The 49ers (0-1) travel to the Edward Jones Dome for a 10:00 PT kickoff against the St. Louis Rams (1-0).
Marc Bulger starts at quarterback for the Rams. Steven Jackson runs the ball. Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce lead the receivers. Alex Smith starts for the 49ers; Frank Gore at running back; Antonio Bryant at receiver.
Marc Bulger and the 1-0 St. Louis Rams host the 49ers Sunday morning at the Edward Jones Dome. The kind of division road game where Norv Turner's new offense, off the home-opener loss to Arizona, faces a Rams team that has been the NFC West's offensive standard.
Alex Smith stays the starter. Frank Gore the lead back. Antonio Bryant the WR1. Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce will challenge a 49ers secondary that surrendered three TDs to Warner last week.
Favored by the Rams by 4.5 at home. The kind of division road game where 1-1 keeps the year alive.
Week 2 across the NFC, the early-season sort begins. The Cowboys, Bears, Eagles, and Giants lead the conference contender talk. Inside the NFC West, the Rams (1-0) lead with a Week 1 win; the Cardinals (1-0) also lead. The Seahawks open Monday Night. The 49ers (0-1) trail. Around the AFC the Patriots, Colts, and Steelers dominate. The Sunday road game is the kind of week where a 49ers division road win, against a higher-rated opponent, would establish the year's competitive identity.
Through one game the 49ers are 0-1 with a -7 point differential. Alex Smith averaged 7.2 yards per attempt in the opener with one TD. Frank Gore averaged 5.4 yards per carry with two TDs. Antonio Bryant produced 114 receiving in his debut. The defense allowed 34 points. The Rams are 1-0 with Marc Bulger averaging 220 passing yards in the opener. Steven Jackson averaged 4.5 yards per carry. Torry Holt led the team in receiving. Vegas opens St. Louis as 4.5-point home favorites; total 47.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots | 1-0 | W1 |
| New York Jets | 1-0 | W1 |
| Buffalo Bills | 0-1 | L1 |
| Miami Dolphins | 0-1 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Ravens | 1-0 | W1 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 1-0 | W1 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 1-0 | W1 |
| Cleveland Browns | 0-1 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis Colts | 1-0 | W1 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 1-0 | W1 |
| Houston Texans | 0-1 | L1 |
| Tennessee Titans | 0-1 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego Chargers | 1-0 | W1 |
| Denver Broncos | 0-1 | L1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 0-1 | L1 |
| Oakland Raiders | 0-1 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona Cardinals | 1-0 | -- |
| St. Louis Rams | 1-0 | W1 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 1-0 | W1 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 0-1 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia Eagles | 1-0 | W1 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 0-1 | L1 |
| New York Giants | 0-1 | L1 |
| Washington Redskins | 0-1 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 1-0 | W1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 1-0 | W1 |
| Detroit Lions | 0-1 | L1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 0-1 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Falcons | 1-0 | W1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 1-0 | W1 |
| Carolina Panthers | 0-1 | L1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 0-1 | L1 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Joe Nedney 32 yard field goal | 0-3 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Rams | Jeff Wilkins 49 yard field goal | 3-3 |
| Rams | Torry Holt 3 yard pass from Marc Bulger ( Jeff Wilkins kick) | 10-3 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Frank Gore 32 yard rush ( Joe Nedney kick) | 10-10 |
| 49ers | Antonio Bryant 72 yard pass from Alex Smith ( Joe Nedney kick) | 10-17 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Rams | Jeff Wilkins 40 yard field goal | 13-17 |
| 49ers | Joe Nedney 20 yard field goal | 13-20 |
Frank Gore ran for 127 yards on 29 carries with a touchdown and the 49ers beat the St. Louis Rams 20-13 at the Edward Jones Dome. Alex Smith threw for 233 yards and a touchdown. Antonio Bryant caught four for 131 with a touchdown. Marc Bulger threw for 185. Steven Jackson ran for 103. The 49ers' defense intercepted Bulger once. The 49ers improved to 1-1 with the road division win.[1][2][3]
Frank Gore ran for 127 yards Sunday morning in St. Louis. The 49ers' new lead back, in his second straight strong week, produced the kind of grind-it-out road performance the new Norv Turner offense was designed for. The 49ers beat the St. Louis Rams 20-13.
