49ers vs. St. Louis Rams

Tim Rattay threw for 236 yards and three touchdowns and the 49ers crushed the St. Louis Rams 30-10 at Candlestick Park. Rattay finished 19-of-29 in his first start. Garrison Hearst ran for 80. Fred Beasley caught three for 46. The 49ers' defense intercepted Marc Bulger twice. The 49ers improved to 4-5 in Tim Rattay's first start.[1][2][3]

Tim Rattay threw three touchdown passes Sunday afternoon at Candlestick in his first NFL start of the year. The 49ers crushed the St. Louis Rams 30-10 in the kind of division home blowout where, with the backup quarterback's debut producing three TDs and a 113.0 rating, the year's identity tape produced one of its best games.

Rattay was 19-of-29 for 236 with the three touchdowns and an interception. Garrison Hearst ran for 80. Fred Beasley caught three for 46. Terrell Owens caught five for 65. The defense intercepted Marc Bulger twice. The kind of home blowout where everything the year's competitive identity has been promising actually worked.

4-5. The kind of division home blowout where Tim Rattay's first start gave the year's identity tape its second statement game of the year. The team is now in the kind of NFC West conversation the season was hoping for. The Pittsburgh Steelers on the road in Week 11 (bye next week). The kind of November where the year's identity tape has the chance to continue building.

49ers 30, Rams 10. Margin: +20. Nine-game record: 4-5, +50 differential.

* Tim Rattay: 19-of-29 for 236, 3 TDs (Beasley + 2), 1 INT (1st 2003 start).
* Garrison Hearst: 17 carries for 80.
* Fred Beasley: 3 catches for 46.
* Marc Bulger: 26-of-42 for 378, 1 TD, 2 INTs.
* Arlen Harris: 8 carries for 9.
* Torry Holt: receiving production.
* 49ers D: 2 INTs of Bulger.
* 49ers 4-5 (Rattay debut W); Rams 5-4.

A 30-10 division home blowout over the St. Louis Rams at Candlestick. Tim Rattay throws three touchdown passes in his first start. The 49ers improve to 4-5.

How it unfolded

The 49ers scored on their opening drive with a Rattay touchdown to make it 7-0. The Rams answered with a field goal to make it 7-3. Rattay threw a second touchdown to push the lead to 14-3. The second quarter was a Joe Nedney field goal that made it 17-3, then a Rattay third touchdown to make it 24-3 at halftime. The third quarter was a Rams touchdown to make it 24-10. The fourth quarter was two more 49ers field goals to close it 30-10. The defense produced two interceptions of Bulger.

The turning point

Tim Rattay's first-half touchdown production. With the backup quarterback producing three touchdowns by halftime, the kind of debut performance the year's QB1 question had been waiting for, Rattay's first start gave the 49ers the kind of two-score lead the defense closed out.

By the numbers

Rattay 236 passing on 29 attempts with three TDs and an INT. Hearst 80 rushing on 17 carries. Fred Beasley 46 receiving on 3 catches. Terrell Owens 65 receiving on 5 catches. Bulger 378 on 42 attempts with a TD and two INTs. Arlen Harris 9 rushing.

Personnel watch

Tim Rattay's first start producing three touchdown passes. The kind of debut performance that has the staff's evaluation of the QB1 position now actually about the post-Garcia future. Garrison Hearst's productive day. The defense's two interceptions of Bulger. The kind of division home blowout where the year's identity tape produced its second statement game.

What it means

4-5 with the bye next week. The kind of division home blowout that gives Tim Rattay's debut start the kind of evidence that he could be the starter going forward. The kind of November where the year's identity tape, with the bye-week reset, can produce a stretch of competitive games.