2005 San Francisco 49ers season

2005 San Francisco 49ers season
Head coach	Mike Nolan
Home field	Monster Park
Results
Record	4–12
Division place	4th NFC West
Playoff finish	did not qualify
Pro Bowlers	none

The 2005 San Francisco 49ers season was the 60th year for the team overall, and their 56th season in the NFL. They improved their two-win 2004 season by two games.

Former head coach Dennis Erickson had been fired just after the end of the 2004 season, and Mike Nolan (son of former Niners head coach Dick Nolan) took the helm.

Despite having a better record than the 2–14 Texans and 3–13 Saints, statistics site Football Outsiders calculated that the 49ers were actually, play-for-play, not only the worst team in the NFL in 2005,^[1] but the worst team they've ever tracked.^[2] According to the site, the 49ers offense in 2005 is the third-worst they'd ever tracked.^[3]^[2]^[4] The 49ers 3,587 total offensive yards were the fewest of any team in 2005, and their 239 points scored were third-worst in the NFL.^[5] Despite finishing with the worst record in 2004, the 49ers ended up playing the second-toughest schedule that season as they played eight games against playoff teams which includes games against the top seeds in both conferences, the Seattle Seahawks and the Indianapolis Colts, and games against the Chicago Bears and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, both teams that the 49ers played due to finishing last in the NFC West the previous year and won their divisions.^[6]

San Francisco's 1,898 team passing yards in 2005 were the lowest such total in the decade of the 2000s.^[7]

Offseason

2005 Draft

Main article: 2005 NFL Draft

The 49ers had the first pick in the 2005 draft, and selected Utah quarterback Alex Smith. The 49ers were in need of a quarterback, and the two top prospects at the position were Smith and Cal quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers, the second quarterback drafted, famously dropped to the 24th pick, and went to the Green Bay Packers, where he eventually won the Super Bowl XLV in 2010 and was voted league MVP in 2011 and 2014

Regular season

Week 1

	1	2	3	4	Total
Rams	3	6	3	13	25
• 49ers	0	21	7	0	28

Date: September 11
Location: Monster Park, San Francisco, California
Game start: 4:15 p.m. EST
Game weather: 64°F (Partly Cloudy)

Scoring summary

1	STL	Jeff Wilkins 30 yard field goal	Rams 3–0

2	STL	Jeff Wilkins 41 yard field goal	Rams 6–0

2	SF	Brandon Lloyd 35 yard pass from Tim Rattay (Joe Nedney kick)	49ers 7–6

2	SF	Otis Amey 75 yard punt return (Joe Nedney kick)	49ers 14–6

2	SF	Arnaz Battle 6 yard pass from Tim Rattay (Joe Nedney kick)	49ers 21–6

2	STL	Jeff Wilkins 33 yard field goal	49ers 21–9

3	SF	Kevan Barlow 9 yard run (Joe Nedney kick)	49ers 28–9

3	STL	Jeff Wilkins 41 yard field goal	49ers 28–12

4	STL	Isaac Bruce 29 yard pass from Marc Bulger (run failed)	49ers 28–18

4	STL	Brandon Manumaleuna 6 yard pass from Marc Bulger (Jeff Wilkins kick)	49ers 28–25

In Mike Nolan's debut as head coach, the 49ers beat divisional rival St. Louis Rams. Quarterback Tim Rattay got the start, the 49ers were able to build a considerable lead in the 3rd quarter, however, their defense fell apart and allowed the Rams to score 16 straight points, including 13 in the 4th quarter. The Rams were poised to score again, but Michael Adams intercepted Marc Bulger with 52 seconds left to seal the victory and start the season with a win.

Week 2

	1	2	3	4	Total
49ers	0	0	3	0	3
• Eagles	14	14	7	7	42

Date: September 18
Location: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST

Scoring summary

1	PHI	Terrell Owens 68 yard pass from Donovan McNabb (David Akers kick)	Eagles 7–0

1	PHI	L.J. Smith 6 yard pass from Donovan McNabb (David Akers kick)	Eagles 14–0

2	PHI	Terrell Owens 42 yard pass from Donovan McNabb (David Akers kick)	Eagles 21–0

2	PHI	Brian Westbrook 2 yard pass from Donovan McNabb (Mark Simoneau kick)	Eagles 28–0

3	SF	Joe Nedney 32 yard field goal	Eagles 28–3

3	PHI	Greg Lewis 6 yard pass from Donovan McNabb (David Akers kick)	Eagles 35–3

4	PHI	Lamar Gordon 6 yard run (David Akers kick)	Eagles 42–3

The 49ers were handily beaten by the Philadelphia Eagles as Donovan McNabb threw five touchdown passes, four of which were in the first 19 minutes of the game. In Terrell Owens' first game against his former team he had 143 yards receiving and two touchdowns. Rookie quarterback Alex Smith made his regular season debut, playing the final possession and throwing one incomplete pass.This loss dropped the 49ers to 1–1.

