The 49ers (3-10) host the Cincinnati Bengals (5-8) at Candlestick Park for a 1:15 PT kickoff.
Carson Palmer starts at quarterback for Cincinnati. Kenny Watson runs the ball with Rudi Johnson on the injury report. Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh lead the receivers. Shaun Hill starts again for the 49ers; Frank Gore at running back; Darrell Jackson at receiver.
Carson Palmer and the Cincinnati Bengals (5-8) come to Candlestick Sunday afternoon. The 49ers (3-10) host the kind of mid-tier AFC opponent the year's home stretch produces. The Bengals come in with Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh as one of the league's more productive receiving duos.
Shaun Hill stays the starter after his debut start. Frank Gore the lead back. Darrell Jackson the WR1. The kind of home game where 4-10 keeps the year's identity tape going with two games to play.
Favored by Cincinnati by 3 on the road. The kind of home game where the new starter's second start, against a beatable AFC team, can produce a real win.
Week 15 across the NFC sees the playoff field nearly set. The Cowboys, Packers, Bears, Giants, Saints, Buccaneers, Vikings, and Eagles compete for division titles and wild-card spots. The 49ers (3-10) are functionally eliminated. The Sunday game is the kind of week where Shaun Hill's second start, against an AFC opponent, can put the year's identity tape into the kind of credible-finish range the offseason conversation requires.
Through thirteen games the 49ers are 3-10 with a -141 point differential. Shaun Hill posted a 93.0 rating in his debut start (22-of-27, one TD, no INTs). Frank Gore averages 60 rushing yards a game with five TDs. Vernon Davis averages 60 receiving yards a game with four TDs. The defense allows 25.4 points per game. The Bengals are 5-8 with Carson Palmer averaging 270 passing yards a game and 18 TDs/14 INTs. Kenny Watson averages 50 rushing yards a game. Vegas opens Cincinnati as 3-point road favorites; total 43.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots | 13-0 | W13 |
| Buffalo Bills | 7-6 | W2 |
| New York Jets | 3-10 | L1 |
| Miami Dolphins | 0-13 | L13 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 9-4 | L1 |
| Cleveland Browns | 8-5 | W1 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 5-8 | W1 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 4-9 | L7 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis Colts | 11-2 | W4 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 9-4 | W1 |
| Tennessee Titans | 7-6 | L1 |
| Houston Texans | 6-7 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego Chargers | 8-5 | W3 |
| Denver Broncos | 6-7 | W1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 4-9 | L6 |
| Oakland Raiders | 4-9 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle Seahawks | 9-4 | W5 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 6-7 | -- |
| St. Louis Rams | 3-10 | L1 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 3-10 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 12-1 | W7 |
| New York Giants | 9-4 | W2 |
| Washington Redskins | 6-7 | W1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 5-8 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Green Bay Packers | 11-2 | W1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 7-6 | W4 |
| Detroit Lions | 6-7 | L5 |
| Chicago Bears | 5-8 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 8-5 | L1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 6-7 | W1 |
| Carolina Panthers | 5-8 | L1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 3-10 | L4 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| No scoring this quarter. | ||
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Shaun Hill 3 yard rush ( Joe Nedney kick) | 0-7 |
| Bengals | Shayne Graham 24 yard field goal | 3-7 |
| Bengals | Chris Henry 52 yard pass from Carson Palmer ( Shayne Graham kick) | 10-7 |
| 49ers | Vernon Davis 17 yard pass from Shaun Hill ( Joe Nedney kick) | 10-14 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Joe Nedney 29 yard field goal | 10-17 |
| 49ers | Joe Nedney 38 yard field goal | 10-20 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Bengals | Shayne Graham 35 yard field goal | 13-20 |
Frank Gore ran for 138 yards on 29 carries and the 49ers beat the Cincinnati Bengals 20-13 at Candlestick Park. Shaun Hill threw for 197 yards and a touchdown. Darrell Jackson caught eight for 86. Carson Palmer threw for 252 with a touchdown. Kenny Watson ran for 33 yards. The 49ers' defense produced multiple sacks. The 49ers improved to 4-10 with the home win.[1][2][3]
Frank Gore ran for 138 yards Sunday afternoon at Candlestick. The 49ers' lead back, in his career-high rushing game of the year, produced the kind of grind-it-out home performance the Mike Nolan offense was supposed to be built around. The 49ers beat the Cincinnati Bengals 20-13 in the kind of cross-conference home win where the year's identity tape, in its second-to-last game, finally landed.
