This is a list of the regular season games of the 2009 San Francisco 49ers season.
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The 49ers flew to Arizona for a week 1 opener against the team that had swept them the previous season. 49ers quarterback Shaun Hill made his season-opening debut, hoping to redeem himself for letting a close game slip through his fingers the previous year. The first half was largely a defensive struggle. With 5:26 remaining in the first half Frank Gore, the 49ers feature back and offensive focal point the last three seasons, had been held to negative one yard rushing on six carries. Arizona's offense, known in 2008 for their great passing attack, was forced to punt after going 3 and out on three separate occasions, was held to only 3 first downs, and turned the ball over once on an interception by Patrick Willis at this point in the game. After trading field goals, the 49ers were up 6-3 when Frank Gore pounded his way through for a 6-yard score. Cardinals kicker Neil Rackers would kick a 45-yard field goal to close out the first half to make the score 13-6.
In the third quarter, Kurt Warner led the Cardinals on a long drive capped off with a quick touchdown pass to Larry Fitzgerald, a score that would tie the game at 13-13. Despite the small momentum the 49ers had gained by the end of the first half, in the third quarter the 49ers were held to all of 4 yards total Offense. All of the momentum was going Arizona's way after forcing the 49ers to zero first downs and three punts in as many drives. Not long thereafter, the Cardinals took the lead with a Rackers field goal to get the score to 16-13. In 4th quarter, Shaun Hill lifted his demons by responding on the following drive leading the 49ers offense on a long drive lasting 15 plays that was capped off with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Frank Gore. More tension was yet to come as the 49ers defense stopped the Cardinals hurry-up offense on two consecutive drives, one ending on a failed 4th and 5 from the 49ers 33 yard line with 1:51 left in the game. After forcing the Cardinals to burn up their final two time outs with consecutive runs the 49ers were forced to punt giving Arizona one last chance with only 43 seconds left to play from their own 12. Defensive end Justin Smith would make the game winning sack. With the win, led primarily by the 49ers outstanding defensive effort, the 49ers started their season 1-0.
Wide receiver Isaac Bruce (4 receptions, 74 yards) would join Jerry Rice as the only receivers to surpass 15,000 career receiving yards.
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Coming off their upset road win over the Cardinals, the 49ers would play their Week 2 home opener against another NFC West foe, the Seattle Seahawks. San Francisco would get off to a fast start in the first quarter as kicker Joe Nedney got a 37-yard field goal, followed by running back Frank Gore getting a 79-yard touchdown run. The Seahawks would answer in the second quarter as kicker Olindo Mare made a 36-yard field goal. The 49ers would reply with Nedney making a 42-yard field goal, while Seattle closed out the half with quarterback Seneca Wallace completing a 1-yard touchdown pass to running back Julius Jones.
On the first play of the 3rd quarter, the Niners struck back as Gore would break an 80-yard touchdown run. Afterwards, Nedney closed the game out in the fourth quarter as he nailed a 39-yard field goal.
With the win, the 49ers improved to 2-0.
Gore (16 carries, 207 yards, 2 TDs) would join Barry Sanders and Maurice Jones-Drew as the only running backs in history to have two 75+ yard runs in one game.
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Coming off an impressive divisional home win over the Seahawks, the 49ers flew to the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome for a Week 3 duel with the Minnesota Vikings. San Francisco would trail early as Vikings quarterback Brett Favre completed a 30-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Sidney Rice. Minnesota would increase their lead in the second quarter with kicker Ryan Longwell's 40-yard field goal. The 49ers would answer with quarterback Shaun Hill's 5-yard touchdown pass to tight end Vernon Davis. The Vikings struck back with Longwell's 52-yard field goal, yet the Niners would take the lead prior to halftime as cornerback Nate Clements returned a blocked field goal 59 yards for a touchdown.
San Francisco would increase their lead in the third quarter with kicker Joe Nedney's 37-yard field goal, but Minnesota replied with wide receiver Percy Harvin returning a kickoff 101 yards for a touchdown. In the fourth quarter, the Niners got the lead again Hill hooking up with Davis again on a 20-yard touchdown pass. However, the Vikings would snatch victory from the jaws of defeat as Favre completed a 32-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Greg Lewis with 2 seconds left in the game.
With the loss, the 49ers fell to 2-1.
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The 49ers stayed home and looked to continue their undefeated streak against their divisional opponents with the St. Louis Rams coming to San Francisco. In the first half both teams would sputter offensively. Finally, the 49ers would receive some encouragement from special teams as rookie linebacker Scott McKillop recovered a muffed punt for a touchdown. After halftime, the 49ers were finally able to get some headway offensively as Shaun Hill completed an 18-yard touchdown to Vernon Davis. Not long after that, the 49ers defense cemented the victory with an interception returned for a touchdown by third-year linebacker Patrick Willis, and a fumble recovery for a touchdown by Ray McDonald. Shaun Hill put the final touches on as he completed a 28-yard touchdown pass to Josh Morgan to complete the blowout of 35–0.
With the win, the 49ers improved to 3–1 for the first time since 2002.
Patrick Willis had an excellent day, getting 2.5 sacks and an interception returned for a touchdown.
This also was the 49ers' first shutout win since 2002.
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Coming off their shutout home win over the Rams, the 49ers stayed at home for a Week 5 duel with the Atlanta Falcons. The Niners would trail early in the first quarter as Falcons running back Michael Turner got a 7-yard touchdown run, followed by quarterback Matt Ryan's 31-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Roddy White. San Francisco would answer with a 2-yard touchdown run from running back Glen Coffee. After starting the second quarter with a 39-yard field goal from kicker Joe Nedney, Atlanta took over with Ryan hooking up with White again on a 90-yard touchdown pass and Turner's 3-yard & 1-yard touchdown runs. The Falcons would then close out the game with kicker Jason Elam's 40-yard field goal in the third quarter and Ryan's 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth.
