Schedule Game summaries Week 1: vs. Arizona Cardinals The 49ers began their 2008 campaign at home against their NFC West foe, the
Arizona Cardinals. In the first quarter, the Niners trailed early as Cardinals kicker
Neil Rackers got a 25-yard field goal. San Francisco responded with RB
Frank Gore getting a 41-yard TD run. In the second quarter, Arizona regained the lead with QB
Kurt Warner completing a 1-yard TD pass to WR
Larry Fitzgerald. San Francisco tied the game with kicker
Joe Nedney getting a 39-yard field goal. In the third quarter, the Cardinals began to fly away as Rackers nailed a 31-yard field goal, along with RB
Tim Hightower getting a 2-yard TD run. In the fourth quarter, the Niners tried to respond as Nedney got a 30-yard field goal. However, Arizona pulled away with Rackers' 30-yard field goal. With the loss, the 49ers began their season at 0–1.
Week 2: at Seattle Seahawks Hoping to bounce back from their divisional home loss to the Cardinals, the 49ers flew to
Qwest Field for an NFC West duel with the
Seattle Seahawks. In the first quarter, the Niners trailed early as Seahawks RB
Julius Jones got a 27-yard TD run, along with DT
Craig Terrill returning a fumble 10 yards for a touchdown. San Francisco responded with kicker
Joe Nedney getting a 26-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the 49ers continued to close in on Seattle as Nedney kicked a 28-yard field goal. The Seahawks responded with kicker
Olindo Mare getting a 51-yard field goal. Afterwards, the Niners chopped at Seattle's lead with QB
J.T. O'Sullivan completing a 3-yard TD pass to WR
Bryant Johnson. The Seahawks closed out the half with Mare's 38-yard field goal. In the third quarter, San Francisco took the lead with LB
Patrick Willis returning an interception 86 yards for a touchdown and RB
Frank Gore getting a 2-yard TD run. However, in the fourth quarter, Seattle regained its lead with RB
T.J. Duckett getting a 1-yard TD run and Mare getting a 32-yard field goal. The Niners tied the game with Nedney's 28-yard field goal. Afterwards, in overtime, San Francisco completed its upset as Nedney nailed the game-winning 40-yard field goal. With the win, the 49ers improved to 1–1. WR
Isaac Bruce (4 receptions for 153 yards) became the first 49ers wideout to have a 100-yard receiving game since
Antonio Bryant during Week 2 in 2006.
Week 3: vs. Detroit Lions Coming off their thrilling overtime divisional road win over the Seahawks, the 49ers went home for a Week 3 duel with the
Detroit Lions. In the first quarter, the Niners struck first as QB
J.T. O'Sullivan completed a 6-yard TD pass to WR
Isaac Bruce. In the second quarter, San Francisco increased its lead with RB
Frank Gore getting a 4-yard TD run. Striking again,
Delanie Walker caught a touchdown pass shortly before half-time. The Lions responded with a 44-yard field goal by kicker
Jason Hanson, yet the 49ers replied in the fourth quarter with CB
Allen Rossum getting a 1-yard TD run. Detroit tried to rally as QB
Jon Kitna completed a 34-yard TD pass to RB
Rudi Johnson, but San Francisco sealed their victory with kicker
Joe Nedney nailing a 25-yard field goal. With the win, the 49ers improved to 2–1.
Week 4: at New Orleans Saints Coming off their home win over the Lions, the 49ers flew to the
Louisiana Superdome for a Week 4 duel with the
New Orleans Saints. In the first quarter, the Niners struck first as kicker
Joe Nedney got a 47-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Saints took the lead with QB
Drew Brees completing a 5-yard and a 33-yard TD pass to WR
Lance Moore. San Francisco answered with Nedney's 49-yard field goal, yet New Orleans replied with Brees' 47-yard TD pass to WR
Robert Meachem. In the third quarter, the 49ers tried to rally as Nedney kicked a 38-yard field goal. However, in the fourth quarter, the Saints continued to pull away as RB
Deuce McAllister got a 1-yard TD run. The Niners tried to rally as QB
J.T. O'Sullivan completed a 5-yard TD pass to WR
Isaac Bruce, yet New Orleans sealed the win with kicker
Martín Gramática nailing a 31-yard field goal. With the loss, the 49ers fell to 2–2.