Shaun Hill threw for 197 with a touchdown. Darrell Jackson caught eight for 86, his most productive game of the year. Vernon Davis caught two for 22. The defense generated multiple sacks of Carson Palmer.
4-10. The kind of home win where the new starter's second start, with Frank Gore producing his career-best 138 rushing, gave the year's identity tape the kind of evaluation moment the staff needed. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers come to Candlestick next Sunday on the Christmas-week schedule. The Hill audition is now actually building a case.
49ers 20, Bengals 13. Margin: +7. Fourteen-game record: 4-10, -134 differential.
* Shaun Hill: 21-of-28 for 197, 1 TD, 0 INTs.
* Frank Gore: 29 carries for 138 (season high).
* Darrell Jackson: 8 catches for 86.
* Vernon Davis: 2 catches for 22.
* Carson Palmer: 19-of-31 for 252, 1 TD, 0 INTs.
* Kenny Watson: 8 carries for 33.
* 49ers D: multiple sacks of Palmer.
* 49ers 4-10 (Hill 1st W); Bengals 5-9.
A 20-13 cross-conference home win over the Cincinnati Bengals at Candlestick. Shaun Hill earns his first start win. The 49ers improve to 4-10.
How it unfolded
The 49ers scored on their opening drive with a Joe Nedney field goal. Cincinnati answered with a Palmer touchdown to make it 7-3. The 49ers added two more Nedney field goals in the second quarter to make it 9-7. The second half was a Frank Gore short touchdown run to push the lead to 16-7, then a Hill touchdown to make it 20-7. The Bengals added a field goal and a late touchdown to close it 20-13.
The turning point
Frank Gore's second-half touchdown run. With the 49ers up 9-7 at halftime and the Bengals' offense still operating, Gore's score gave the team the two-score cushion the defense used to close out the win.
By the numbers
Hill 197 passing on 28 attempts with a TD and no INTs. Gore 138 rushing on 29 carries. Darrell Jackson 86 receiving on 8 catches. Davis 22 receiving on 2 catches. Palmer 252 on 31 attempts with a TD. Kenny Watson 33 rushing.
Personnel watch
Frank Gore's career-high 138 rushing in 2007. Shaun Hill's clean game (no INTs). Darrell Jackson's most productive game of the year. The defense's multiple sacks of Palmer. The kind of home win where the new starter's audition produced an actual football team's worth of football.
What it means
4-10 with the Buccaneers at home next Sunday. The kind of home win where Shaun Hill's audition is now actually building a case for the starter role going into 2008. Frank Gore's career-best rushing day. The kind of late-December where, even at 4-10, the year's identity tape has the kind of competitive performance the offseason conversation needs.
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Shaun Hill | 21/28 | 197 | 1 | 0 | |
| CIN | |||||
| Carson Palmer | 19/31 | 252 | 1 | 0 | |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Frank Gore | 29 | 138 | 0 | 20 |
| Shaun Hill | 5 | 12 | 1 | 12 |
| Maurice Hicks | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Moran Norris | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| CIN | ||||
| Kenny Watson | 8 | 33 | 0 | 8 |
| Rudi Johnson | 7 | 16 | 0 | 9 |
| De Dorsey | 2 | 11 | 0 | 8 |
| Carson Palmer | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Darrell Jackson | 8 | 86 | 0 | 19 |
| Vernon Davis | 5 | 46 | 1 | 17 |
| Arnaz Battle | 2 | 23 | 0 | 17 |
| Maurice Hicks | 2 | 17 | 0 | 10 |
| Delanie Walker | 2 | 13 | 0 | 7 |
| Frank Gore | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| Michael Robinson | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| CIN | ||||
| Chad Johnson | 6 | 78 | 0 | 25 |
| T.J. Houshmandzadeh | 5 | 62 | 0 | 18 |
| Chris Henry | 1 | 52 | 1 | 52 |
| Daniel Coats | 1 | 25 | 0 | 25 |
| Kenny Watson | 4 | 21 | 0 | 13 |
| Rudi Johnson | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Antonio Chatman | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
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Find the thread Start the threadCanonical title: [Rewatch Party] 2007 W15 - 49ers vs Cincinnati Bengals - Game Thread
