2008 San Francisco 49ers season The 2008 San Francisco 49ers season was the franchise ' s 63rd season . Although they failed to reach the playoffs for the straight 6th year , the team improved on their disappointing 5 - 11 record from the 2007 season , and ended the season on a high note . Offseason . Despite a disappointing season in 2007 , Mike Nolan was retained as head coach . With the 49ers offense struggling the previous season , offensive coordinator Jim Hostler was fired and replaced by Mike Martz . In addition , Scot McCloughan was promoted from vice president of player personnel to general manager . Mike Nolan was fired after a 29 - 17 loss to the New York Giants in Week 8 . Regular season results . Week 1 : vs . Arizona Cardinals . The 49ers began their 2008 campaign at home against their NFC West foe , the Arizona Cardinals . In the first quarter , the Niners trailed early as Cardinals kicker Neil Rackers got a 25 - yard field goal . San Francisco responded with RB Frank Gore getting a 41 - yard TD run . In the second quarter , Arizona regained the lead with QB Kurt Warner completing a 1 - yard TD pass to WR Larry Fitzgerald . San Francisco tied the game with kicker Joe Nedney getting a 39 - yard fied goal . In the third quarter , the Cardinals began to fly away as Rackers nailed a 31 - yard field goal , along with RB Tim Hightower getting a 2 - yard TD run . In the fourth quarter , the Niners tried to respond as Nedney got a 30 - yard field goal . However , Arizona pulled away with Rackers ' 30 - yard field goal . With the loss , the 49ers began their season at 0 – 1 . Week 2 : at Seattle Seahawks . Hoping to bounce back from their divisional home loss to the Cardinals , the 49ers flew to Qwest Field for an NFC West duel with the Seattle Seahawks . In the first quarter , the Niners trailed early as Seahawks RB Julius Jones got a 27 - yard TD run , along with DT Craig Terrill returning a fumble 10 yards for a touchdown . San Francisco would respond with kicker Joe Nedney getting a 26 - yard field goal . In the second quarter , the 49ers continued to close in on Seattle as Nedney kicked a 28 - yard field goal . The Seahawks responded with kicker Olindo Mare getting a 51 - yard field goal . Afterwards , the Niners chopped at Seattle ' s lead with QB J . T . O ' Sullivan completing a 3 - yard TD pass to WR Bryant Johnson . The Seahawks would close out the half with Mare ' s 38 - yard field goal . In the third quarter , San Francisco took the lead with LB Patrick Willis returning an interception 86 yards for a touchdown and RB Frank Gore getting a 2 - yard TD run . However , in the fourth quarter , Seattle regained its lead with RB T . J . Duckett getting a 1 - yard TD run and Mare getting a 32 - yard field goal . The Niners would tie the game with Nedney ' s 28 - yard field goal . Afterwards , in overtime , San Francisco completed its upset as Nedney nailed the game - winning 40 - yard field goal . With the win , the 49ers improved to 1 – 1 . WR Isaac Bruce ( 4 receptions for 153 yards ) would become the first 49ers wideout to have a 100 - yard receiving game since Antonio Bryant during Week 2 in 2006 . Week 3 : vs . Detroit Lions . Coming off their thrilling overtime divisional road win over the Seahawks , the 49ers went home for a Week 3 duel with the Detroit Lions . In the first quarter , the Niners struck first as QB J . T . O ' Sullivan completed a 6 - yard TD pass to WR Isaac Bruce . In the second quarter , San Francisco increased its lead with RB Frank Gore getting a 4 - yard TD run . Striking again , Delanie Walker caught a touchdown pass shortly before half - time . The Lions would respond with kicker Jason Hanson getting a 44 - yard , yet the 49ers replied in the fourth quarter with CB Allen Rossum getting a 1 - yard TD run . Detroit tried to rally as QB Jon Kitna completed a 34 - yard TD pass to RB Rudi Johnson , yet San Francisco sealed their victory with kicker Joe Nedney nailing a 25 - yard field goal . With the win , the 49ers improved to 2 – 1 . Week 4 : at New Orleans Saints . Coming off their home win over the Lions , the 49ers flew to the Louisiana Superdome for a Week 4 duel with the New Orleans Saints . In the first quarter , the Niners struck first as kicker Joe Nedney got a 47 - yard field goal . In the second quarter , the Saints took the lead with QB Drew Brees completing a 5 - yard and a 33 - yard TD pass to WR Lance Moore . San Francisco would answer with Nedney ' s 49 - yard field goal , yet New Orleans replied with Brees ' 47 - yard TD pass to WR Robert Meachem . In the third quarter , the 49ers tried to rally as Nedney kicked a 38 - yard field goal . However , in the fourth quarter , the Saints continued to pull away as RB Deuce McAllister got a 1 - yard TD run . The Niners tried