Week 5: vs. New England Patriots Hoping to rebound from their road loss to the Saints, the 49ers went home for a Week 5 interconference duel with the
New England Patriots. In the first quarter, the Niners struck first as QB
J.T. O'Sullivan completed a 16-yard TD pass to RB
Frank Gore. The Patriots responded with QB
Matt Cassel completing a 66-yard TD pass to WR
Randy Moss, yet San Francisco answered with O'Sullivan completing a 35-yard TD pass to WR
Isaac Bruce. In the second quarter, New England took the lead as kicker
Stephen Gostkowski got a 35-yard field goal, along with RB
Kevin Faulk getting a 2-yard TD run. In the third quarter, the Patriots increased their lead with Faulk getting another 2-yard TD run. In the fourth quarter, New England added on to its lead with Gostkowski kicking a 40-yard field goal. The Niners tried to come back as O'Sullivan completed a 5-yard TD pass to Bruce, but the Patriots pulled away with Gostkowski nailing a 49-yard field goal. With the loss, San Francisco fell to 2–3. During the halftime ceremony, the 49ers retired former QB
Steve Young's #8 uniform.
Week 6: vs. Philadelphia Eagles Hoping to snap a two-game losing skid, the 49ers stayed at home for a Week 6 duel with the
Philadelphia Eagles. In the first quarter, the Niners struck first as kicker
Joe Nedney got a 32-yard field goal. The Eagles took the lead as RB
Correll Buckhalter got a 1-yard TD run. San Francisco responded with a 37-yard field goal by Nedney. In the second quarter, Philadelphia increased their lead as QB
Donovan McNabb completed a 2-yard TD pass to WR
Hank Baskett, along with kicker
David Akers getting a 19-yard field goal. The 49ers closed out the half with Nedney making a 53-yard field goal, along with DB
Donald Strickland returning a blocked field goal attempt 41 yards for a touchdown. In the third quarter, the Niners took the lead as RB
Frank Gore got a 6-yard TD run, along with Nedney getting a 29-yard field goal. However, in the fourth quarter, the Eagles rallied as McNabb completed a 2-yard TD pass to TE
L.J. Smith, Akers nailing a 38-yard, a 25-yard, & a 28-yard field goal, and DE
Juqua Parker returning an interception 55 yards for a touchdown. With their third-straight loss, the 49ers fell to 2–4.
Week 7: at New York Giants Trying to snap a three-game losing skid, the 49ers flew to
Giants Stadium for a Week 7 duel with the
New York Giants. In the first quarter, the Niners trailed early as Giants RB
Brandon Jacobs got a 26-yard TD run. San Francisco responded with a 40-yard field goal by kicker
Joe Nedney. In the second quarter, New York answered with Jacobs getting a 2-yard TD run. The 49ers responded with QB
J.T. O'Sullivan completing a 30-yard TD pass to rookie WR
Josh Morgan. The Giants ended the half with kicker
John Carney nailing a 21-yard field goal. In the third quarter, New York increased its lead with QB
Eli Manning completing a 6-yard TD pass to WR
Plaxico Burress. The Niners struck back as CB
Nate Clements returned a block field goal 74 yards for a touchdown. However, in the fourth quarter, the Giants pulled away as Carney got a 48-yard field goal, while DE
Justin Tuck forced O'Sullivan into a fumble, causing the ball to roll into San Francisco's endzone, and Morgan kicking it out of the back of the endzone, giving New York a safety. With the fourth-straight loss, the 49ers fell to 2–5. On Monday, October 20, the day after the game, the 49ers fired coach Mike Nolan and replaced him with
Mike Singletary.
Week 8: vs. Seattle Seahawks Hoping to rebound from their road loss to the Giants, the 49ers went home for a Week 8 NFC West rematch with the
Seattle Seahawks. In the first quarter, the Niners trailed early as Seahawks kicker
Olindo Mare got a 43-yard and a 42-yard field goal. In the second quarter, Seattle increased its lead with RB
T.J. Duckett getting a 1-yard TD run. San Francisco got on the board with kicker
Joe Nedney getting a 42-yard field goal, but the Seahawks continued its beatdown as CB
Josh Wilson returned an interception 75 yards for a touchdown. In the third quarter, the 49ers replied with Nedney making a 40-yard field goal, yet Seattle continued to pull away as QB
Seneca Wallace completed a 43-yard TD pass to FB
Leonard Weaver. In the fourth quarter, San Francisco tried to rally as QB
Shaun Hill completed a 2-yard TD pass to rookie WR
Jason Hill. However, the Seahawks pulled away as Wallace hooked up with Weaver again on a 62-yard TD pass. During the game, Vernon Davis committed a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct which prompted what would later become an infamous tirade by Singletary during the post-game press conference. Singletary addressed benching Davis by stating: "I'd rather play with 10 people and just get penalized all the way until we have to do something else rather than play with 11 when I know that right now that person is not sold out to be a part of this team. It is more about them than it is about the team. Cannot play with them, cannot win with them, cannot coach with them. Can't do it. I want winners. I want people that want to win." With the loss, the 49ers entered their bye week at 2–6.
