Week 1: at Seattle Seahawks The 49ers began their season at
Qwest Field for an NFC West match against the
Seattle Seahawks. In the first quarter, the Niners had the early lead when kicker
Joe Nedney made a 23-yard field goal, which was extended in the second quarter when Nedney made another 23-yard field goal. Then, San Francisco failed to maintain it and then fell behind when Seahawks quarterback
Matt Hasselbeck got a 1-yard touchdown run, followed by him making a 13-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver
Deon Butler. In the third quarter, the 49ers struggled further when quarterback
Alex Smith threw an interception to cornerback
Marcus Trufant, which was returned 32 yards for a touchdown. This was followed by Hasselbeck's 3-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver
Deion Branch. In the fourth quarter, the Niners continued to struggle when kicker
Olindo Mare made a 35-yard field goal. With the loss, the 49ers began their season at 0–1.
Week 2: vs. New Orleans Saints Hoping to rebound from their divisional road loss to the Seahawks, the 49ers played their Week 2 home opener against the defending Super Bowl champion
New Orleans Saints on Monday night. San Francisco trailed early in the first quarter as center
David Baas' high snap deep within Niner territory resulted in a safety. The Saints would add onto their lead as quarterback
Drew Brees completed a 6-yard touchdown pass to running back
Reggie Bush. The 49ers would respond in the second quarter with quarterback
Alex Smith finding running back
Frank Gore on a 12-yard touchdown pass. The Niners would take the lead in the third quarter as rookie running back
Anthony Dixon got a 2-yard touchdown run, but New Orleans would answer with Brees' 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end
David Thomas. In the fourth quarter, the Saints would add onto their lead as kicker
Garrett Hartley got a 46-yard and a 19-yard field goal. San Francisco would tie the game with Gore's 7-yard touchdown run, followed by Smith's 2-point conversion pass to tight end
Vernon Davis. However, New Orleans would get the last laugh as Hartley made the game-winning 37-yard field goal. With the loss, the 49ers fell to 0–2.
Week 3: at Kansas City Chiefs Looking for their first win, the 49ers flew to
Arrowhead Stadium for an interconference duel with the Chiefs. Prior to the game, tight end
Vernon Davis guaranteed victory. In the 2nd quarter, the 49ers trailed early as QB
Matt Cassel completed a 31-yard TD pass to WR
Dexter McCluster. The 49ers replied with kicker
Joe Nedney hitting a 51-yard field goal. The 49ers fell further behind when Chiefs' kicker
Ryan Succop hit a 32-yard field goal and then in the third quarter when Cassel found WR
Dwayne Bowe and TE
Tony Moeaki on 45 and 18-yard TD passes, respectively. RB
Thomas Jones followed these scores with a 3-yard TD run. The 49ers narrowed the score when QB
Alex Smith made a 12-yard TD pass to WR
Josh Morgan. With the loss, the 49ers fell to 0–3.
Week 4: at Atlanta Falcons Still looking for a win the 49ers flew to
Georgia Dome for an NFC duel with the Falcons. In the first quarter the 49ers took the early lead with QB
Alex Smith making a 12-yard TD pass to TE
Vernon Davis. Then safety
Taylor Mays recovered a blocked punt in the endzone for a touchdown. Then the Falcons rallied with QB
Matt Ryan completing an 8-yard TD pass to WR
Harry Douglas. Then the Falcons took the lead with three field goals from kicker
Matt Bryant. He made a 37-yard field goal near the end of the 2nd quarter, a 31-yard field goad in the 3rd. Late in the 4th quarter, CB
Nate Clements intercepted Matt Ryan's pass which should have sealed the game for the 49ers who were then up 14 – 13. However, instead of going down, Clements continued down the left sideline attempting to score. He would return the interception 39 yards before Falcons WR
Roddy White was able to strip the ball from him and the Falcons recovered the fumble. After regaining possession, the Falcons drove down the field again and this time was able to win the game on a 43-yard field goal by Matt Bryant, giving the 49ers another loss. With the close loss, the 49ers fell to 0–4.
Week 5: vs. Philadelphia Eagles Hoping to get their first win of the season, the 49ers went home for a Week 5 Sunday night duel with the
Philadelphia Eagles. The Niners delivered the game's opening strike in the first quarter as quarterback
Alex Smith hooked up with wide receiver
Michael Crabtree on a 7-yard touchdown pass, but the Eagles would answer with quarterback
Kevin Kolb completing an 8-yard touchdown pass to tight end
Brent Celek. Philadelphia took the lead in the second quarter as kicker
David Akers made a 33-yard field goal, followed by running back
LeSean McCoy's 29-yard touchdown run. Afterwards, San Francisco closed out the half with kicker
Joe Nedney booting a 50-yard field goal. After a scoreless third quarter, the Eagles would add onto their lead in the fourth quarter as safety
Quintin Mikell returned a fumble 52 yards for a touchdown. The Niners began to rally as Smith found tight end
Vernon Davis on a 7-yard touchdown pass, yet Philadelphia answered with a 45-yard field goal from Akers. San Francisco tried to rally as Smith found running back
Frank Gore on a 1-yard touchdown pass, but Philadelphia's defense would hold on for the win. With the loss, the 49ers fell to their first 0–5 start since 1979.
