9. 2007 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS at 8. 2019 NFC CHAMPION SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
8. 2019 NFC CHAMPION SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Record: 13-3
Pythag: 12-4
Off: 2nd
Def: 8th
1st NFC West
d. Vikings Div Rnd 27-10
d. Packers NFC Title 37-20
Lost Super Bowl Chiefs 31-20
HC: Kyle Shanahan, DC: Robert Saleh
Levi's Stadium: 65 degrees
Greg Papa/Tim Ryan
Offense
QB Jimmy Garoppolo (28 E Illinois)
RB Tevin Coleman (26 Indiana)
FB Kyle Juszczyk (28 Harvard)
WR Deebo Samuel (23-R S Carolina)
WR Emmanuel Sanders (32 SMU)
TE George Kittle (26 Iowa) All Pro
LT Justin Skule (23-R Vandy)
LG Laken Tomlinson (27 Duke)
C Weston Richburg (28 Colo St)
RG Michael Person (31 Mont St)
RT Mike McGlinchey (24 N Dame)
Defense
LDE Nick Bosa (22-R Ohio St)
LDT DJ Jones (24 Ole Miss)
RDT DeForest Buckner (25 Oregon)
RDE Arik Armstead (26 Oregon)
LLB Kwon Alexander (25 LSU)
MLB Fred Warner (23 BYU)
RLB Dre Greenlaw (22-R Arkansas)
LCB Richard Sherman (31 Stanford)
RCB Emmanuel Moseley (23 Tenn)
SS Jaquiski Tartt (27 Samford)
FS Jimmie Ward (28 Ohio St)
K Robbie Gould (37 Penn St)
P Mitch Wishnowsky (27 Utah)
KR/PR Richie James (24 Mid Tenn St)
The '85 Bears await the winner of this 8/9 matchup; here are the '19 NFC Champion Niners, second best offense in the league, Garoppolo's 28, threw for 27 scores and 13 picks. One All Pro on the team, it's 26 year old George Kittle who caught 85 balls. On defense, 26 year old Arik Armstead and the 22 year old rookie Joey Bosa combined for 19 sacks.
9. 2007 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
Record: 11-5
Pythag: 11-5
1st AFC West
Off: 5th
Def: 5th
d. Titans WC 17-6
d. Colts Div Rnd 28-24
Lost AFC Title Patriots 21-12
HC: Norv Turner, OC Clarence Shelmon, DC Ted Cottrell
Offense
QB Philip Rivers (26 NC St)
RB LaDainian Tomlinson (28 TCU) All Pro
FB Lorenzo Neal (37 Fresno St) All Pro
WR Vincent Jackson (24 No Colorado)
TE Antonio Gates (27 Kent)
TE Brandon Manumaleuna (27 Arizona)
LT Marcus McNeil (24 Auburn)
LG Kris Dielman (26 Indiana)
C Nick Hardwick (26 Purdue)
RG Mike Goff (31 Iowa)
RT Shane Olivea (26 Ohio St)
Defense
LDE Igor Olshansky (25 Oregon)
NT Jamal Williams (31 Oklahoma St)
RDE Luis Castillo (24 Nwestern)
LOLB Shaun Phillips (26 Purdue)
LILB Stephen Cooper (28 Maine)
RILB Matt Wilhelm (28 Ohio St)
ROLB Shawn Merriman (23 Maryland)
LCB Quentin Jammer (28 Texas)
RCB Drayton Florence (24 Tuskegee)
SS Clinton Hart (30 Cen Florida CC)
FS Marlon McCree (30 Kentucky)
K Nate Kaeding (25 Iowa)
P Matt Scifres (27 W. Illinois)
KR/PR Darren Sproles (24 Kansas St)
The '07 Chargers were top 5 in offense and defense, losing in the AFC Title game to that Patriots team that is the top overall seed in the tournament. Rivers is 26, threw for 21 scores and 15 picks. Both backs are All Pros, Lorenzo Neal, the fullback, is 37 and Tomlinson's right in his prime, 28 years old, ran for over 1400 yards. On defense, Lights Out Merriman is 23, Shaun Phillips, 26, they combined for 21 sacks.
Evenly matched game, as you'd expect for an 8/9 matchup. Let's head to Levi's Stadium to see who will lead to Round 2 to face the '85 Bears.
First Quarter
Chargers will open with the ball at the 28.
1/10 - LaDainian Tomlinson will probably see his name called a lot today, he opens with a 14 yard run.
