2005 San Francisco 49ers season

2005 San Francisco 49ers season
Head coach	Mike Nolan
Home field	Monster Park
Results
Record	4–12
Division place	4th NFC West
Playoff finish	did not qualify
Pro Bowlers	none
← 2004 49ers seasons 2006 →

1 2 3 4 Total Rams 3 6 3 13 25 • 49ers 0 21 7 0 28 Date: September 11 Location: Monster Park, San Francisco, California Game start: 4:15 p.m. EST Game weather: 64°F (Partly Cloudy)

Scoring summary 1 STL Jeff Wilkins 30 yard field goal Rams 3–0 2 STL Jeff Wilkins 41 yard field goal Rams 6–0 2 SF Brandon Lloyd 35 yard pass from Tim Rattay (Joe Nedney kick) 49ers 7–6 2 SF Otis Amey 75 yard punt return (Joe Nedney kick) 49ers 14–6 2 SF Arnaz Battle 6 yard pass from Tim Rattay (Joe Nedney kick) 49ers 21–6 2 STL Jeff Wilkins 33 yard field goal 49ers 21–9 3 SF Kevan Barlow 9 yard run (Joe Nedney kick) 49ers 28–9 3 STL Jeff Wilkins 41 yard field goal 49ers 28–12 4 STL Isaac Bruce 29 yard pass from Marc Bulger (run failed) 49ers 28–18 4 STL Brandon Manumaleuna 6 yard pass from Marc Bulger (Jeff Wilkins kick) 49ers 28–25

Scoring summary
1		STL	Jeff Wilkins 30 yard field goal	Rams 3–0
2		STL	Jeff Wilkins 41 yard field goal	Rams 6–0
2		SF	Brandon Lloyd 35 yard pass from Tim Rattay (Joe Nedney kick)	49ers 7–6
2		SF	Otis Amey 75 yard punt return (Joe Nedney kick)	49ers 14–6
2		SF	Arnaz Battle 6 yard pass from Tim Rattay (Joe Nedney kick)	49ers 21–6
2		STL	Jeff Wilkins 33 yard field goal	49ers 21–9
3		SF	Kevan Barlow 9 yard run (Joe Nedney kick)	49ers 28–9
3		STL	Jeff Wilkins 41 yard field goal	49ers 28–12
4		STL	Isaac Bruce 29 yard pass from Marc Bulger (run failed)	49ers 28–18
4		STL	Brandon Manumaleuna 6 yard pass from Marc Bulger (Jeff Wilkins kick)	49ers 28–25

1 2 3 4 Total 49ers 0 0 3 0 3 • Eagles 14 14 7 7 42 Date: September 18 Location: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST

Scoring summary 1 PHI Terrell Owens 68 yard pass from Donovan McNabb (David Akers kick) Eagles 7–0 1 PHI L.J. Smith 6 yard pass from Donovan McNabb (David Akers kick) Eagles 14–0 2 PHI Terrell Owens 42 yard pass from Donovan McNabb (David Akers kick) Eagles 21–0 2 PHI Brian Westbrook 2 yard pass from Donovan McNabb (Mark Simoneau kick) Eagles 28–0 3 SF Joe Nedney 32 yard field goal Eagles 28–3 3 PHI Greg Lewis 6 yard pass from Donovan McNabb (David Akers kick) Eagles 35–3 4 PHI Lamar Gordon 6 yard run (David Akers kick) Eagles 42–3

Scoring summary
1		PHI	Terrell Owens 68 yard pass from Donovan McNabb (David Akers kick)	Eagles 7–0
1		PHI	L.J. Smith 6 yard pass from Donovan McNabb (David Akers kick)	Eagles 14–0
2		PHI	Terrell Owens 42 yard pass from Donovan McNabb (David Akers kick)	Eagles 21–0
2		PHI	Brian Westbrook 2 yard pass from Donovan McNabb (Mark Simoneau kick)	Eagles 28–0
3		SF	Joe Nedney 32 yard field goal	Eagles 28–3
3		PHI	Greg Lewis 6 yard pass from Donovan McNabb (David Akers kick)	Eagles 35–3
4		PHI	Lamar Gordon 6 yard run (David Akers kick)	Eagles 42–3

1 2 3 4 Total • Cowboys 0 12 7 15 34 49ers 7 17 7 0 31 Date: September 25 Location: Monster Park, San Francisco, California Game weather: 78°F (Sunny)

Scoring summary 1 SF Arnaz Battle 15 yard pass from Tim Rattay (Joe Nedney kick) 49ers 7–0 2 DAL Drew Bledsoe 6 yard run (kick failed) 49ers 7–6 2 SF Brandon Lloyd 89 yard pass from Tim Rattay (Joe Nedney kick) 49ers 14–6 2 SF Tony Parrish 34 yard interception return (Joe Nedney kick) 49ers 21–6 2 DAL Jason Witten 6 yard pass from Drew Bledsoe (pass failed) 49ers 21–12 2 SF Joe Nedney 20 yard field goal 49ers 24–12 3 DAL Julius Jones 1 yard run (Jose Cortez kick) 49ers 24–19 3 SF Brandon Lloyd 13 yard pass from Tim Rattay (Joe Nedney kick) 49ers 31–19 4 DAL Julius Jones 1 yard run (Jose Cortez kick) 49ers 31–26 4 DAL Keyshawn Johnson 14 yard pass from Drew Bledsoe (Keyshawn Johnson pass from Drew Bledsoe) Cowboys 34–31