With the loss, the 49ers entered their bye week at 3-2.
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Coming off their bye week, the 49ers flew to Reliant Stadium for a Week 7 interconference showdown with the Houston Texans. San Francisco would find itself trailing early in the first quarter as Texans running back Steve Slaton got a 1-yard touchdown. Houston would add onto their lead in the second quarter with quarterback Matt Schaub hooking up with Slaton on a 9-yard touchdown pass and finding tight end Owen Daniels on a 42-yard touchdown pass.
For the second half, starting quarterback Shaun Hill (6/11 for 45 yards) was benched due to poor performance and replaced with quarterback Alex Smith. It began to pay off in the third quarter as Smith completed a 29-yard touchdown pass to tight end Vernon Davis. In the fourth quarter, Smith and Davis would hook up with each other again on a 14-yard touchdown pass. However, the Texans answered with a 50-yard field goal from kicker Kris Brown. The Niners tried to rally as Smith found Davis again on a 23-yard touchdown pass, but that would be as close to a comeback that San Francisco would get as Houston's defense stiffened for the win.
With the loss, the 49ers fell to 3-3.
Wide receiver Michael Crabtree, in his NFL debut, would have 5 receptions for 56 yards.
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Trying to snap their two-game losing streak, the 49ers flew to Lucas Oil Stadium for a Week 8 interconference duel with the Indianapolis Colts. This game would be quarterback Alex Smith's first start since November 12, 2007.
In the first quarter, San Francisco struck first as running back Frank Gore got a 64-yard touchdown run. The Colts would answer with a 38-yard field goal from kicker Matt Stover. Indianapolis would begin the second quarter with Stover's 33-yard field goal, yet the Niners came right back with Smith's 8-yard touchdown pass to tight end Vernon Davis. Afterwards, the Colts would close out the half with Stover nailing a 31-yard field goal.
Indianapolis would take the lead in the third quarter as Stover nailed a 40-yard field goal, followed by running back Joseph Addai's 22-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Reggie Wayne to begin the fourth quarter (with a failed 2-point conversion). San Francisco tried to rally, but the Colts' defense would shut down any possible comeback attempt.
With the loss, the 49ers fell to 3-4.
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Trying to snap a three-game losing streak, the 49ers went home for a Week 9 interconference duel with the Tennessee Titans. In the first quarter, San Francisco struck first as kicker Joe Nedney made a 40-yard field goal. The Titans would respond with a 21-yard field goal from kicker Rob Bironas. Tennessee would take the lead in the second quarter as quarterback Vince Young got a 7-yard touchdown run, yet the 49ers regained the lead with running back Frank Gore's 3-yard touchdown run and quarterback Alex Smith's 12-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jason Hill.
The Titans would tie the game in the third quarter with a 1-yard touchdown run from running back Chris Johnson. San Francisco would begin the fourth quarter with Nedney booting a 25-yard field goal, but Tennessee would take the lead with Johnson's 2-yard touchdown run, kicker Rob Bironas' 28-yard field goal, and cornerback Cortland Finnegan returning an interception 39 yards for a touchdown. The Niners tried to rally as Smith hooked up with Hill again on a 3-yard touchdown pass, but the Titans' defense would prevent further progress.
With their fourth-straight loss, the 49ers fell to 3-5.
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Hoping to snap a four-game losing streak, the 49ers stayed at home for a Week 10 Thursday night duel with the Chicago Bears, as head coach Mike Singletary prepared to face his former team.
After a scoreless first quarter, San Francisco would strike in the second quarter with a 14-yard touchdown run from running back Frank Gore. The Bears would close out the half with kicker Robbie Gould getting a 50-yard field goal. Chicago would creep closer in the third quarter as Gould nailed a 38-yard field goal. Afterwards, the Niners would add onto their lead as kicker Joe Nedney booted a 21-yard field goal. The Bears would get a comeback drive going as they got inside San Francisco's redzone, yet safety Michael Lewis got the game-ending interception, which preserved the four-point lead.
With their four-game losing streak snapped, the 49ers improved to 4-5.
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With the loss, the 49ers fell to 4-6.
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With the win, the 49ers improved to 5-6 and within two games of the Cardinals for the division lead.
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Once again showing up on MNF, the 49ers came home to face off against the surging Cardinals. It was soon evident however, that the Cardinals were not playing their best, turning over the football 7 times, and to add to their troubles the 49ers capitalized on all of their mistakes. In the end, the 49ers' 3 touchdowns were too much for the Cardinals, and the 49ers not only prevented Arizona from clinching the NFC West, but also avoided getting eliminated from the playoff race, improving to 6-7.
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With the loss, the 49ers fell to 6-8 and were eventually eliminated from the playoff contention.
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For their last home game of the season, the San Francisco 49ers took on the visiting team the Lions. The Lions took an early lead midway through the 1st quarter with a 27 yard Jason Hanson field goal. The 49ers tied it up at the end of the 1st quarter with a 33 yard field goal by Ricky Schmitt. The only score of the 2nd quarter was a 39 yard 49ers field goal just before halftime. In the 3rd quarter came 2 San Francisco TD's. First a 2 yard catch by Vernon Davis, then a 1 yard run by Frank Gore. The Lions kicked their final field goal of the day in the 4th quarter from 38 yards.
49ers RB Frank Gore finished with 152 total yards (110 alone in the third quarter) and a touchdown. Gore carried 28 times for 71 yards to give him 1,013 for the year, making him the first running back in team history to record four straight seasons of over 1,000 yards rushing.
Also with the win, the 49ers improved to 7-8
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