Chargers crushes the 49ers, 34-7

The Chargers crushes the 49ers, thanks to the return of Vincent Jackson and the top ranked defense.

VJ caught a career-high three touchdown passes, Philip Rivers surpassed 4,000 yards passing for the third straight season and the defense had 6 sacks to win and stay alive in the AFC West race.

With Gates and Floyd out for the game because of injuries, Vincent Jackson sure stepped up. "Since I've been here, it's like I had never left," said Jackson, who had his first three TD grabs of the season, of 58, 11 and 21 yards. VJ seems to be in mid-season form after being out for 10 games.

The Chargers came within minutes of having consecutive shutouts for the first time in their 51-year history.

Rivers and Jackson came out early in the fourth quarter with the Chargers leading 31-0.

Rivers was 19-of-25 for 273 yards, giving him 4,141 for the season. He tied Hall of Famer Dan Fouts' team record set from 1979-81. Jackson had five catches for 112 yards.

On the fourth play from scrimmage, Rivers wound up and threw deep. The 6-foot-5 VJ slowed down and reached out over 6-foot Nate Clements' head to make the catch at about the 15 before outracing the cornerback into the end zone. VJ also exploited a mismatch against linebacker Takeo Spikes for an easy 11-yard catch just before halftime. VJ also pulled in a 21-yarder early in the fourth quarter, getting the ball just past the pylon.

Mike Tolbert had a 1-yard TD run in the third quarter and Nate Kaeding kicked field goals of 25 and 39 yards.

The 49ers only score came on Brian Westbrook's 3-yard run with 4:26 left.

Jeff Reed kicked a 38-yard field goal but Chargers' Antonio Garay was whistled for unnecessary roughness for trying to gain leverage, giving the 49ers first-and-goal at the 10. Smith scrambled and dived at the left pylon on third down and it was ruled a touchdown. The Chargers challenged and it was reversed, with Smith ruled down inches from the goal line. On fourth down at the 1, Siler threw Anthony Dixon for a 2-yard loss.

"I just read the play and got in there," Siler said. "I think it takes the energy and the momentum out of a team when you do something like that."

The Chargers' defense was stellar, holding the 49ers to 192 total yards, 131 yards passing and 61yards rushing.

Michael Crabtree had just three catches for 17 yards and Pro Bowl tight end Vernon Davis didn't have a catch until the waning minutes, finishing with one for 4 yards.

Next up, the Bengals.