Week 6: vs. Oakland Raiders Individual leaders • Completions/Attempts a Carries b Long play c Receptions t Tackles g Forced Fumble Still looking for a win the 49ers played on home ground where they played their state rival, the
Oakland Raiders. In the first quarter, the 49ers trailed early as kicker
Sebastian Janikowski got a 27-yard field goal. Then he made a 24-yard field goal in the 2nd quarter. The 49ers replied with kicker
Joe Nedney making a 25-yard field goal. They took the lead in the third quarter with QB
Alex Smith making a 32-yard TD pass to WR
Michael Crabtree. The Raiders cut the lead with Janikowski making a 40-yard field goal. The 49ers pulled away after Smith found TE
Vernon Davis on a 17-yard TD pass. With the win, the 49ers improve to 1–5.
Week 7: at Carolina Panthers Coming off their win over the Raiders the 49ers flew to
Bank of America Stadium for an NFC duel with the Panthers. In the first quarter the 49ers took the lead as QB
Alex Smith got a 1-yard TD pass to TE
Vernon Davis. The lead was cut when kicker
John Kasay nailed a 47-yard field goal. The 49ers scored with kicker
Joe Nedney making a 24-yard field goal. The Panthers tied the game with QB
Matt Moore completing an 18-yard TD pass to WR
David Gettis. The 49ers fell behind in the third quarter with Kasay booting a 55-yard field goal. They eventually got the lead back in the fourth quarter with Nedney hitting a 38-yard field goal, and with DE
Ray McDonald returning an interception 31 yards for a touchdown. However, the Panthers tied the game with Moore finding Gettis again on a 23-yard TD pass. Following an interception by 49ers backup quarterback
David Carr, Kasay successfully booted a 37-yard field goal to give the 49ers the loss. With the loss, the 49ers fell to 1–6.
Week 8: vs. Denver Broncos (International Series) The 49ers' 8th match was an Interconference duel with the Broncos at
Wembley Stadium. In the first quarter the 49ers took the lead as kicker
Joe Nedney got a 34-yard field goal. They soon trailed in the third quarter when QB
Tim Tebow scrambled 1 yard for a touchdown; followed in the fourth quarter by kicker
Matt Prater hitting a 32-yard field goal. They soon went on a scoring rally to take the lead with QB
Troy Smith scrambling a yard for a touchdown, followed by his 28-yard TD pass to WR
Michael Crabtree. Then RB
Frank Gore got a 3-yard TD run to put the 49ers up 24–10. The lead was narrowed when QB
Kyle Orton made a 1-yard TD pass to WR
Brandon Lloyd (with a failed PAT). With the win, the 49ers went into their bye week at 2–6.
Week 9: BYE Week 10: vs. St. Louis Rams The 49ers' ninth game was rivalry match against the Rams at home. In the first quarter the 49ers trailed early with kicker
Josh Brown making a 42-yard field goal. They took the lead with RB
Frank Gore getting a 1-yard TD run. This was followed in the second quarter by kicker
Joe Nedney nailing a 26-yard field goal. The Rams fought back with QB
Sam Bradford completing a 5-yard TD pass to WR
Danny Amendola. Followed in the third quarter by RB
Steven Jackson getting a 13-yard TD run. The 49ers got the lead back with Nedney getting a 47-yard field goal, followed by QB
Troy Smith making a 16-yard TD pass to WR
Michael Crabtree. The Rams tied the game with Brown making a 33-yard field goal. The decision was made at overtime when Nedney successfully made a 29-yard field goal to give the 49ers their third win of the season, bringing their record up to 3–6.
Week 11: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Coming off their win over the Rams the 49ers played on home ground for an NFC duel with the Buccaneers. In the second quarter the 49ers trailed after RB
Cadillac Williams made a 6-yard TD run. This was followed in the third quarter by QB
Josh Freeman completing an 8-yard TD pass to WR
Mike Williams; and in the fourth quarter by Freeman throwing a 1-yard TD pass to
Donald Penn. With the loss, the 49ers fell to 3–7. This marked the 49ers' first shutout loss at home since 1977, when they were defeated by the
Atlanta Falcons 7–0.
Week 12: at Arizona Cardinals Hoping to rebound from their shutout loss to the Buccaneers, the 49ers flew to the
University of Phoenix Stadium for a Week 12 NFC West duel with the
Arizona Cardinals on Monday night. San Francisco made the opening strike in the first quarter as quarterback
Troy Smith found wide receiver
Michael Crabtree on a 38-yard touchdown pass. The Cardinals answered with kicker
Jay Feely getting a 31-yard field goal, yet the 49ers responded with a 1-yard touchdown run from rookie running back
Anthony Dixon. San Francisco added onto their lead in the second quarter with an 8-yard touchdown pass from running back
Brian Westbrook. Arizona would hang on with Feely's 39-yard field goal. Afterwards, the 49ers pulled away with a 38-yard field goal in the third quarter and a 26-yard field goal in the fourth quarter from kicker
Shane Andrus. With the win, San Francisco improved to 4–7.