to rally as QB J . T . O ' Sullivan completed a 5 - yard TD pass to WR Isaac Bruce , yet New Orleans sealed the win with kicker Martín Gramática nailing a 31 - yard field goal . With the loss , the 49ers fell to 2 – 2 . Week 5 : vs . New England Patriots . Hoping to rebound from their road loss to the Saints , the 49ers went home for a Week 5 interconference duel with the New England Patriots . In the first quarter , the Niners struck first as QB J . T . O ' Sullivan completed a 16 - yard TD pass to RB Frank Gore . The Patriots responded with QB Matt Cassel completing a 66 - yard TD pass to WR Randy Moss , yet San Francisco answered with O ' Sullivan completing a 35 - yard TD pass to WR Isaac Bruce . In the second quarter , New England took the lead as kicker Stephen Gostkowski got a 35 - yard field goal , along with RB Kevin Faulk getting a 2 - yard TD run . In the third quarter , the Patriots increased their lead with Faulk getting another 2 - yard TD run . In the fourth quarter , New England added on to its lead with Gostkowski kicking a 40 - yard field goal . The Niners tried to come back as O ' Sullivan completed a 5 - yard TD pass to Bruce , but the Patriots pulled away with Gostkowski nailing a 49 - yard field goal . With the loss , San Francisco fell to 2 - 3 . During the halftime ceremony , the 49ers retired former QB Steve Young ' s # 8 uniform . Week 6 : vs . Philadelphia Eagles . Hoping to snap a two - game losing skid , the 49ers stayed at home for a Week 6 duel with the Philadelphia Eagles . In the first quarter , the Niners struck first as kicker Joe Nedney got a 32 - yard field goal . The Eagles took the lead as RB Correll Buckhalter got a 1 - yard TD run . San Francisco would respond with Nedney kicking a 37 - yard field goal . In the second quarter , Philadelphia increased their lead as QB Donovan McNabb completed a 2 - yard TD pass to WR Hank Baskett , along with kicker David Akers getting a 19 - yard field goal . The 49ers closed out the half with Nedney making a 53 - yard field goal , along with DB Donald Strickland returning a blocked field goal attempt 41 yards for a touchdown . In the third quarter , the Niners took the lead as RB Frank Gore got a 6 - yard TD run , along with Nedney getting a 29 - yard field goal . However , in the fourth quarter , the Eagles rallied as McNabb completed a 2 - yard TD pass to TE L . J . Smith , Akers nailing a 38 - yard , a 25 - yard , & a 28 - yard field goal , and DE Juqua Parker returning an interception 55 yards for a touchdown . With their third - straight loss , the 49ers fell to 2 - 4 . Week 7 : at New York Giants . Trying to snap a three - game losing skid , the 49ers flew to Giants Stadium for a Week 7 duel with the New York Giants . In the first quarter , the Niners trailed early as Giants RB Brandon Jacobs got a 26 - yard TD run . San Francisco would respond with kicker Joe Nedney getting a 40 - yard field goal . In the second quarter , New York answered with Jacobs getting a 2 - yard TD run . The 49ers responded with QB J . T . O ' Sullivan completing a 30 - yard TD pass to rookie WR Josh Morgan . The Giants ended the half with kicker John Carney nailing a 21 - yard field goal . In the third quarter , New York increased its lead with QB Eli Manning completing a 6 - yard TD pass to WR Plaxico Burress . The Niners struck back as CB Nate Clements returned a block field goal 74 yards for a touchdown . However , in the fourth quarter , the Giants pulled away as Carney got a 48 - yard field goal , while DE Justin Tuck forced O ' Sullivan into a fumble , causing the ball to roll into San Francisco ' s endzone , and Morgan kicking it out of the back of the endzone , giving New York a safety . With the fourth - straight loss , the 49ers fell to 2 - 5 . On Monday , October 20 , the day after the game , the 49ers fired coach Mike Nolan and replaced him with Mike Singletary . Week 8 : vs . Seattle Seahawks . Hoping to rebound from their road loss to the Giants , the 49ers went home for a Week 8 NFC West rematch with the Seattle Seahawks . In the first quarter , the Niners trailed early as Seahawks kicker Olindo Mare got a 43 - yard and a 42 - yard field goal . In the second quarter , Seattle increased its lead with RB T . J . Duckett getting a 1 - yard TD run . San Francisco would got on the board with kicker Joe Nedney getting a 42 - yard field goal , but the Seahawks continued its beatdown as CB Josh Wilson returned an interception 75 yards for a touchdown . In the third quarter , the 49ers replied with Nedney making a 40 - yard field goal , yet Seattle continued to pull away as QB Seneca Wallace completed a 43 - yard TD pass to FB Leonard Weaver . In the fourth quarter , San Francisco tried to rally as QB Shaun Hill completed a 2 - yard TD pass to rookie WR