Week 3

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Cowboys	0	12	7	15	34
49ers	7	17	7	0	31

Date: September 25
Location: Monster Park, San Francisco, California
Game weather: 78°F (Sunny)

Scoring summary

1	SF	Arnaz Battle 15 yard pass from Tim Rattay (Joe Nedney kick)	49ers 7–0

2	DAL	Drew Bledsoe 6 yard run (kick failed)	49ers 7–6

2	SF	Brandon Lloyd 89 yard pass from Tim Rattay (Joe Nedney kick)	49ers 14–6

2	SF	Tony Parrish 34 yard interception return (Joe Nedney kick)	49ers 21–6

2	DAL	Jason Witten 6 yard pass from Drew Bledsoe (pass failed)	49ers 21–12

2	SF	Joe Nedney 20 yard field goal	49ers 24–12

3	DAL	Julius Jones 1 yard run (Jose Cortez kick)	49ers 24–19

3	SF	Brandon Lloyd 13 yard pass from Tim Rattay (Joe Nedney kick)	49ers 31–19

4	DAL	Julius Jones 1 yard run (Jose Cortez kick)	49ers 31–26

4	DAL	Keyshawn Johnson 14 yard pass from Drew Bledsoe (Keyshawn Johnson pass from Drew Bledsoe)	Cowboys 34–31

The rivalry between the 49ers and the Cowboys continued in traditional high-scoring fashion. The 49ers maintained the lead for the majority of the game, however, their defense fell apart in the final quarter as they allowed the Cowboys to score fifteen consecutive points while the offense failed to put a single point on the board. The heartbreaking loss dropped the 49ers to 1–2 to start the season.

Week 4

	1	2	3	4	Total
49ers	14	0	0	0	14
• Cardinals	0	12	6	13	31

Date: October 2
Location: Azteca Stadium, Mexico City, Mexico

Scoring summary

1	SF	Derek Smith recovered fumble in end zone (Joe Nedney kick)	49ers 7–0

1	SF	Derrick Johnson 78 yard fumble return (Joe Nedney kick)	49ers 14–0

2	ARI	Neil Rackers 40 yard field goal	49ers 14–3

2	ARI	Neil Rackers 45 yard field goal	49ers 14–6

2	ARI	Larry Fitzgerald 17 yard pass from Josh McCown (kick failed)	49ers 14–12

3	ARI	Neil Rackers 48 yard field goal	Cardinals 15–14

3	ARI	Neil Rackers 23 yard field goal	Cardinals 18–14

4	ARI	Neil Rackers 43 yard field goal	Cardinals 21–14

4	ARI	Anquan Boldin 27 yard pass from Josh McCown (Neil Rackers kick)	Cardinals 28–14

4	ARI	Neil Rackers 24 yard field goal	Cardinals 31–14

A game played in Mexico City at Azteca Stadium garnered the largest crowd in regular season history, with 103,467 fans in attendance. The 49ers started off well, scoring two touchdowns in the first quarter, but failed to score again. The Cardinals then began to dominate, scoring 31 consecutive points, including six field goals by Neil Rackers. San Francisco's backup quarterback Alex Smith was given the green light in the fourth quarter and threw six completions, including the first completed pass of his career. The International game gave the Cardinals their first win of the 2005 season while the loss dropped the 49ers to 1–3.

