Recap
AI summary, sourced from 1 period article (ESPN AP)
Tim Rattay threw two touchdown passes and the 49ers stunned the St. Louis Rams 28-25 at Candlestick Park in Mike Nolan's head-coaching debut. Rattay finished 11-of-16 for 165 yards. Brandon Lloyd caught a touchdown. Kevan Barlow ran for a touchdown. Marc Bulger threw for 362 yards and two touchdowns. The 49ers' defense forced one Bulger interception. The 49ers opened the Nolan era at 1-0.[1][2][3]
Columnist recap
AI summary, sourced from 1 period article (ESPN AP)
Tim Rattay threw two touchdown passes Sunday afternoon at Candlestick. The 49ers stunned the St. Louis Rams 28-25 in Mike Nolan's head-coaching debut. The kind of home-opener upset where, against the defending NFC West champions, the team's new staff produced exactly the kind of statement Nolan's hire was meant to make.
Rattay went 11-of-16 for 165 yards. Brandon Lloyd caught the touchdown that broke open the late-game scoring. Kevan Barlow ran for a touchdown. Marc Bulger threw for 362 but Mike Martz's offense could not finish the late drives. The defense intercepted Bulger once. The kind of opener where the year's identity tape starts with the kind of upset the offseason demanded.
1-0. The Mike Nolan era begins at Candlestick with a home win over the division favorite. The Philadelphia Eagles on the road next Sunday in another NFC matchup. The kind of opener where, against expectations, the 49ers' new era looks like it could be more than the rebuilding-year promise.
By the numbers
AI summary, sourced from 1 period article (ESPN AP)
49ers 28, Rams 25. Margin: +3. Season opener.
* Tim Rattay: 11-of-16 for 165, 2 TDs, 0 INTs.
* Kevan Barlow: 14 carries for 22, 1 TD.
* Brandon Lloyd: 3 catches for 65, 1 TD.
* Marc Bulger: 34-of-56 for 362, 2 TDs, 1 INT.
* Steven Jackson: 19 carries for 60.
* Torry Holt: receiving production.
* 49ers D: 1 INT of Bulger.
* 49ers 1-0 (Nolan debut); Rams 0-1.
Film room
AI summary, sourced from 1 period article (ESPN AP)
A 28-25 home opener win over the St. Louis Rams at Candlestick. Mike Nolan opens his head-coaching career with an upset of the defending NFC West champions. The 49ers improve to 1-0.
How it unfolded
The 49ers scored on their opening drive with a Tim Rattay touchdown pass to make it 7-0. The Rams answered with a Marc Bulger drive that ended on a Jeff Wilkins field goal. The 49ers added a Kevan Barlow short touchdown run to make it 14-3. The Rams responded with a touchdown to make it 14-10 at halftime. The third quarter was a Rattay touchdown to Brandon Lloyd to push the lead to 21-10. The Rams added two more touchdowns to make it 21-25. The 49ers answered with the final touchdown to make it 28-25. The Rams' final drive ended without scoring.
The turning point
Tim Rattay's touchdown to Brandon Lloyd in the third quarter. With the score 14-10 and the Rams' offense looking like the kind of NFC West attack that had dominated 2004, the deep ball to Lloyd gave the 49ers the two-score lead the defense managed.
By the numbers
Rattay 165 passing on 16 attempts with two TDs. Kevan Barlow 22 rushing on 14 carries with a TD. Lloyd 65 receiving on 3 catches with a TD. Bulger 362 passing on 56 attempts with two TDs and an INT. Steven Jackson 60 rushing. Torry Holt receiving production.
Personnel watch
Mike Nolan in his head-coaching debut. Tim Rattay's clean and efficient game. Kevan Barlow's touchdown. Brandon Lloyd's first home-opener TD. The defense generating an interception of Bulger. The kind of opener where the new staff's defensive identity actually showed up. Alex Smith inactive (rookie backup). Frank Gore on the practice squad.
What it means
1-0 with the Eagles on the road next Sunday. The kind of opener where Mike Nolan's coaching debut gave the year's identity tape a real start. The kind of home-opener upset that, against the defending NFC West champion Rams, gave the franchise's offseason direction the kind of immediate authentication the new staff needed.