49ers Break NFL Record for Rushing Yards in a Defeat

The San Francisco 49ers set an unwanted record in Saturday's 38-35 overtime loss to the San Diego Chargers, recording the most rushing yards in a defeat in NFL history, per Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports 1.

The 49ers' 355 rushing yards barely broke the record, topping the 352 accumulated by the Kansas City Chiefs in a 20-13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Dec. 23, 2012. Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles had 226 rushing yards in the loss, with Peyton Hillis pitching in another 101.

The 49ers also needed multiple 100-yard rushers to reach their lofty total, with running back Frank Gore (158 yards) and quarterback Colin Kaepernick (151) doing the honors. Also chipping in were wide receiver Quinton Patton (20), running back Alfonso Smith (14) and wide receiver Bruce Ellington (12).

The charge was led by two long touchdown runs, as Gore broke off a 52-yarder in the first quarter, and Kaepernick added a 90-yarder in the third quarter.

Thanks in large part to shaky fourth-quarter pass defense, the 49ers managed to lose the game despite holding a 28-7 lead at halftime, followed by a 35-21 lead at the end of the third quarter.

It's worth noting that the 49ers didn't break the Chiefs record until the second snap of overtime, when Patton took an end-around for 20 yards only to cough up a fumble at the end of the play. The Chargers kicked a field goal a few minutes later to drop the already-eliminated 49ers to 7-8.