By Morris Phillips

In a season of second half letdowns, the 49ers let themselves down to new depths on Saturday night at Levi’s Stadium.

In a half of great highs and lows, the 49ers squandered leads of 28-7 and 35-21 only to lose to the playoff-hopeful Chargers, 38-35 in overtime.  With less than six minutes remaining in regulation, the Chargers parlayed a big fumble recovery into a pair of touchdowns to force overtime.

For the 49ers, a team-record 355 yard team rushing effort was wasted by a pair of second half turnovers that led directly to San Diego touchdowns. On the Chargers’ final drive, a depleted and fatigued 49ers’ defense allowed a 14-play, 80-yard drive culminating with Philip Rivers connecting with Malcom Floyd on an 11-yard touchdown pass with 29 seconds remaining.

“That’s just what we do and who we are,” Philip Rivers said. “We’re going to go fight like crazy and see what happens. We just kind of kept that mantra the whole second half, and kept looking up and kept getting closer and closer and was able to tie it up there late.”

Then in overtime, on the initial possession of the period, Bruce Ellington fumbled attempting to stretch a run on a reverse, and the Chargers gained possession near midfield. Nine plays later, kicker Nick Novak gave San Diego the win with a 40-yard field goal.

The Chargers found the entirety of the evening uplifting, a validation of a team and its players believing in each other and facing overwhelming adversity going 100 mph. For the 49ers, the collapse was another example of a season gone wrong, complete with multiple late game collapses, in particular losses to the Rams and Bears, non-playoff teams, that spoiled the initial season in Santa Clara.

“It’s been a tough year for our team,” Frank Gore said. “Even starting in camp, it has just been injury after injury. It’s hard to win when you don’t have your top guys, but I am happy for the guys who did step up.”

Gore rebounded from a concussion that cut short his afternoon in Seattle, with a 158-yard rushing performance that included a 52-yard touchdown run in the game’s early minutes that put San Francisco up 7-0. Colin Kaepernick took off on a 90-yard touchdown run at the conclusion of the third quarter that re-established a two-touchdown lead for the 49ers.

The 49ers conclude their season next Sunday against Arizona at Levi’s Stadium, a game that will hold great influence on whether Arizona or Seattle capture the NFC West.

In a season of second half letdowns, the 49ers let themselves dowium.

In a half of great highs and lows, the 49ers squandered leads of 28-7 and 35-21 only to lose to the playoff-hopeful Chargers, 38-35 in overtime.  With less than six minutes remaining in regulation, the Chargers parlayed a big fumble recovery into a pair of touchdowns to force overtime.

For the 49ers, a team-record 355 yard team rushing effort was wasted by a pair of second half turnovers that led directly to San Diego touchdowns. On the Chargers’ final drive, a depleted and fatigued 49ers’ defense allowed a 14-play, 80-yard drive culminating with Philip Rivers connecting with Malcom Floyd on an 11-yard touchdown pass with 29 seconds remaining.

“That’s just what we do and who we are,” Philip Rivers said. “We’re going to go fight like crazy and see what happens. We just kind of kept that mantra the whole second half, and kept looking up and kept getting closer and closer and was able to tie it up there late.”

Then in overtime, on the initial possession of the period, Bruce Ellington fumbled attempting to stretch a run on a reverse, and the Chargers gained possession near midfield. Nine plays later, kicker Nick Novak gave San Diego the win with a 40-yard field goal.

The Chargers found the entirety of the evening uplifting, a validation of a team and its players believing in each other and facing overwhelming adversity going 100 mph. For the 49ers, the collapse was another example of a season gone wrong, complete with multiple late game collapses, in particular losses to the Rams and Bears, non-playoff teams, that spoiled the initial season in Santa Clara.

“It’s been a tough year for our team,” Frank Gore said. “Even starting in camp, it has just been injury after injury. It’s hard to win when you don’t have your top guys, but I am happy for the guys who did step up.”

Gore rebounded from a concussion that cut short his afternoon in Seattle, with a 158-yard rushing performance that included a 52-yard touchdown run in the game’s early minutes that put San Francisco up 7-0. Colin Kaepernick took off on a 90-yard touchdown run at the conclu