Week 13: at Green Bay Packers Coming off their win over the Cardinals the 49ers flew to
Lambeau Field for an NFC duel with the Packers. The 49ers took the lead after kicker
Jeff Reed hit a 44 and a 26-yard field goal. The lead didn't last long after QB
Aaron Rodgers completed a 57-yard TD pass to WR
Greg Jennings, followed by FB
John Kuhn getting a 1-yard TD run. The 49ers cut the lead down with QB
Troy Smith making a 66-yard TD pass to TE
Vernon Davis, but in the third quarter, the Packers replied with Rodgers getting a 61-yard TD pass to WR
Donald Driver. The 49ers scored again with Reed nailing a 23-yard field goal. They struggled further after Rodgers found Jennings again on a 1-yard TD pass. Followed in the fourth quarter by kicker
Mason Crosby making a 43 and a 24-yard field goal. With the loss, the 49ers fell to 4–8.
Week 14: vs. Seattle Seahawks Hoping to rebound from their loss to the Packers the 49ers played on home ground for an NFC West rivalry match against the Seahawks. The 49ers took the lead first with QB
Alex Smith completing a 42-yard TD pass to TE
Vernon Davis, but the Seahawks replied with QB
Matt Hasselbeck throwing an 11-yard TD pass to WR
Ruvell Martin. The 49ers made a large scoring rally to increase their lead when kicker
Jeff Reed hit a 33 and a 44-yard field goal, followed by Smith completing a 15 and a 62-yard TD pass to
Josh Morgan and
Brian Westbrook respectively. This was followed by Reed making a 22-yard field goal, and in the third quarter with FS
Dashon Goldson returning an interception 39 yards for a touchdown. After that, Reed nailed a 36-yard field goal to put the 49ers up 40–7. The lead was broken down with RB
Leon Washington returning the kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown, followed in the 4th quarter by QB
Matt Hasselbeck getting a 2-yard TD pass to WR
Deon Butler. With the win, the 49ers improved to 5–8.
Week 15: at San Diego Chargers Coming off their win over the Seahawks the 49ers played against the Chargers at
Qualcomm Stadium on Thursday Night. The 49ers fell behind 2 minutes into the game with QB
Philip Rivers throwing a 58-yard TD pass to WR
Vincent Jackson, followed in the second quarter by kicker
Nate Kaeding nailing a 25-yard field goal, then with Rivers finding Jackson on an 11-yard touchdown pass. In the third quarter the 49ers had a touchdown from the second-half kickoff return but was declined because of a face-masking penalty enforced on them. Following that, they struggled further with FB
Mike Tolbert getting a 1-yard TD run, followed by Rivers connecting to Jackson on a 48-yard TD pass, then with Kaeding hitting a 39-yard field goal. The 49ers made their only score of the game with RB
Brian Westbrook getting a 1-yard TD run. Justin Smith was ejected from the game after shoving a referee. With the loss, the 49ers fell to 5–9.
Week 16: at St. Louis Rams The 49ers' fifteenth game was an NFC West rivalry rematch against the Rams at
Edward Jones Dome. The 49ers struggled in the first quarter when
Steven Jackson got a 1-yard TD run, followed by QB
Troy Smith getting sacked in the endzone by DE
James Hall for a safety. They got back in the game after
Ted Ginn Jr. returned a punt 78 yards for a touchdown, but fell further behind after kicker
Josh Brown nailed a 43-yard field goal. They took the lead with Smith completing a 60-yard TD pass to WR
Michael Crabtree, but fell behind again as Brown got a 30-yard field goal, followed by QB
Sam Bradford throwing a 3-yard TD pass to WR
Laurent Robinson. The 49ers tried to cut this lead with kicker
Jeff Reed making a 47-yard field goal, but the Rams pulled away with Brown hitting a 28-yard field goal. With the loss, the 49ers fell to 5–10, eliminating them from post-season contention for the eighth consecutive season. As a result of this and a sideline argument during the game, Singletary was fired as head coach later that night.
Week 17: vs. Arizona Cardinals The 49ers' final game was an NFC West rematch against the Cardinals. The 49ers took the lead as QB
Alex Smith completed a 37-yard TD pass to WR
Ted Ginn Jr., followed in the 2nd quarter by kicker
Jeff Reed making a 39-yard field goal. The Cardinals narrowed the lead as QB
John Skelton completed a 10-yard TD pass to WR
Larry Fitzgerald, but the 49ers extended their lead after Smith completed a 59-yard TD pass to TE
Vernon Davis, followed by RB
Brian Westbrook running 6 yards to the endzone for a touchdown twice in succession. This was followed by CB
Tarell Brown returning an interception 62 yards for a touchdown. With the win, the 49ers finish with a 6–10 record. ==References==