Week 5

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Colts	7	7	0	14	28
49ers	0	0	3	0	3

Date: October 9
Location: Monster Park, San Francisco, California
Game weather: 73°F (Sunny)

Scoring summary

1	IND	Dominic Rhodes 6 yard run (Mike Vanderjagt kick)	Colts 7–0

2	IND	Cato June 24 yard interception return (Mike Vanderjagt kick)	Colts 14–0

3	SF	Joe Nedney 30 yard field goal	Colts 14–3

4	IND	Edgerrin James 4 yard run (Mike Vanderjagt kick)	Colts 21–3

4	IND	Troy Walters 18 yard pass from Peyton Manning (Mike Vanderjagt kick)	Colts 28–3

In Alex Smith's first NFL start, he threw four interceptions and was sacked five times. Aside from Kevan Barlow, the 49ers offense failed to get comfortable and only managed a single field goal. This was the second straight week in which the 49ers' offense failed to score a touchdown. The loss to the undefeated Colts dropped the 49ers to 1–4, heading into their bye week.

Week 7

	1	2	3	4	Total
49ers	7	0	0	10	17
• Redskins	14	21	10	7	52

Date: October 23
Location: FedEx Field, Washington, D.C.

Scoring summary

1	WSH	Mike Sellers 2 yard pass from Mark Brunell (Nick Novak kick)	Redskins 7–0

1	WSH	Clinton Portis 5 yard run (Nick Novak kick)	Redskins 14–0

1	SF	Kevan Barlow 17 yard run (Joe Nedney kick)	Redskins 14–7

2	WSH	Clinton Portis 1 yard run (Nick Novak kick)	Redskins 21–7

2	WSH	Santana Moss 32 yard pass from Mark Brunell (Nick Novak kick)	Redskins 28–7

2	WSH	Mike Sellers 19 yard pass from Mark Brunell (Nick Novak kick)	Redskins 35–7

3	WSH	Clinton Portis 1 yard run (Nick Novak kick)	Redskins 42–7

3	WSH	Nick Novak 27 yard field goal	Redskins 45–7

4	WSH	Rock Cartwright 4 yard run (Nick Novak kick)	Redskins 52–7

4	SF	Joe Nedney 47 yard field goal	Redskins 52–10

4	SF	Frank Gore 72 yard run (Joe Nedney kick)	Redskins 52–17

The 49ers lost for the fifth straight time after opening the season with a win when they lost in a 52–17 rout to the Redskins. San Francisco could do nothing right, with Alex Smith getting sacked five times, losing a fumble, and throwing an interception. On the other side of the ball, the Redskins quarterback Mark Brunell tossed three touchdowns and Clinton Portis rushed for three more, rolling up 448 total yards. The 49ers, who had not scored in the fourth quarter yet this season, grabbed ten points in the period. The fifth straight loss dropped the 49ers to 1–5.

Week 8

	1	2	3	4	Total
Buccaneers	0	3	0	7	10
• 49ers	0	6	6	3	15

Date: October 30
Location: Monster Park, San Francisco, California
Game weather: 66°F (Sunny)

Scoring summary

2	SF	Joe Nedney 45 yard field goal	49ers 3–0

2	TB	Matt Bryant 47 yard field goal	Tie 3–3

2	SF	Joe Nedney 47 yard field goal	49ers 6–3

3	SF	Joe Nedney 41 yard field goal	49ers 9–3

3	SF	Joe Nedney 46 yard field goal	49ers 12–3

4	TB	Joey Galloway 78 yard pass from Chris Simms (Matt Bryant kick)	49ers 12–10

4	SF	Joe Nedney 28 yard field goal	49ers 15–10

In a game in which both starting quarterbacks were out due to injuries, field goals were the norm: the 49ers' Joe Nedney scoring five of the game's six. In a statistically unimpressive game, San Francisco toppled the Buccaneers, who, prior to the game, had the best record in the NFC. With the victory, the 49ers snapped a five-game losing streak to grab their second win of the season. Buccaneers receiver Joey Galloway caught his 500th reception of his career. The win brought the 49ers up to 2–5 on the season.

Week 9

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Giants	3	7	0	14	24
49ers	0	0	6	0	6

Date: November 6
Location: Monster Park, San Francisco, California
Game weather: 63°F (Cloudy)

Scoring summary

1	NYG	Jay Feely 22 yard field goal	Giants 3–0

2	NYG	Jeremy Shockey 32 yard pass from Eli Manning (Jay Feely kick)	Giants 10–0

3	SF	Joe Nedney 48 yard field goal	Giants 10–3

3	SF	Joe Nedney 52 yard field goal	Giants 10–6

4	NYG	Brandon Jacobs 1 yard run (Jay Feely kick)	Giants 17–6

4	NYG	Brandon Jacobs 1 yard run (Jay Feely kick)	Giants 24–6

For the second straight game, the 49ers failed to score a touchdown, this time managing only two field goals in the loss. Even while the Giants' offense struggled at times, their defense shut the 49ers down, preventing the 49ers from capitalizing on Giants' mistakes, such as allowing the 49ers four first downs on penalties. In a rare error, the 49ers only had 10 players on the field for the first play of the game, a 28-yard catch by Jeremy Shockey. The loss dropped the 49ers to 2–6.

