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Instant Analysis: Bolts got job done

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One play stood out among several big ones in Saturday night’s 38-35 victory that kept the Chargers in playoff contention, secured Mike McCoy’s second winning season and dealt the 49ers their fourth consecutive loss.

The Chargers needed eight yards, or else their season would go down the drain.

Philip Rivers gunned the fourth-down pass toward Eddie Royal, well past the first-down marker.

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Safety Antoine Bethea, whose pick-6 had stretched the home team’s lead to 21-0 in the first half, closed fast from behind and stretched for the ball.

Bethea’s fingers missed by two inches, if that much.

Royal, diving to get beyond Bethea, didn’t have a clear view.

But when the spiral thudded into his forearms and hands, Royal held it for a first down at San Francisco’s 26 with 67 second left.

I can’t recall a more important and difficult catch by a Charger in recent years.

From there, the Chargers (9-6) pulled out the victory. They’d trailed 28-7 midway through the third quarter.

Rivers was Rivers. Despite three interceptions, he figured out what to do and let it rip. The offensive line, down two starters, hung in there.

Don’t forget Eddie Royal’s catch. It was special.

Just in time

The Chargers waited too long to get fresh-legged Dontrelle Inman into the receiver rotation, but at least they found him in the second half. Seyi Ajirotutu’s speed limitation showed up in the first half and contributed to an interception off a forced pass by Rivers. It wasn’t until the third quarter that Rivers targeted Inman. He finished with seven catches for 79 yards. Inman’s 17-yarder against Perrish Cox, a tough defender, converted 4th-and-10 shortly after Royal’s big catch.

Playmakers

A turning point in the second half was Manti Te’o’s tackle of Colin Kaepernick, stopping a scramble on fourth-and-2 at San Diego’s 39. The Chargers trailed 28-7. Jim Harbaugh shouldn’t be blamed for not punting, but like many 49ers plays, that one lacked polish.

Antonio Gates calmed down a ragged pass offense. The 34-year-old’s two TD catches left him one shy of his career mark of 13, set in 2004.

Chargers defenders alternated between missing tackles and causing fumbles.

Marcus Gilchrist’s stick of Bruce Miller at the goal line may have been the best hit of the safety’s career. Eric Weddle’s strip of speedy Quinton Patton led to Nick Novak’s game-winning kick. Dwight Freeney and Ricardo Mathews closed fast on Kaepernick, causing the fumble that Corey Liuget recovered for a TD. That juiced the comeback.

When ex-Chargers CB Marcus Cromartie spelled Cox late in the game, the Chargers feasted. Cromartie’s lack of speed and quick-recover skills were evident. Inman beat him a few times. Isolating Malcom Floyd on him for the tying TD was a smart move.

San Francisco’s passing game was crude -- astonishingly so, at times -- fueling San Diego’s comeback. Inept play-clock management also aided the Chargers.

I wrote that the Chargers had to win through emotion and energy because more was at stake for them. Perhaps that’s how it played out, though first came a dreadful first half. Rallying from far down, the Chargers likely drew on extra reserves. We’ve written of Royal’s rare dedication and also his mentorship of young Inman. Mentor and protege delivered in the clutch.

Chargers v. 49ers 12/20/2014

  • San Diego 38, San Francisco 35
  • Levi’s Stadium
  • Headlines

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