1/10 - 3 for Tomlinson
2/7 - Michael Turner carries for 1.
3/6 - Phil Rivers finds Antonio Gates for an 8 yr gain to the Niner 46.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Tomlinson is hit at the line and brought down.
3/10 - 3 yard run for Rivers on a scramble and the Chargers punt.
Niners at their own 11. 10:37.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Tevin Coleman sweep loses 4 yards.
3/14 - Jimmy Garoppolo's first completion is 18 yards to George Kittle and the first down.
The next 3 plays are incomplete passes and the Chargers start at their own 48, 7:31.
3 and out. Niners to start at the 15. 5:52.
1/10 - Coleman gets a yard.
2/9 - Garoppolo goes to Ross Dwelley for a big gainer, 34 yards to midfield.
1/10 - Coleman loses 3.
2/13 Raheem Mostert gets 3 back.
3/10 - Shanahan tries the draw to Juszczyk, he gets 8, Niners should make the modern decision here on 4th and 2 and go for it - they don't - Chargers to start at their own 28. 2:12.
1/10 - Tomlinson loses 1.
2/11 - Tomlinson goes for 15.
1/10 - Turner loses 1
2/9 - Rivers finds Vincent Jackson for 10 - taking the Chargers to the Niner 47 as the quarter expires.
2nd Quarter
Defense first to start the game, mostly played on the Niner side of the field. Chargers 1/10 around midfield. Scoreless.
3 and out. Another punt, goes to the Niner 16.
3 and out. Another punt, goes to the Charger 42.
1/10 - Rivers to Tomlinson for 5.
2/5 - Rivers to Gates - big gainer, 21 yards down to the Niner 32.
1/10 - Tomlinson breaks one, heads off right tackle, into the secondary and he is gone - LaDainian Tomlinson goes for a 32 yard TOUCHDOWN CHARGERS, LT scores the game's first points; the Niners will take over at the 16 with 9:28 left.
1/10 - Garoppolo finds Deebo Samuel for 5.
2/5 - George Kittle in motion takes an inside handoff and goes for 5. A false start takes the Niners back 5.
1/15 - Garoppolo goes to Coleman over the middle - And Coleman breaks into the open field - Coleman's got daylight - Coleman is going to rumble all the way down to the Chargers 8 yard line! 71 yards to Tevin Coleman, huge gainer for the Niners who have first and goal.
1/goal - Garoppolo is forced to run, gets a yard.
2/goal - incomplete
3/goal - Garoppolo finds Kittle at the goal line - he muscles his way in TOUCHDOWN 49ERS - Garoppolo to Kittle for a 7 yard score to tie the game at 7. Chargers will take over at the 24, 5:33 left.
1/10 - Tomlinson carrying the rock, 11 more.
1/10 - Tomlinson - 8 more.
2/2 - Michael Turner for a dozen; Chargers at the Niner 45.
1/10 - Rivers to Gates for 10 - first quarter was defensive minded but both squads rolling on offense now.
1/10- 7 for Tomlinson.
2/3 - Incomplete, that's the 2 minute warning, Chargers at the Niner 33 on this 3rd down.
3/3 - Incomplete - Long FG attempt by Kaeding....is no good, and that gives the Niners the ball at their own 40, 1:48 left.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Garoppolo finds Juice for 14, Niners call timeout at 1:36 left at the Charger 46
1/10 - Garoppolo over the middle to Deebo - and Samuel breaks into the secondary - Deebo Samuel outruns the Charger secondary - Deebo's gonna go -- TOUCHDOWN 49ERS - less than 30 seconds ago the Chargers were lining up for a FG and now the Niners take the 14-7 lead on the 46 yard TD pass from Garoppolo to Deebo Samuel and the Levis Stadium crowd loves it.
1/10 - Chargers at the 32, 1:28 left. Tomlinson gets 2 yards.
2/8 - Rivers finds Vincent Jackson for 15, he gets 15 and is out of bounds at the 49. 70 seconds left in the half.
1/10 - Give to Tomlinson - he bounces outside -- And He Is Going to Go! LaDainian Tomlinson rumbles down the right sideline for a 51 yard TOUCHDOWN CHARGERS both teams scoring on big TD plays in the last 2 minutes of the half and it is 14-14 and we have a wild one here in Region 2.
The Niners start at the 34. 3 and out.
The Chargers start at the 24. 29 seconds.
1/10 - Rivers to Tomlinson for 7. Out of bounds.