Week 10

	1	2	3	4	Total
49ers	0	3	3	3	9
• Bears	0	7	0	10	17

Date: November 13
Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

Scoring summary

2	SF	Joe Nedney 30 yard field goal	49ers 3–0

2	CHI	Nathan Vasher 108 yard field goal return (Robbie Gould kick)	Bears 7–3

3	SF	Joe Nedney 34 yard field goal	Bears 7–6

4	CHI	Adrian Peterson 7 yard run (Robbie Gould kick)	Bears 14–6

4	SF	Joe Nedney 29 yard field goal	Bears 14–9

4	CHI	Robbie Gould 37 yard field goal	Bears 17–9

After a scoreless first quarter, the 49ers took a three-point lead in the second quarter off a field goal by Joe Nedney. However, the game turned in the Bears' favor when Nathan Vasher ran back an attempted field goal 108 yards for a touchdown. The 49ers came within 5 point during the fourth quarter, but the high winds made it difficult to pass the ball. This, combined with a fumbled punt, doomed the 49ers to their seventh loss of the season, dropping them to 2–7.

Week 11

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Seahawks	3	14	10	0	27
49ers	3	6	3	13	25

Date: November 20
Location: Monster Park, San Francisco, California
Game weather: 68°F (Sunny)

In a shootout, the 49ers nearly came back from a fifteen-point deficit by scoring two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. However, the 49ers failed to score on a two-point conversion with under 30 seconds in the game that would have tied it and likely sent it into overtime. In the course of the game, the 49ers scored their first touchdown at home in sixteen quarters and also snapped a streak of 47 possessions without a touchdown. The eighth loss in nine games dropped the 49ers to 2–8.

Week 12

	1	2	3	4	Total
49ers	0	14	0	8	22
• Titans	3	6	21	3	33

Date: November 27
Location: The Coliseum, Nashville, Tennessee

The Titans snapped a five-game losing streak and the 49ers extended theirs to four as Titans kicker Rob Bironas kicked a career-high four field goals. The Titans managed to score two touchdowns in a span of only 80 seconds. The game wasn't as close as the final score would suggest, as the Titans forced four turnovers and Steve McNair threw for 343 yards and three touchdowns. The 49ers lost their 9th game, dooming them to a losing season.

Week 13

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Cardinals	3	0	6	8	17
49ers	0	7	3	0	10

Date: December 4
Location: Monster Park, San Francisco, California
Game weather: 53°F (Mostly Cloudy)

In their fifth loss in as many games (the 49ers' second five-game losing streak), the 49ers fell to the division rival Cardinals. Although two interceptions from quarterback Kurt Warner kept the 49ers in the game, eventually the poor performance by the defense succumbed. The Cardinals took the lead for good with a 54-yard touchdown reception by Anquan Boldin in a third-and-twenty situation. Being swept by the Cardinals this season, the 49ers fell to 2–10 with the loss.

Week 14

	1	2	3	4	Total
49ers	3	0	0	0	3
• Seahawks	7	17	14	3	41

Date: December 11
Location: Qwest Field, Seattle, Washington

The 49ers were dominated in their six straight loss as they fell to 2–11. Not only did Shaun Alexander rush for 108 yards, his ninth consecutive divisional game to rush for more than 100 yards, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck threw for four touchdowns. The 49ers' offense couldn't get going, managing only 113 total yards and fumbling three times. With the victory, the Seahawks completed the division perfectly, 6–0, and gained a two-game lead for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Week 15

	1	2	3	4	Total
49ers	3	3	0	3	9
• Jaguars	0	7	0	3	10

Date: December 18
Location: Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida

In a back-and-forth game, the Jaguars emerged victorious and clinched a playoff berth at 10–4. The 49ers offense failed to score a touchdown, as they only managed three field goals by Joe Nedney. The 49ers had opportunities to take the lead, but were unable to get any first downs in the fourth quarter and a fourth down, game-ending, desperation heave from Alex Smith fell harmlessly to the ground. The 49ers fell to 2–12 with their seventh straight loss.