Week 10: at Arizona Cardinals Coming off their bye week, the 49ers flew to the
University of Phoenix Stadium for a Week 10 NFC West rematch with the
Arizona Cardinals. Due to
J.T. O'Sullivan's inconsistency, QB
Shaun Hill was named the starter for the game. In the first quarter, the Niners immediately struck first as CB
Allen Rossum returned the game's opening kickoff 104 yards for a touchdown. The Cardinals answered with a 28-yard field goal by kicker
Neil Rackers. In the second quarter, San Francisco increased their lead as Hill completed a 31-yard TD pass to rookie WR
Josh Morgan. Arizona responded with QB
Kurt Warner completing a 13-yard TD pass to WR
Anquan Boldin, along with Rackers making a 33-yard field goal. The Niners closed out the first half scoring with Hill completing an 18-yard TD pass to TE
Vernon Davis. In the third quarter, the Cardinals tried to catch up as Warner completed a 5-yard TD pass to WR
Larry Fitzgerald, yet the 49ers answered with kicker
Joe Nedney getting a 41-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, Arizona took the lead as Racker nailed a 23-yard field goal, along with Warner hooking with Boldin again on a 4-yard TD pass (with a failed 2-point conversion). San Francisco did manage to get a late-game drive. However, the Cardinals' defense made a goal-line stand to end the game. With their sixth straight loss, the 49ers fell to 2–7.
Week 11: vs. St. Louis Rams Trying to snap a six-game losing streak, the 49ers went home for a Week 11 NFC West duel with their hated rival, the
St. Louis Rams. In the first quarter, the Niners struck first as RB
Frank Gore got a 5-yard TD run. In the second quarter, the Rams responded with kicker
Josh Brown getting a 24-yard field goal. Afterwards, San Francisco unleashed its frustrations as QB
Shaun Hill completed a 2-yard TD pass to TE
Vernon Davis, Gore got a 1-yard TD run, Hill got a 1-yard TD run, and Hill completed a 2-yard TD pass to WR
Bryant Johnson. In the third quarter, St. Louis got a 48-yard and a 44-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter QB
Marc Bulger completed a 2-yard TD pass to WR
Dane Looker. The 49ers had deployed most of the second string roster for the 4th quarter.
Shaun Hill had a perfect passer rating in the first half and a career-high 47-yard completion. Hill also won NFC Offensive Player of the Week. With their six-game losing streak snapped, the 49ers improved to 3–7.
Week 12: at Dallas Cowboys Coming off their divisional home win over the Rams, the 49ers flew to
Texas Stadium for a Week 12 game with the throwback-clad
Dallas Cowboys. In the first quarter, the Niners struck first as kicker
Joe Nedney got a 23-yard and a 22-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Cowboys took the lead as QB
Tony Romo completed a 75-yard TD pass to former 49ers WR
Terrell Owens. Dallas continued its domination as LB
Carlos Polk blocked punter
Andy Lee's punt into the back of the endzone for a safety. The Cowboys closed out its period of power as kicker
Nick Folk got a 48-yard and a 41-yard field goal, along with Romo completing a 1-yard TD pass to TE
Martellus Bennett. In the third quarter, Dallas increased its lead with Romo completing a 10-yard TD pass to WR
Patrick Crayton. San Francisco tried to rally as Nedney got a 35-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, the Cowboys answered with Folk getting a 47-yard field goal. The 49ers tried to come back as QB
Shaun Hill completed an 18-yard TD pass to WR
Isaac Bruce, but Dallas replied with Folk nailing a 42-yard field goal. The Niners tried to rally as Hill completed a 9-yard TD pass to RB
DeShaun Foster, but that was as close as San Francisco's comeback got. With the loss, the 49ers fell to 3–8.
