A Second-Half Dominance
Sincere McCormick and Jacob Cowing emerged as the defining figures for the visiting San Francisco 49ers in their 41-17 victory over the host Los Angeles Chargers on Friday, August 21, 2026. The game was decided early, with San Francisco outscoring Los Angeles 20-3 in the second quarter alone. The 49ers established a commanding lead that the Chargers were unable to overcome, despite a late effort to close the gap. The final whistle marked a 1-1 record for both franchises, capping a competitive preseason matchup at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, before an attendance of 62,156.
Scoring Sequence
The scoring action began in the second period when Chargers kicker Eddy Pineiro connected on a 48-yard field goal to give Los Angeles a 3-0 lead. The 49ers responded immediately with Cameron Dicker’s 21-yard field goal to tie the game at 3-3. The momentum shifted decisively in San Francisco’s favor when McCormick rushed 7 yards for a touchdown, followed by an extra point to make it 10-3. Cowing then returned a punt 83 yards for a touchdown, extending the lead to 17-3. Pineiro added a 45-yard field goal before halftime, leaving the 49ers up 20-3. In the third quarter, Chargers’ Junior Colson intercepted a pass and returned it 16 yards for a touchdown, though the two-point conversion attempt failed. Khalil Herbert then ran 1 yard for a touchdown for San Francisco, making it 27-9.