Antonio Bryant caught four for 131 yards and a touchdown. Alex Smith threw for 233 with a touchdown. Vernon Davis caught one for 27. The defense intercepted Marc Bulger once and held Steven Jackson to 103 yards (no TDs). The kind of division road win where everything the new offense was hired to do actually worked.
1-1. The kind of road win that, against an NFC West rival on the road, gives Mike Nolan's second year its first credible result. The Philadelphia Eagles come to Candlestick next Sunday in a cross-conference home game. The kind of week where the 49ers' season is officially on the right side of the standings two weeks in.
49ers 20, Rams 13. Margin: +7. Two-game record: 1-1, +0 differential.
* Alex Smith: 11-of-22 for 233, 1 TD, 0 INTs.
* Frank Gore: 29 carries for 127, 1 TD.
* Antonio Bryant: 4 catches for 131, 1 TD.
* Marc Bulger: 19-of-34 for 185, 1 TD, 0 INTs (DRP: stalls).
* Steven Jackson: 22 carries for 103.
* 49ers D: 1 INT of Bulger.
* 49ers 1-1; Rams 1-1.
A 20-13 division road win at the Edward Jones Dome. The 49ers improve to 1-1.
How it unfolded
The Rams scored on their opening drive with a Bulger touchdown to make it 7-0. The 49ers answered with a Frank Gore short touchdown to tie at 7-7. The 49ers added a Joe Nedney field goal to make it 10-7 at halftime. The third quarter was a Smith touchdown pass to Antonio Bryant to push the lead to 17-7. The Rams added a touchdown to make it 17-13. The 49ers added a Nedney field goal in the fourth quarter to make it 20-13. The defense closed it out with an interception of Bulger on the final possession.
The turning point
The Smith-to-Bryant touchdown in the third quarter. With the score 10-7 and the Rams' offense looking to take the lead, the deep ball to the new WR1 gave the 49ers the two-score cushion they used to manage the rest of the road game.
By the numbers
Smith 233 passing on 22 attempts with a TD. Gore 127 rushing on 29 carries with a TD. Antonio Bryant 131 receiving on 4 catches with the TD. Vernon Davis 27 receiving on 1 catch. Bulger 185 on 34 attempts with a TD. Jackson 103 rushing.
Personnel watch
Frank Gore's second straight 100-yard rushing game as the new lead back. Antonio Bryant's continued breakout as the WR1. Alex Smith's clean game in his second start. Patrick Willis (rookie) not yet on the roster (he was drafted in 2007). The Norv Turner offense producing in its second look.
What it means
1-1 with the Eagles at home next Sunday. The kind of division road win that gives the second-year coaching staff its first credible NFC West road performance. Frank Gore's identity as the lead back is now established. Antonio Bryant continues looking like the WR1 the offseason free-agency hoped for.
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Alex Smith | 11/22 | 233 | 1 | 0 | |
| STL | |||||
| Marc Bulger | 19/34 | 185 | 1 | 0 | |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Frank Gore | 29 | 127 | 1 | 32 |
| Michael Robinson | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Alex Smith | 3 | -1 | 0 | 1 |
| STL | ||||
| Steven Jackson | 22 | 103 | 0 | 14 |
| Stephen Davis | 5 | 16 | 0 | 6 |
| Marc Bulger | 1 | -1 | 0 | -1 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Antonio Bryant | 4 | 131 | 1 | 72 |
| Arnaz Battle | 3 | 78 | 0 | 56 |
| Bryan Gilmore | 1 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| Frank Gore | 2 | 10 | 0 | 13 |
| Chris Hetherington | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| STL | ||||
| Isaac Bruce | 5 | 77 | 0 | 24 |
| Joe Klopfenstein | 2 | 34 | 0 | 23 |
| Torry Holt | 5 | 30 | 1 | 16 |
| Steven Jackson | 2 | 21 | 0 | 19 |
| Kevin Curtis | 3 | 13 | 0 | 6 |
| Shaun McDonald | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| Stephen Davis | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
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Find the thread Start the threadCanonical title: [Rewatch Party] 2006 W2 - 49ers vs St. Louis Rams - Game Thread
