This is the live blog for the 49ers (4-4) week 10 matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers (5-3) from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. I will provide updates and analysis from the press box throughout the game.
3:55 Inactive for the 49ers: Arik Armstead, Samson Ebukam, Ty Davis-Price, Curtis Robinson, Kemoko Turay, Nick Zakelj
4:00 The 49ers are looking for a statement win to open the second half. A win tonight also will help them make up ground on the Seahawks who lost to Tampa Bay this morning.
4:05 Davis-Price moving back to the bench makes sense. He was inactive back in week one when Elijah Mitchell was healthy. The 49ers will go with Mitchell, Christian McCaffrey, Jordan Mason and Kyle Juszczyk in the backfield.
The loss of Samson Ebukam is a blow to San Francisco’s pass rush. I’d expect to see Charles Omenihu start with rookie Drake Jackson taking snaps as the backup.
5:02 Charles Omenihu lined up in place of Samson Ebukam with the starting defense during warmups.
There were no changes to the secondary. Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir lined up on the outside with Jimmie Ward in the slot. Tashaun Gipson and Talanoa Hufanga lined up as the starting safeties.
5:15 49ers have won the toss and deferred. The Chargers will get the ball first.
5:25 Drake Jackson is in at right end and Charles Omenihu slides down to defensive tackle when the 49ers are in Nickel/Dime personnel.
5:27 Los Angeles with a quick strike to take the lead. Justin Herbert has all day to throw and connects on all five attempts on the opening drive.
Talanoa Hufanga was caught looking inside and DeAndre Carter gets behind him for a 32-yard touchdown.
49ers 0 Chargers 7
5:39 San Francisco tries to answer back, moving 67 yards on 13 plays before the drive comes to a halt at the Chargers 2.
The 49ers ran the ball on nine of the 13 plays for 35 yards. Jimmy Garoppolo connected on three of four attempts for 34 yards. Robbie Gould connects from 20-yards out for San Francisco’s first points of the night.
49ers 3 Chargers 7
5:48 The Chargers pick up a first down when Joshua Palmer gets free up the left sideline. The 49ers were playing man coverage and Charvarius Ward had no chance of getting through the congestion to keep up with Palmer.
On the next third down, DeMeco Ryans calls for zone coverage and Justin Herbert throws incomplete to Palmer running an out on the right side.
49ers will take over at their own 17.
5:53 Garoppolo with aa strike to Brandon Aiyuk for a gain of 19 but the wideout fumbles the ball away. Chargers take over at the 49ers 32.
The 49ers cannot afford to make these mistakes.
5:57 Terrific job by the 49ers defense to hold in a sudden change situation.
Deommodore Lenoir with good coverage on Joshua Palmer who was running a deep route on third down.
Los Angeles settles for a 47-yard field goal.
49ers 3 Chargers 10
6:00 Jordan Willis and Drake Jackson have been rotating in opposite Nick Bosa so Charles Omenihu can slide inside.
6:05 The 49ers offense goes three and out.
So far San Francisco has shown their offensive production against the Rams two weeks ago was a mirage.
6:07 Jordan Willis has been strong against the run. He opens the Los Angeles possession by dropping Isaiah Spiller for a loss of one.
6:08 The 49ers defense with a quick three and out. Terrific job of forcing an incompletion by Charvarius Ward on second down, then Jimmie Ward is in position to make the stop on third down.
6:13 A quick three and out for the 49ers offense, then the punt team gives up a block. Chargers get the ball on the San Francisco 46. The 49ers are doing their best to give this game away.
6:15 Dre Greenlaw was beat, but Tre McKitty drops the pass. On the next play, Jimmie Ward gets beat for a 33-yard gain. He’s not a slot cornerback.
6:20 After the Chargers get first down at the 49ers 2, San Francisco’s defense is able to get a hold and force a Chargers field goal.
Nick Bosa’s sack of Justin Herbert on second down was the big play.
49ers 3 Chargers 13
6:21 After the 49ers defense gave up a quick touchdown on the opening possession their offense and special teams have given Los Angeles terrific field position with a fumble and blocked punt leading to another six points for the Chargers.
6:30 Jimmy Garoppolo with one of the best throws of his career. He gets pressured, moves to his right and drops a dime to Ray-Ray McCloud for a gain of 33.
The 49ers face third and goal from the one at the two-minute warning.
6:33 Jimmy Garoppolo finishes the drive off with a sneak. What a drive by Garoppolo there.
49ers 10 Chargers 13
6:52 With the Chargers moving the ball well, Justin Herbert takes off on a scramble and is hit in the head by Dre Greenlaw.
The 49ers linebacker was called for a personal foul and disqualified from the game.
Herbert was taken off the field to be checked for a concussion and Chase Daniel ended the threat.
The Chargers settle for a field goal as the half comes to a close.
49ers 10 Chargers 16
6:57 The difference in this game is the six points the 49ers allowed off the Aiyuk fumble and blocked punt.
7:14 Jimmy Garoppolo opens the second half with a completion to Christian McCaffrey for 21. From there the 49ers pound the ball at the Chargers with big run after big run before getting stopped on back to back plays at the Los Angeles eight.
On third down Garoppolo puts the ball a bit behind Aiyuk, and the receiver can’t hold onto the touchdown.
Robbie Gould comes in and kicks a 26-yard field goal.
49ers 13 Chargers 16
7:23 The 49ers send pressure at Justin Herbert on third down forcing an incompletion.
Tashaun Gipson limped off the field and was replaced by Tarvarius Moore.
49ers will take over at their own 20.
7:30 Khalil Mack ruins the 49ers offensive possession. After a pair of runs nets 14 yards, Kyle Shanahan dials up a bootleg and the pass rusher comes in free to sack Jimmy Garoppolo for a loss of ten.
After an incompletion on second down, Garoppolo throws a quick screen to Deebo Samuel for 16 leading to a punt.
The 49ers offense cannot get out of its own way tonight. That’s been the story of their season.
7:37 The Chargers pick up a first down, but the 49ers defense gets the stop.
Jimmie Ward with a nice tackle on Austin Ekeler in the left flat after a short completion on second down. Ward is unable to make the tackle on third down, but Talanoa Hufanga and Drake Jackson are able to hustle over and make the stop.
The Niners offense will take over at their own 22.
7:54 Facing third and ten Jimmy Garoppolo does a terrific job of getting the ball out quick to beat a Chargers blitz and connect with Brandon Aiyuk for a gain of 25.
Christian McCaffrey scores on the next play to give San Francisco their first lead of the game. Robbie Gould misses the extra point meaning the Chargers just need a FG to tie this game.
49ers 19 Chargers 16
7:59 The 49ers defense gets a quick three and out. Nick Bosa drops DeAndre Carter for a loss of six on a jet sweep, then force a punt after stopping Tre McKitty for a gain of only seven.
San Francisco takes over at their 30. Time to chew up some clock.
8:08 The 49ers offense picks up a couple first downs and chews up a lot of clock but has to punt. Chargers take over at their own one. They need to go about 70 yards to tie the game.
Talanoa Hufanga comes up with his fourth interception of the year to seal the 49ers 22-16 victory.
