49ers Roll in Exhibition Finale

For the first time in a taxing exhibition season, almost everything went right for the San Francisco 49ers.

Tim Rattay completed 16 of 21 passes and led four scoring drives in the first half as the 49ers defeated the San Diego Chargers, 27-3, on Wednesday night in the exhibition finale for both teams.

San Francisco (2-3), banged up and thin after a brutal exhibition season that included a trip to Japan and three games in 10 days, improbably posted an easy victory. The 49ers took a 21-point lead in the first half under the direction of Rattay, whose inconsistency finally ended when he played with the team’s first-stringers.

Instead of capitulating to San Diego, as Coach Steve Mariucci all but suggested his team might do, the 49er backups and fringe players jumped all over the Chargers (2-2) on both sides of the ball in their best performance of the exhibition season.

“I was probably one of the only guys that was happy we had five preseason games,” said Rattay, who passed for 158 yards.

Pro Bowl tandem Jeff Garcia and Terrell Owens didn’t play for the 49ers, but Rattay finally might have solidified his job. Rattay led a 69-yard scoring drive on the 49ers’ second possession, scoring on a two-yard run after dropping the snap from Jeremy Newberry.

Running back LaDainian Tomlinson returned for the Chargers after missing the first three exhibition games because of an ankle injury and gained 19 yards in four carries.

San Diego’s offense struggled under quarterbacks Drew Brees and Doug Flutie, who combined for 55 yards passing.