49ers vs. Chargers live blog: First quarter

SANTA CLARA — This is the live blog for the first quarter of the 49ers’ Week 16 game against the Chargers. I will update this frequently with information and analysis from the press box.

5:21 The Chargers call tails. It’s tails, and they defer.

5:27 Bruce Ellington returns the kickoff 21 yards to the Niners’ 24.

5:29 Frank Gore follows Mike Iupati through the stongside C gap on a Power Bob Trey O run. Gore breaks four tackles, stiff arms Eric Weddle and scores a 52-yard touchdown. Gore showed up. 7-0 Niners.

5:33 Chris Davis returns the kickoff to the Chargers’ 23.

5:34 Perrish Cox almost intercepts Philip Rivers’ pass on third-and-five, and the Chargers go three-and-out. Ellington returns the punt to the Niners’ 29.

5:43 Gore gains 16 yards on another Power Bob Trey O run to the right. Next play, Greg Roman calls an inside handoff for Bruce Miller who fumbles near the goal line. Anquan Boldin grabs the ball and fumbles it again, and the Chargers recover at their 5-yard line.

5:49 The Chargers convert back-to-back third-and-short with runs up the middle. The Niners’ run defense ain’t so hot without Chris Borland.

5:53 The Niners put eight defenders in the box on first-and-10 from the Chargers’ 40. So Philip Rivers throws deep and the pass hits Perrish Cox between the numbers. Superb accuracy. Niners’ ball at their 33.

6:00 Kaepernick play fakes and hits a wide open Anquan Boldin in the end zone. Then Boldin throws the defensive back into a photographer, then Boldin punches the defensive back, then Boldin headbutts him. Joe Staley is flagged for holding, negating the touchdown.

6:02 Eric Reid has a head injury and his return is questionable. Not the first head injury of his career.

6:04 Kaepernick checks down to Alfonso Smith who gains four yards on first-and-20 from the 31, and the first quarter ends.

This article has 70 Comments

  1. Gore showed up
    —————-
    Gore and Justin Smith are the only two players that I can say without any doubt 100% show up every single week.

  2. Anyone hear phillip rivers talking smack about the 49ers and kap on 95.7 in the am show? Not sure if it was him or just a bit but there you go Phillipe, gore ran down your defense’s throat.

  3. Que the 49ers blow out and the inevitable torrent of endless questions about where has this team been. Is it because the players are auditioning for their next head coach?

    1. Uh huh, so what were they playing for during those 7 losses? Why didn’t they play for pride in their coach then?

    2. SD is playing for something and has a decent defense. I’d like to see Kap play well this game

    1. Have from day 1. It’s NOT 49er football in that stadium. It’s look at me I’m at a new stadium

    1. Why would you make that statement? Roman didn’t cause the fumble and it looked as though he was going to score. That’s a GC statement if I ever heard one

  4. Sign Cox if possible and Brock plays like last year next year with Johnson secondary will be solid.

  5. Baalke would be a fool to not bring back Gore at the right price.

    Until we know that Hyde can be a front line RB and we have depth behind him, there’s no reason to let Frank go. He can still do it, either as the #1 or #2 RB

  6. Kaepernick feels the pressure and makes a small adjustment by stepping up, rather then taking off, while keeping his vision down field and then makes a beautiful throw to a wide open receiver.

    Can he only do that when the game doesn’t matter because that was gorgeous but it hasn’t existed since the Dallas game.

  7. Niners running game the last 2 weeks has been very good. Gore and Hyde going down last week in the 2nd half really hurts.

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