2/3 - Incomplete
3/3 - Rivers to Tomlinson, he gets 5 and is out of bounds, Chargers first down at their 36.
That's as far as it goes, Arik Armstead gets a sack and K'Waun Williams ends the half with a pick.
Third Qtr
Scoreless first quarter, 28 points in the second quarter. 14-14.
Niners open at the 22.
3 and out. Chargers to start at their 46.
1/10 - 1 for Tomlinson and then an offsides.
2/4 - Incomplete.
3/4 - Tomlinson picks it up, 5 yards.
1/10 Incomplete
2/10 - Tomlinson for 1.
3/9 - Rivers picks it up - hits Jackson for 22, Chargers all the way to the Niner 20 with 11:09 left.
1/10 - Tomlinson - Tomlinson - Tomlinson does it again, just explodes for a 20 yard score; TOUCHDOWN CHARGERS the 49ers just can't stop LaDainian Tomlinson. 21-14.
Niners at the 18. 10:56.
3 and out.
Chargers at the 39. 9:09 left.
3 and out. Niners at the 12. 7:37 left.
1/10 Coleman gets 1.
2/9 - Incomplete
3/9 - Draw to Juice. 13 yards and the first.
1/10 - Garoppolo finds Emmanuel Sanders, 15 yards to their own 41. 5:29.
1/10 - Lights Out Merriman with the sack, loss of 6.
2/16 - Incomplete
3/16 - Incomplete
After the punt, the Chargers start at the 28. 3:44.
3 and out.
Niners at the 25 - after an incomplete pass Raheem Mostert is leveled head on by Jamal Williams, fumble - the Chargers are at the Niner 30 with 2 minutes left in the third. Three plays get nothing at all and Nate Kaeding hits a 47 yard FG. Chargers 24 Niners 14. The Niners will start at their own 15 with 57 seconds left --- on the first play Antonio Cromartie picks off a deep ball, the Chargers get the ball back at the Niner 41.
Niners turn it over on their last two possessions. Chargers up 10 with the ball.
1/10 - Rivers to Gates for 16. A holding call takes them back 10.
1/20 - Tomlinson gets 8 as the quarter ends.
4th Quarter
2nd and 12 for the Chargers at the 27, 24-14, this one is nearly out of reach.
2/12 - Turner goes for 1.
3/11 - Rivers hits Gates, 16 - and that's a first and goal for the Chargers and some Niner fans are headed to the exits.
1/goal - 2 for Tomlinson to the 8
2/goal - incomplete
3/goal - Rivers hits Craig Davis, the rookie from LSU in the end zone TOUCHDOWN CHARGERS it's 31-14 and this one has turned into a blowout. Just 12:42 left when the Niners take over at the 17.
1/10 - Garoppolo to Kittle for 7.
2/3 - Mostert gets 13.
1/10 - Mostert for 5.
2/5 - Breida stopped at the line.
3/5 - Mostert for 9 and a first down.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Incomplete
3/10 - Garoppolo to Kittle, 27 yards to the Charger 22, 8:37 left.
1/10 - Coleman gets 3.
2/7 - Deebo runs for 2.
3/5 - Incomplete.
4/5-Incomplete -- And that's a wrap, Chargers regain possesion at their own 17, they go 3 and out.
Niners ball at their own 41. 6:16 left.
1/10 - Garoppolo sacked by Shaun Phillips, loss of 5.
2/15 - Mostert run, 31 yards, clearly a white flag play. Niners at the Charger 32 but they won't get closer, there's another sack by Merriman, the Niners will turn it over on downs.
The Chargers then go 3 and out. Niner ball at their own 25, 2:29 left. They'll pick up one first down, Garoppolo will get intercepted again, this time by Clinton Hart and the Chargers will tun out the clock.
Final: CHARGERS 31 49ERS 14
Impressive performance by the Chargers, they go into Levis and really pound the Niners to win the 9/8 matchup. They'll need every bit of this the next time we see them in Round 2 when they meet the top seeded '85 Bears. Tomlinson with the monster game.
Rivers: 15-30 152 yards 1 TD 1 Int
Garoppolo 17-38 267 yds 2 TD 2 Int
Tomlinson: 22 carries, 186 yards, 3 TD, 3 catches 17 yds
Mostert: 7 carries, 60 yards
Gates: 6 catches, 75 yards
Kittle: 6 catches, 68 yds
Merriman 2 sacks
Player of the Game - LaDAINIAN TOMLINSON
