SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- Dennis Erickson had a memorable debut for his new team. Kordell Stewart had a forgettable one.
Jeff Garcia passed for two touchdowns to get the Erickson era off to a rousing start as the San Francisco 49ers rolled to a 49-7 rout of the Chicago Bears, who received a woeful effort from Stewart.
Erickson mas making his return to the NFL, replacing Steve Mariucci as coach. Erickson had a mediocre 31-33 record with the Seattle Seahawks from 1995-98.
"Last night I didn't sleep a hoot, but I will tonight," Erickson said. "I guess I haven't slept much in 30 years."
But Erickson did not see much mediocrity Sunday as the Niners built a 33-7 lead at the half. They outgained the Bears, 391-127 and rolled up a 23-8 advantage in first downs.
Garcia, who battled a bulging disc in his back during training camp, tossed TD passes of 12 yards to running back Garrison Hearst and 16 yards to Tai Streets in the opening half. He also ran three yards for a score in the second quarter.
Garcia completed 19-of-35 passes for 229 yards and was intercepted once.
"The defense contributed to how well we were able to play," Garcia said. "We were on a short field all day long. They're a team that's going to force you to chip away at them. We had to be methodical, but we had a short field all day long."
Meanwhile, it was a disastrous beginning for Stewart, who signed in the offseason to be the Bears' new starting quarterback. He completed just 14-of-34 passes for 95 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions and he also lost a fumble.
"I just didn't play the way I know how to play," Stewart said. "I've just got to go back and play better."
Stewart had little help from his running game as Adrian Peterson and Anthony Thomas combined to rush for 27 yards on 11 attempts. Stewart finished as the Bears' leading rusher with 21 yards.
In the second quarter, the Bears watched Stewart throw two interceptions. They also lost a fumble on a punt and had a punt blocked.
"After a defeat like that you don't feel good about anything," Bears coach Dick Jauron said. "It just snowballed, we dropped the ball on the punt on the five, then we got a punt blocked and it just kept going. All we can do is put this behind us."
After the Bears went three-and-out on the game's first possession, Garcia drove the Niners 65 yards in 11 plays. The drive stalled at the 4 and Jeff Chandler kicked a 22-yard field goal.
The Bears again failed to generate a first down on their next series and Garcia found Hearst with a 12-yard TD pass to cap a seven-play, 71-yard drive that opened a 10-0 lead with 3:23 left in the first quarter.
With the offense struggling, the Bears got a big play from their defense early in the second quarter, when safety Mike Brown interecepted Garcia at the San Francisco 16.
Four plays later, Stewart made one of his few positive plays on the afternoon when he found tight end Desmond Clark with a four-yard touchdown pass.
After the Niners were forced to punt, someone other than Stewart had a miscue. Rookie Bobby Wade fumbled a punt and Jimmy Williams recovered for San Francisco at the Chicago 6.
Garcia turned the turnover into points as he ran three yards up the middle for a touchdown, giving the Niners a 17-7 lead with 6:01 left in the half.
After they went three-and-out on their next possession, the Bears committed another special teams blunder when Brad Maynard had a punt blocked by rookie Brandon Lloyd. Terry Jackson recovered at the Chicago 18.
Three plays later, Garcia rolled to his right and connected with Streets on a 16-yard touchdown.
The Niners' defense got into the act later in the quarter when cornerback Ahmed Plummer intercepted Stewart and raced 68 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown, giving the Niners a 23-7 lead with 44 seconds left in the half. Plummer also had an interception in the second half.
"I don't think Kordell ever saw me," Plummer said. "Thank God I was able to catch it and run with it. It was a pretty big play at the time."
But the time left in the half was enough for Stewart to commit another miscue as he was intercepted by cornerback Jimmy Williams at the Chicago 37.
"We get in a battle of trying to play catch up and turnovers happen," Stewart said. "Things just start to get crazier and crazier."
Garcia found Terrell Owens with a 26-yard pass on the ensuing drive, setting up a 29-yard field goal by Chandler as time expired in the half. Owens had seven catches for 112 yards.
"Your first game you just try to go out there and execute the offense," Owens said. "We wanted to get the season off on the right foot and we did that. We took advantage of what they gave us."
Chandler converted field goals of 28, 24 and 26 yards and Hearst scored on a one-yard run in the second half for the Niners.
