Sloppy Win Still a Treat for the 49ers

SAN FRANCISCO —  Sloppy and ugly.

That’s how the San Francisco 49ers described their effort Sunday against the San Diego Chargers and they’ll take it because it was good enough for a 17-10 victory--their team-record 11th in a row.

“When you win as many times as we have, sometimes you get a little sloppy, but good teams find a way to win,” San Francisco linebacker Ken Norton Jr. said. “That’s the statement this team is making. We’re winning the games we’re supposed to win.”

Unlike the last time the teams met, when San Francisco’s precision offense blew out the Chargers, 49-26, in Super Bowl XXIX, the 49ers needed their defense to bail them out.

“We are happy with the win but we know that we have played better and we can play better and we must play better to beat some of the teams that are coming up,” San Francisco Coach Steve Mariucci said. “Call it, ‘Win ugly.’ I guess we’ve done that a few times this year, haven’t we? But we’ll certainly take it.”

Steve Young threw for two touchdowns and Merton Hanks’ two interceptions led to 10 points as the 49ers, who clinched the NFC West title Nov. 16, stayed on pace to claim home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Offensively, the 49ers sputtered for the most part and even surrendered a touchdown when cornerback Paul Bradford picked up Garrison Hearst’s fumble and returned it 78 yards.

But the Chargers (4-8) made virtually no headway against the 49ers’ top-ranked defense with 203 total yards.

Craig Whelihan, making his third NFL start because Stan Humphries and Jim Everett are injured, threw three interceptions before being replaced by Todd Philcox. San Diego also was without starting running back Gary Brown, deactivated because of an injury to his right knee.