Niners Nation
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...