Week 16

	1	2	3	4	Total
• 49ers	7	10	0	7	24
Rams	3	17	0	0	20

Date: December 24
Location: Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri

The 49ers broke their seven-game losing streak with a big performance from their running backs, Maurice Hicks and Frank Gore, who combined for 177 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Rams lead for most of the game, but the 49ers scored 17 unanswered points and the defense held the Rams scoreless in the second half. The game was only decided in the final minute when Ben Emanuel intercepted a pass at the San Francisco 19-yard line. With the victory, the 49ers moved up to 3–12.

Week 17

	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Texans	10	0	7	0	0	17
• 49ers	0	7	10	0	3	20

Date: January 1
Location: Monster Park, San Francisco, California
Game weather: 59°F (Cloudy)

The final game of the season for the 49ers, in which the number one draft pick was on the line, was a thriller. The two teams scored back-and-forth with the lead never greater than 7 points. The game went into overtime tied at 17, and Joe Nedney kicked a 33-yard field goal for the win. This marked the only time the 49ers won two consecutive games this season. Moreover, the loss gave the Texans the first overall draft pick and moved the 49ers from second overall to sixth. The 49ers finished the season 4–12.

Standings

NFC West
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
⁽¹⁾ Seattle Seahawks	13	3	0	.813	6–0	10–2	454	271	L1
St. Louis Rams	6	10	0	.375	1–5	3–9	363	429	W1
Arizona Cardinals	5	11	0	.313	3–3	4–8	311	387	L1
San Francisco 49ers	4	12	0	.250	2–4	3–9	239	428	W2

References

↑ Football Outsiders: 1992 DVOA Ratings and Commentary
1 2 Football Outsiders – DVOA 7.0: Worst Teams Ever, Minus-55.5 DVOA, worst rating calculated from 1991 through 2011 seasons
↑ Football Outsiders: 1992 DVOA Ratings and Commentary" The Seahawks' −45.9% offensive DVOA sets a new FO record, surpassing the 2005 San Francisco 49ers (−42.0%) as the worst offense we've ever tracked."
↑ Better only than only the 1992 Seattle Seahawks and 2002 Houston Texans' offenses
↑ Pro-Football-Reference: 2005 NFL Standings, Team & Offensive Statistics
↑ http://www.contractbud.com/article.php?article=apc_2006projectedorder&source=front
↑ Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 2000 to 2011, in the regular season, sorted by ascending Passing Yds

San Francisco 49ers

Founded in 1946 Based and headquartered in Santa Clara, California

Franchise	Franchise Team history Coaches Players Seasons Logo and uniform history Starting quarterbacks Draft history

Stadiums	Kezar Stadium Candlestick Park Levi's Stadium

Culture	Sourdough Sam San Francisco Gold Rush West Coast offense

Lore	The Catch Joe Cool Million Dollar Backfield Snowball Game Harbaugh Bowl

Rivalries	Los Angeles Rams Seattle Seahawks Dallas Cowboys New York Giants

Key figures	Eddie DeBartolo Denise DeBartolo York Jed York John York Gideon Yu

Division championships (19)	1970 1971 1972 1981 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 2002 2011 2012

Conference championships (6)	1981 1984 1988 1989 1994 2012

League championships (5)	1981 (XVI) 1984 (XIX) 1988 (XXIII) 1989 (XXIV) 1994 (XXIX)

Retired numbers	8 12 16 34 37 39 70 58 70 80 87 BW Mr. D

Current league affiliations	League: National Football League (1950–present) Conference: National Football Conference Division: West Division

Former league affiliation	All-America Football Conference (1946–1949)

Seasons (70)	1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Championship seasons in bold

San Francisco 49ers seasons

1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Bold indicates Super Bowl victory Italics indicates Super Bowl appearance

2005 NFL season

East	North	South	West	East	North	South	West
Buffalo	Baltimore	Houston	Denver	Dallas	Chicago	Atlanta	Arizona
Miami	Cincinnati	Indianapolis	Kansas City	NY Giants	Detroit	Carolina	St. Louis
New England	Cleveland	Jacksonville	Oakland	Philadelphia	Green Bay	New Orleans	San Francisco
NY Jets	Pittsburgh	Tennessee	San Diego	Washington	Minnesota	Tampa Bay	Seattle

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