Jason Hill . However , the Seahawks pulled away as Wallace hooked up with Weaver again on a 62 - yard TD pass . During the game , Vernon Davis committed a 15 - yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct which prompted Singletary ' s now infamous " I want winners " tirade during the post - game press conference : " I ' d rather play with 10 people and just get penalized all the way until we have to do something else rather than play with 11 when I know that right now that person is not sold out to be a part of this team . It is more about them than it is about the team . Cannot play with them , cannot win with them , cannot coach with them . Can ' t do it . I want winners . I want people that want to win . " With the loss , the 49ers enter into their bye week at 2 – 6 . Week 10 : at Arizona Cardinals . Coming off their bye week , the 49ers flew to the University of Phoenix Stadium for a Week 10 NFC West rematch with the Arizona Cardinals . Due to J . T . O ' Sullivan ' s inconsistency , QB Shaun Hill was named the starter for the game . In the first quarter , the Niners immediately struck first as CB Allen Rossum returned the game ' s opening kickoff 104 yards for a touchdown . The Cardinals would answer with kicker Neil Rackers getting a 28 - yard field goal . In the second quarter , San Francisco increased their lead as Hill completed a 31 - yard TD pass to rookie WR Josh Morgan . Arizona would respond with QB Kurt Warner completing a 13 - yard TD pass to WR Anquan Boldin , along with Rackers making a 33 - yard field goal . The Niners would close out the half with Hill completing an 18 - yard TD pass to TE Vernon Davis . In the third quarter , the Cardinals tried to catch up as Warner completed a 5 - yard TD pass to WR Larry Fitzgerald , yet the 49ers answered with kicker Joe Nedney getting a 41 - yard field goal . In the fourth quarter , Arizona took the lead as Racker nailed a 23 - yard field goal , along with Warner hooking with Boldin again on a 4 - yard TD pass ( with a failed 2 - point conversion ) . San Francisco did manage to get a late - game drive . However , the Cardinals ' defense made a goal - line stand to end the game . With their sixth straight loss , the 49ers fell to 2 - 7 . Week 11 : vs . St . Louis Rams . Trying to snap a six - game losing streak , the 49ers went home for a Week 11 NFC West duel with their hated rival , the St . Louis Rams . In the first quarter , the Niners struck first as RB Frank Gore got a 5 - yard TD run . In the second quarter , the Rams responded with kicker Josh Brown getting a 24 - yard field goal . Afterwards , San Francisco unleashed its frustrations as QB Shaun Hill completed a 2 - yard TD pass to TE Vernon Davis , Gore got a 1 - yard TD run , Hill got a 1 - yard TD run , and Hill completed a 2 - yard TD pass to WR Bryant Johnson . In the third quarter , St . Louis got a 48 - yard and a 44 - yard field goal . In the fourth quarter QB Marc Bulger completed a 2 - yard TD pass to WR Dane Looker . The 49ers had deployed most of the second string roster for the 4th quarter . Shaun Hill had a perfect passer rating in the first half and a career - high 47 yard completion . Hill also won NFC Offensive Player of the Week . With their six - game losing streak snapped , the 49ers improved to 3 - 7 . Week 12 : at Dallas Cowboys . Coming off their divisional home win over the Rams , the 49ers flew to Texas Stadium for a Week 12 game with the throwback - clad Dallas Cowboys . In the first quarter , the Niners struck first as kicker Joe Nedney got a 23 - yard and a 22 - yard field goal . In the second quarter , the Cowboys took the lead as QB Tony Romo completed a 75 - yard TD pass to former 49ers WR Terrell Owens . Dallas continued its domination as LB Carlos Polk blocked punter Andy Lee ' s punt into the back of the endzone for a safety . The Cowboys closed out its period of power as kicker Nick Folk got a 48 - yard and a 41 - yard field goal , along with Romo completing a 1 - yard TD pass to TE Martellus Bennett . In the third quarter , Dallas increased its lead with Romo completing a 10 - yard TD pass to WR Patrick Crayton . San Francisco tried to rally as Nedney got a 35 - yard field goal . In the fourth quarter , the Cowboys answered with Folk getting a 47 - yard field goal . The 49ers tried to come back as QB Shaun Hill completed an 18 - yard TD pass to WR Isaac Bruce , but Dallas replied with Folk nailing a 42 - yard field goal . The Niners tried to rally as Hill completed a 9 - yard TD pass to RB DeShaun Foster , but that would be as close as San Francisco ' s comeback would get . With the loss , the 49ers fell to 3 – 8 . Week 13 : at Buffalo Bills . Hoping to rebound from their road loss to the Cowboys , the 49ers flew to Ralph Wilson Stadium for a Week 13 