SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- The San Diego Chargers will have to settle for one in a row.
After breaking through for their first victory of the season last week, the Chargers returned to reality, suffering a 45-17 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, who posted their third straight victory.
San Francisco's Jeff Garcia had his fourth 300-yard game of the year, completing 18-of-32 passes for 323 yards and two scores to Jerry Rice, who registered the 186th and 187th touchdowns of his remarkable career.
"They are a solid defense but we thought we'd have more success if we took some chances down the field today," said Garcia, who has thrown an NFC-high 26 TD passes this season. "We took some shots and stretched the field and we were successful at what we tried to do."
Insult turned to injury for the Chargers in the second half when the fans at Qualcomm Stadium started chanting Rice's name.
"I want it to be a pro-Charger crowd, obviously," San Diego linebacker Junior Seau said. "But when you have a great player like Jerry Rice, you are going to have fans that follow him and rightly so. He is a well-respected player and I personally respect him."
"It was nice to get the ball to Jerry Rice for a couple of touchdowns," San Francisco coach Steve Mariucci added. "He can still do it. Jeff Garcia was really good today."
With only three games left in the season, Rice was in no mood to discuss his future in the NFL. There have been some indications that he might not want to return to the 49ers.
"I don't know what is going to happen after the season but I do know that we have three games left," Rice said. "I've had a great 16 years and if I'm not here next year, we have some great receivers who can take over. I cherish every time I put on my uniform. All good things come to an end."
As their 1-12 record would indicate, the Chargers have been plagued by bad luck all year, losing six games by three points or less.
But the Chargers had no chance for a victory against the 49ers, trailing 27-10 after the third quarter. San Francisco (5-8) converted three of San Diego's five second-half turnovers into touchdowns.
"It got out of control in the third quarter," Chargers running back Terrell Fletcher said. "Jeff Garcia is good with his feet and throws the ball well. He has a lot of targets to throw to. I am excited how well he is playing but not against us."
Ryan Leaf, who led the Chargers to a 17-16 victory over Kansas City last week, threw four interceptions. Monty Montgomery had two picks, returning the second 45 yards for a touchdown that capped the scoring with 1:39 remaining.
On the Chargers' ensuing possession, Zack Bronson returned yet another interception inside the Chargers 5. The 49ers elected to run out the clock.
"We wanted to play aggressively," Mariucci said. "We wound up playing San Diego aggressively, both on offense and defense. We've been doing a good job of taking care of the ball." Leaf completed 24-of-47 for 266 yards and had a solid game for three quarters before things fell apart in the final period, when he was picked off three times.
"It was obviously a terrible way to end the game," Chargers coach Mike Riley said. "It was definitely the worst quarter (of the season), the last quarter was. It turned ugly at the end when we were just throwing on every play and trying to make something big happen."
Rice's one-yard TD reception gave the 49ers a 17-7 lead with 1:10 left in the first half. John Carney kicked a 34-yard field goal with six seconds remaining, pulling the Chargers within 17-10.
After Wade Richey booted a 28-yard field goal with 6:31 remaining in the third quarter, the Chargers collapsed. Safety Lance Schulters returned wide receiver Reggie Jones' fumble 16 yards to the San Diego 15, setting up Charlie Garner's four-yard TD run with 2:56 left in the period.
It was a bittersweet game for Schulters, a Pro Bowler who suffered a torn right ACL and will be out for the remainder of the season.
"We are seriously disappointed about Lance's situation," Mariucci said.
Leaf tossed an 18-yard TD pass to Curtis Conway early in the fourth quarter to pull San Diego within 27-17 but the 49ers put it away with 18 unanswered points, including 11 in a 43-second span.
"I am at a loss for words," Chargers running back Fred McCrary said. "I hurt so much inside. You just try to keep your anger in and just try to be professional about it. It's tough, trust me."
After Richey kicked a 38-yard field goal, Montgomery returned his first interception 18 yards to the Chargers 12. On the next play, Garcia hit Rice in the end zone, then found J.J. Stokes for the conversion pass, giving the 49ers a 38-17 cushion with 8:44 to play.
"They mixed it up pretty good," Riley said. "That was the key in the ballgame. We couldn't be consistent and I think their quarterback was outstanding. He was able to make plays, get out of the pocket and they did a nice job of bootlegs with him."
Garner rushed for just 28 yards on 13 carries for the 49ers, while Fletcher paced San Diego on the ground with 47 yards on 12 carries.
