155-731, 4.7 average, five touchdowns). Time of possession figures to be a key to victory.

The 49ers (11-4) and the Chicago Bears (11-4) collide in Sunday’s prime-time showcase rich with playoff ramifications.

The 49ers also did well against Bijan Robinson, the last strong rushing attack that they faced. Since Robinson and the Atlanta Falcons, the 49ers faced the 31st, 20th, 27th, 16th, 30th, and 26th best rushing units, with the Rams loss sprinkled into those games.