Week 13: at Buffalo Bills Hoping to rebound from their road loss to the Cowboys, the 49ers flew to
Ralph Wilson Stadium for a Week 13 interconference duel with the
Buffalo Bills. In the first quarter, the Niners struck first as QB
Shaun Hill completed a 12-yard TD pass to WR
Isaac Bruce. In the second quarter, San Francisco increased their lead as kicker
Joe Nedney got a 50-yard field goal. In the third quarter, the Bills tried to rally as kicker
Rian Lindell nailed a 22-yard field goal. The Niners' defense held Buffalo's offense scoreless for the remainder of the game. With the win, not only did the 49ers improve to 4–8, but they finally gave the West Coast its first East Coast win.
Week 14: vs. New York Jets Returning to Candlestick Park, the 49ers geared up for a rematch against
Brett Favre and his new team. The game started when the 49ers attempted an onside kick, recovered by the Jets. Later, the 49ers went up first as
Shaun Hill completed a pass to
Jason Hill that was fumbled at the goal line and recovered by offensive tackle
Joe Staley for the touchdown. Then,
Brett Favre ran for a 2-yard touchdown. The 49ers retook the lead as Shaun Hill completed a touchdown screen pass to
Frank Gore. After half-time,
Thomas Jones plowed through the 49ers secondary to get a 17-yard score. On the ensuing 49ers possession, a Shaun Hill touchdown pass to
Delanie Walker was called back, and the 49ers settled for a
Joe Nedney 32-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, the 49ers cemented their lead when Shaun Hill completed a 3-yard touchdown pass to a diving
Bryant Johnson. The Jets had enough time to make a late comeback, but a Brett Favre deep pass was intercepted by
Walt Harris. The 49ers ran down the clock and punted, and the Jets did not have sufficient time to attempt the comeback. The 49ers fumbled the ball a total of 5 times, although they lost only one. With the win, the 49ers improved to 5–8. However, they were officially eliminated from playoff contention with the Arizona Cardinals win against the St. Louis Rams, clinching the NFC West for Arizona.
Week 15: at Miami Dolphins Week 16: at St. Louis Rams Hoping to rebound from their loss to the Dolphins, the 49ers flew to the
Edward Jones Dome for a Week 16 NFC West rematch with the awful Rams. In the first quarter, the Niners struck first with a 48-yard field goal from kicker
Joe Nedney. The Rams took the lead in the second quarter with kicker
Josh Brown's 43-yard field goal, quarterback
Marc Bulger's 30-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver
Keenan Burton, and Brown's 38-yard field goal. After a scoreless third quarter, St. Louis increased its lead in the fourth quarter with Brown nailing a 22-yard field goal. Afterwards, San Francisco took the lead with quarterback
Shaun Hill completing a 3-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver
Isaac Bruce and a 48-yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver
Josh Morgan. With the season-sweep, the 49ers improved to 6–9. This was also the 1st time the 49ers swept the Rams since 2005.
Week 17: vs. Washington Redskins Looking to keep the momentum from their last-minute victory against the Rams, the 49ers closed out their season at home in a Week 17 duel with the
Washington Redskins. San Francisco struck first in the first quarter as quarterback
Shaun Hill got a 2-yard touchdown run. Washington took the lead in the second quarter as running back
Clinton Portis got a 4-yard touchdown run, kicker
Shaun Suisham got a 41-yard field goal, and quarterback
Jason Campbell completing a 6-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver
Antwaan Randle El. The 49ers began to rally in the third quarter as running back
DeShaun Foster got a 1-yard touchdown run. In the fourth quarter, San Francisco took the lead as Hill completed a 9-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver
Jason Hill, along with kicker
Joe Nedney's 33-yard field goal. The Redskins tied the game as Campbell getting a 2-yard touchdown run, yet the Niners prevailed as Nedney nailed the game-winning 39-yard field goal. They were 2–5 under Coach Mike Nolan at the beginning of the season, and finished their season 5–4 under interim coach Mike Singletary. With the strong finish to their season, the 49ers ended their season at 7–9, 2 games behind the division leading Arizona who finished 9–7. San Francisco running back
Frank Gore (11 carries for 58 yards) became the first player in franchise history to rush for over 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons. Shortly after the game ended, the 49ers announced that the 'interim' label had been removed from head coach Mike Singletary and that he would return next season. New 49ers team president Jed York reportedly signed Singletary to a 4-year deal worth approximately $10 million.
Standings ==References==