Scoring summary
1		SF	Arnaz Battle 15 yard pass from Tim Rattay (Joe Nedney kick)	49ers 7–0
2		DAL	Drew Bledsoe 6 yard run (kick failed)	49ers 7–6
2		SF	Brandon Lloyd 89 yard pass from Tim Rattay (Joe Nedney kick)	49ers 14–6
2		SF	Tony Parrish 34 yard interception return (Joe Nedney kick)	49ers 21–6
2		DAL	Jason Witten 6 yard pass from Drew Bledsoe (pass failed)	49ers 21–12
2		SF	Joe Nedney 20 yard field goal	49ers 24–12
3		DAL	Julius Jones 1 yard run (Jose Cortez kick)	49ers 24–19
3		SF	Brandon Lloyd 13 yard pass from Tim Rattay (Joe Nedney kick)	49ers 31–19
4		DAL	Julius Jones 1 yard run (Jose Cortez kick)	49ers 31–26
4		DAL	Keyshawn Johnson 14 yard pass from Drew Bledsoe (Keyshawn Johnson pass from Drew Bledsoe)	Cowboys 34–31

1 2 3 4 Total 49ers 14 0 0 0 14 • Cardinals 0 12 6 13 31 Date: October 2 Location: Azteca Stadium, Mexico City, Mexico

Scoring summary 1 SF Derek Smith recovered fumble in end zone (Joe Nedney kick) 49ers 7–0 1 SF Derrick Johnson 78 yard fumble return (Joe Nedney kick) 49ers 14–0 2 ARI Neil Rackers 40 yard field goal 49ers 14–3 2 ARI Neil Rackers 45 yard field goal 49ers 14–6 2 ARI Larry Fitzgerald 17 yard pass from Josh McCown (kick failed) 49ers 14–12 3 ARI Neil Rackers 48 yard field goal Cardinals 15–14 3 ARI Neil Rackers 23 yard field goal Cardinals 18–14 4 ARI Neil Rackers 43 yard field goal Cardinals 21–14 4 ARI Anquan Boldin 27 yard pass from Josh McCown (Neil Rackers kick) Cardinals 28–14 4 ARI Neil Rackers 24 yard field goal Cardinals 31–14

Scoring summary
1		SF	Derek Smith recovered fumble in end zone (Joe Nedney kick)	49ers 7–0
1		SF	Derrick Johnson 78 yard fumble return (Joe Nedney kick)	49ers 14–0
2		ARI	Neil Rackers 40 yard field goal	49ers 14–3
2		ARI	Neil Rackers 45 yard field goal	49ers 14–6
2		ARI	Larry Fitzgerald 17 yard pass from Josh McCown (kick failed)	49ers 14–12
3		ARI	Neil Rackers 48 yard field goal	Cardinals 15–14
3		ARI	Neil Rackers 23 yard field goal	Cardinals 18–14
4		ARI	Neil Rackers 43 yard field goal	Cardinals 21–14
4		ARI	Anquan Boldin 27 yard pass from Josh McCown (Neil Rackers kick)	Cardinals 28–14
4		ARI	Neil Rackers 24 yard field goal	Cardinals 31–14

1 2 3 4 Total • Colts 7 7 0 14 28 49ers 0 0 3 0 3 Date: October 9 Location: Monster Park, San Francisco, California Game weather: 73°F (Sunny)

Scoring summary 1 IND Dominic Rhodes 6 yard run (Mike Vanderjagt kick) Colts 7–0 2 IND Cato June 24 yard interception return (Mike Vanderjagt kick) Colts 14–0 3 SF Joe Nedney 30 yard field goal Colts 14–3 4 IND Edgerrin James 4 yard run (Mike Vanderjagt kick) Colts 21–3 4 IND Troy Walters 18 yard pass from Peyton Manning (Mike Vanderjagt kick) Colts 28–3

The 2005 San Francisco 49ers season was the 60th year for the team overall, and their 56th season in the NFL. They improved their two-win 2004 season by two games.

Former head coach Dennis Erickson had been fired just after the end of the 2004 season, and Mike Nolan (son of former Niners head coach Dick Nolan) took the helm.

Despite having a better record than the 2–14 Texans and 3–13 Saints, statistics site Football Outsiders calculated that the 49ers were actually, play-for-play, not only the worst team in the NFL in 2005, but the worst team they've ever tracked. According to the site, the 49ers offense in 2005 is the third-worst they'd ever tracked. The 49ers 3,587 total offensive yards were the fewest of any team in 2005, and their 239 points scored were third-worst in the NFL. Despite finishing with the worst record in 2004, the 49ers ended up playing the second-toughest schedule that season as they played eight games against playoff teams which includes games against the top seeds in both conferences, the Seattle Seahawks and the Indianapolis Colts, and games against the Chicago Bears and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, both teams that the 49ers played due to finishing last in the NFC West the previous year and won their divisions.

San Francisco's 1,898 team passing yards in 2005 were the lowest such total in the decade of the 2000s.

The 49ers had the first pick in the 2005 draft, and selected Utah quarterback Alex Smith. The 49ers were in need of a quarterback, and the two top prospects at the position were Smith and Cal quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers, the second quarterback drafted, famously dropped to the 24th pick, and went to the Green Bay Packers, where he eventually won the Super Bowl XLV in 2010 and was voted league MVP in 2011 and 2014

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