If you missed the first quarter, there were eight punts between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Chargers. Per Josh Dubow of the Associated Press, that was the most punts in the first quarter of a preseason game since 2015. The previous high was six.
After the first quarter, the 49ers had run 15 plays for a total of 42 yards. Carter Bradley started things off, and he went 1-for-4 for eight yards, with a passer rating of 39.6 during his time on the field. Tanner Mordecai blew those numbers
out of the water. Mordecai had three completions on five attempts for 26 yards.
The 49ers wanted to get out of this game without injuries. Unfortunately, it took four carries for Isaac Guerendo to sustain an injury. Guerendo jogged off the field toward the end of the first quarter with what looked to be a stinger in his right shoulder.
The 49ers received a gift after the Chargers muffed a punt. Mordecai found Luke Farrell for 13 yards, then Demarcus Robinson for a 22-yard touchdown pass to give the Niners an early lead. However, Jake Moody missed the extra point.
The Chargers scored in two plays after a 49ers fumble. After another Niners punt, Dallis Flowers was “mossed” by a Chargers defender for a gain of 28 yards. That happened during a two-minute drill. That was the second deep ball Flowers surrendered this preseason, and might make defensive coordinator Robert Saleh think twice about subbing him if the situation calls during the regular season. The Niners’ defense held Los Angeles to a field goal to make the score 13-6 headed into halftime.
The Chargers scored a touchdown from 15 yards out with 1:01 to play. We were knocking on the door of a three and a half hour preseason game. That score made it 30-23, good guys.
Rookie Nick Martin showed up again. He punched the ball loose, and Evan Anderson fell on the recovery. That’ll make Saleh happy.
I bet you didn’t have Mordecai pulling the ball on a zone read and running for a first down on your bino card for this game. That happened after Martin forced a fumble. Mordecai’s run put the Niners in scoring position. Jeff Wilson ended up rushing in from five yards out to tie the game at 13.
On the ensuing drive, Martin’s speed was on full display. He chased down a Chargers running back for a loss, leading to 3rd & 11, and an eventual punt. Bradley would get the next drive. His 10-yard completion to Malik Turner on 3rd & 3 put the Niners at midfield. A 14-yard pass interference on the next play meant the Niners were in business.
Bradley was a bit gimpy on 3rd & 9 from the 35. That didn’t prevent him from firing a strike to Robbie Chosen in a muddy pocket. It was a great quarterback play. Bradley couldn’t pull off the hat trick on the drive by converting on a third consecutive third down, which meant it was Moody time. The camera panned to the flags blowing, but Moody’s kick split the uprights to give San Francisco a 16-13 lead.
Chase Lucas has been nearly flawless in August. On the ensuing drive, Lucas was flagged for a defensive holding penalty to keep the drive alive for the Chargers. Lucas was irate after seeing the replay and did not believe there was a penalty.
Martin showed up again for a tackle for loss. His fellow rookie, Junior Bergen, did not. Bergen muffed a punt after the defense got a stop, and that likely sealed his fate after Skyy Moore had been taking punts. On 3rd & 8, Jalen Graham was beaten in coverage, but an errant throw saved the defense. A field goal made it 16-16.
Mordecai got the next series and had a nice play-action pass to Turner for another long gain. Tackle Isaiah Prince was shaken up on the drive and needed medical attention. After clutching his knee, Prince walked off under his own power. Ke’Shawn Vaughn was stuffed on a fourth down run, which turned the ball over. Mordecai received medical attention on the sideline after the drive. He was getting his ankle looked at.
No quarterback, no problem. Curtis Robinson’s pick-six hit him in between the numbers, giving San Francisco the lead once again, 23-17. Could the defense hold for one final drive?
Trevis Gipson started off the drive with a tackle for loss. Siran Neal, who had contested a couple of catches, was in position on second down for an incompletion. Sebastian Valdez came free on a stunt on third down for a vicious quarterback hit to force a punt. Valdez and Gipson have real shots to make the roster.
Roughly a minute and a half came off the clock, which meant the Niners’ defense would need to get another stop. The defense wouldn’t need to see the field after Thomas Morstead’s punt went off the facemask of the returner, sealing the game for San Francisco.
The preseason ended on a pretty cool play for the franchise. Terique Owens, the son of you know who, caught a touchdown from Bradley to give the Niners a commanding 29-16 lead.
The next time we recap a game, it’ll be one that matters.
