SANTA CLARA, Calif. — This could be a new normal for the Chicago Bears: a quarterback and offense capable of trading touchdowns in a high-scoring affair.

Caleb Williams can forgive those who have watched this team for a long time for wanting to turn his performance into a moral victory or silver lining. Williams went on the road, down two starting wide receivers, and traded touchdowns with Brock Purdy and the 49ers to help put up 38 points. He had the ball in his hands with a chance to win, too. That’s not something Bears quarterbacks usually do.

But the Bears lost 42-38. Williams failed to make the final play in the end. No one in Bears gear at Levi’s Stadium was celebrating — nor should they. They were frustrated, 2 yards away from a massive win that would have kept the No. 1 seed alive.

“I’m excited to go back and watch this film and figure out how we can be better, how we can put in more points, how we can be more efficient, maybe, on offense for moments like this,” Williams said. “Because we may see this team again, and we may see other offenses again that are very similar. … I’m excited for what’s to come. … We’re a team that’s going to fight, and I think we’ve proven that.”

Williams is only the second Bears quarterback in the past 30 years to throw for 300 yards with no sacks and no picks in a game — the other was Brian Hoyer in a loss to the Colts in 2016.

Considering how prolific the 49ers have been of late, it wasn’t a secret that the offense would have to score. A lot. And the quarterback would have to make some big-time throws.

“He knew he needed to come out and make some plays for us here tonight,” coach Ben Johnson said. “When you’re going against a dynamic offense like that, we talked about the possibility as an offense, us going tit for tat with them and we, at times, were able to answer that call. They just ended up making more plays than us.”

Williams had his fourth-best passer rating of the season (100.3), third-best EPA (expected points added) per pass (0.38), third-best EPA per dropback (0.35), most throws for a first down (16) and tied for his most 20-plus-yard pass plays (six).

Yes, it came against a 49ers defense that is woeful at getting after the passer but also against a coordinator in Robert Saleh who is considered one of the best. It was a raucous home field for the 49ers, and Williams didn’t have receivers Rome Odunze (foot) or Olamide Zaccheaus (illness) in the lineup.

The offense opened the game with back-to-back three-and-outs, while the Niners scored back-to-back touchdowns after T.J. Edwards’ pick six to take a 14-7 lead. That was one of several inflection points where the game could’ve spiraled, but Williams was undaunted. He completed 35- and 36-yard touchdowns on back-to-back drives to rookies, first to wide receiver Luther Burden, then tight end Colston Loveland on a free play after the 49ers jumped.

“It’s something (Johnson) added in … a hard count to try and get these guys to jump offsides,” Williams said. “The guys did a great job with acting. … Drew (Dalman) did a great job, O-line did a great job. A lot of times, that situation stuns the D-line, and it did there. It gave me an ample amount of time. And so in those moments, you know you got the flag. At that point, it’s give the guys a shot.”