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Chargers-49ers Final Score: San Francisco wins 21-7 preseason game over San Diego

In the most important preseason game of the year, the San Diego Chargers saw one of their most important player seriously injured but performed well against the San Francisco 49ers starters.

Thearon W. Henderson

After the third preseason game, there are two main questions that need to be answered about the San Diego Chargers in this game.

How did the first-stringers look?

They looked great! Both units only played through the first quarter, and the San Diego Chargers were up 7-0 on the San Francisco 49ers at that time.

The offense looked efficient and powerful, if a little risk-averse. Philip Rivers completed 9/10 passes for 85 yards and a touchdown to a spry-looking Antonio Gates. Ryan Mathews, Danny Woodhead, and Donald Brown looked good running behind a stout offensive line.

The defense looked dominant, and Corey Liuget looked like an MVP-level player. He dominated the interior of the 49ers' offensive line, racking up a tackle for loss and a sack before his day was over. Colin Kaepernick seemed lost trying to break down the Chargers' scheme, and he was being chased on nearly every player by the pass rush.

Who got injured?

The most notable (and most serious-looking) injury was to Kwame Geathers, who had taken over starting Nose Tackle duties after Sean Lissemore's injury. He had to be carted off with what looked like either a major knee injury or broken leg. Either way, don't expect him back soon.

Ricky Tjonag-A-Tjoe also left the game with an injury. He wasn't expected to make the 53-man roster, but the front seven will now have to do with even less depth heading into this week's matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.

Unimportant: Who won?

It doesn't matter, but the 49ers won the exhibition by a final score of 21-7. Their second and third-string units outplayed San Diego's completely, leading them to score the final 21 points of the game.