49ers vs. San Diego Chargers

LaDainian Tomlinson ran for 71 yards and four touchdowns and the San Diego Chargers crushed the 49ers 48-19 at Candlestick Park. Tomlinson scored on three rushing touchdowns and one receiving. Philip Rivers threw for 334 yards and two touchdowns. Alex Smith threw for 214 with two touchdowns. Antonio Bryant caught four for 78. The Chargers scored 31 in the second half. The 49ers fell to 2-4 with the loss.[1][2][3]

LaDainian Tomlinson scored four touchdowns Sunday afternoon at Candlestick. The San Diego Chargers crushed the 49ers 48-19 in the kind of cross-conference home loss where the AFC's best running back produced the kind of game his Hall of Fame trajectory required.

Philip Rivers threw for 334 and two touchdowns. Antonio Gates caught five for 89. Alex Smith threw for 214 with two touchdowns. Antonio Bryant caught four for 78. Frank Gore ran for 55. The defense surrendered 48 points, the year's high-water surrender. The Chargers scored 31 second-half points.

2-4. The kind of home loss where, against the AFC's best, the 49ers' identity tape exposed the gap between a rebuilding year and a real contender. Tomlinson on the way to the NFL MVP season. The Chicago Bears on the road in two weeks (bye next) for another cross-conference matchup against the league's best.

Chargers 48, 49ers 19. Margin: -29. Six-game record: 2-4, -70 differential.

* LaDainian Tomlinson: 21 carries for 71, 4 TDs (3 rushing, 1 receiving).
* Philip Rivers: 29-of-39 for 334, 2 TDs, 0 INTs.
* Antonio Gates: 5 catches for 89.
* Alex Smith: 20-of-31 for 214, 2 TDs, 1 INT.
* Frank Gore: 10 carries for 55.
* Antonio Bryant: 4 catches for 78.
* Chargers: 31 2H points.
* 49ers 2-4 (heading into bye); Chargers 4-1.

A 48-19 home blowout by the San Diego Chargers at Candlestick. The 49ers fall to 2-4 heading into the bye week.

How it unfolded

San Diego scored on its opening drive with a Rivers touchdown to make it 7-0. The 49ers answered with a Joe Nedney field goal. Tomlinson scored his first touchdown to make it 14-3. Smith threw a touchdown to make it 14-10. Tomlinson scored his second to make it 21-10. The 49ers added a field goal to make it 21-13. Tomlinson scored his third to make it 28-13 at halftime. The third quarter was a Chargers touchdown to push the lead to 35-13. Tomlinson scored his fourth (receiving) to make it 42-13. Smith threw another touchdown and the Chargers added a final score to close it 48-19.

The turning point

Tomlinson's three first-half touchdowns. With the AFC's MVP-track running back producing his career-best multi-TD game, the rest of the day was a chase the 49ers' offense could not catch up to.

By the numbers

Smith 214 passing on 31 attempts with two TDs and an INT. Gore 55 rushing on 10 carries. Bryant 78 receiving on 4 catches. Davis 1 catch for 13. Rivers 334 on 39 attempts with two TDs. Tomlinson 71 rushing on 21 carries with four total TDs.

Personnel watch

LaDainian Tomlinson on his way to the NFL MVP and single-season rushing TD record (would set it later in the year). The kind of home loss where the visiting AFC contender's identity exposed the 49ers' gap. Alex Smith's two TDs but limited by the early hole. Vernon Davis quiet (1 catch).

What it means

2-4 with the bye next week. The kind of home loss that, against the AFC's best, was the kind of result the line predicted. The Chicago Bears in Chicago in two weeks. The bye-week reset is what the staff has to accomplish before the Soldier Field matchup.