interconference duel with the Buffalo Bills . In the first quarter , the Niners struck first as QB Shaun Hill completed a 12 - yard TD pass to WR Isaac Bruce . In the second quarter , San Francisco increased their lead as kicker Joe Nedney got a 50 - yard field goal . In the third quarter , the Bills tried to rally as kicker Rian Lindell nailed a 22 - yard field goal . Fortunately , the Niners ' defense held Buffalo ' s offense scoreless for the remainder of the game . With the win , not only did the 49ers improve to 4 - 8 , but they finally gave the West Coast its first East Coast win . Week 14 : vs . New York Jets . Returning to Candlestick Park , the 49ers geared up for a rematch against Brett Favre and his new team . The game started when the 49ers attempted an onside kick , recovered by the Jets . Later , the 49ers went up first as Shaun Hill completed a pass to Jason Hill that was fumbled at the goal line and recovered by offensive tackle Joe Staley for the touchdown . Then , Brett Favre ran for a 2 - yard touchdown . The 49ers retook the lead as Shaun Hill completed a touchdown screen pass to Frank Gore . After half - time , Thomas Jones plowed through the 49ers secondary to get a 17 - yard score . On the ensuing 49ers possession , a Shaun Hill touchdown pass to Delanie Walker was called back , and the 49ers settled for a Joe Nedney 32 - yard field goal . In the fourth quarter , the 49ers cemented their lead when Shaun Hill completed a 3 - yard touchdown pass to a diving Bryant Johnson . The Jets had enough time to make a late comeback , but a Brett Favre deep pass was intercepted by Walt Harris . The 49ers ran down the clock and punted , and the Jets did not have sufficient time to attempt the comeback . The 49ers fumbled the ball a total of 5 times , although , fortunately for them , only one was lost . With the win , the 49ers improved to 5 - 8 . However they were officially eliminated from playoff contention with the Arizona Cardinals win against the St . Louis Rams , clinching the NFC West for Arizona . Week 16 : at St . Louis Rams . Hoping to rebound from their loss to the Dolphins , the 49ers flew to the Edward Jones Dome for a Week 16 NFC West rematch with the awful Rams . In the first quarter , the Niners struck first with a 48 - yard field goal from kicker Joe Nedney . The Rams would take the lead in the second quarter with kicker Josh Brown ' s 43 - yard field goal , quarterback Marc Bulger ' s 30 - yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Keenan Burton , and Brown ' s 38 - yard field goal . After a scoreless third quarter , St . Louis would increase its lead in the fourth quarter with Brown nailing a 22 - yard field goal . Afterwards , San Francisco took the lead with quarterback Shaun Hill completing a 3 - yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Isaac Bruce and a 48 - yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Josh Morgan . With the season - sweep , the 49ers improved to 6 - 9 . Week 17 : vs . Washington Redskins . Looking to keep the momentum from their last - minute victory against the Rams , the 49ers closed out their season at home in a Week 17 duel with the Washington Redskins . San Francisco struck first in the first quarter as quarterback Shaun Hill got a 2 - yard touchdown run . Washington would take the lead in the second quarter as running back Clinton Portis got a 4 - yard touchdown run , kicker Shaun Suisham got a 41 - yard field goal , and quarterback Jason Campbell completing a 6 - yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Antwaan Randle El . The 49ers began to rally in the third quarter as running back DeShaun Foster got a 1 - yard touchdown run . In the fourth quarter , San Francisco took the lead as Hill completed a 9 - yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jason Hill , along with kicker Joe Nedney ' s 33 - yard field goal . The Redskins would tie the game as Campbell getting a 2 - yard touchdown run , yet the Niners prevailed as Nedney nailed the game - winning 39 - yard field goal . They were 2 - 5 under Coach Mike Nolan at the beginning of the season , and finished their season 5 - 4 under interim coach Mike Singletary . With the strong finish to their season , the 49ers ended their season at 7 - 9 , 2 games behind the division leading Arizona who finished 9 - 7 . San Francisco running back Frank Gore ( 11 carries for 58 yards ) became the first player in franchise history to rush for over 1 , 000 yards in three consecutive seasons . Shortly after the game ended , it was announced the ' interim ' label would be removed from head coach Mike Singletary and that he would , in fact , return next season . New 49ers team president Jed York reportedly signed Singletary to a 4 - year deal worth approximately $ 10 million .