Here are three takeaways after re-watching the 49ers’ 29-27 loss to the Chargers, falling to 1-3 ahead of their first divisional game of the season coming Sunday against the Cardinals.
The talent gap
Philip Rivers’ pinpoint first-half touchdown pass to Austin Ekeler beat reasonably good coverage from linebacker Fred Warner. Running back Melvin Gordon III, a 2015 first-round draft pick, was a wrecking ball who proved to be a bad matchup for San Francisco’s defense that has struggled with tackling. Safety Derwin James was all over the field and made the biggest play of the afternoon when he hit C.