49ers vs. New York Jets

Shaun Hill threw two touchdown passes and the 49ers beat the New York Jets 24-14 at Candlestick Park. Hill finished 28-of-39 for 285 yards. Vernon Davis caught two for 65. Frank Gore ran for 33 yards. Brett Favre, in his first 49ers appearance, threw for 137 yards and an interception. Thomas Jones ran for 56 and a touchdown. The defense intercepted Favre once and held him without a touchdown. The 49ers improved to 5-8.[1][2][3]

Shaun Hill went 28-of-39 for 285 yards Sunday afternoon at Candlestick. The 49ers beat Brett Favre and the New York Jets 24-14 in the kind of home win where the Singletary interim era produced its second straight defensive masterpiece. Favre, in his first career 49ers appearance, threw for 137 with one interception and no touchdowns.

Vernon Davis caught two passes for 65 yards. Isaac Bruce caught six for 70. Frank Gore ran for 33 yards (out for parts of the game with a leg injury). DeShaun Foster, the offseason free-agent signing, came in and ran for 35 with the kind of backup contribution Mike Singletary's identity has produced. The defense generated five sacks.

5-8. The kind of home win where the Singletary interim era produced two consecutive defensive performances against name-quarterback opponents. The Miami Dolphins on the road next Sunday in another cross-conference matchup. Singletary's case for the permanent job is now actually about football rather than about the postgame press conference.

49ers 24, Jets 14. Margin: +10. Thirteen-game record: 5-8, -41 differential.

* Shaun Hill: 28-of-39 for 285, 2 TDs, 1 INT.
* Vernon Davis: 2 catches for 65.
* Frank Gore: 8 carries for 33 (limited; leg).
* DeShaun Foster: 16 carries for 35.
* Isaac Bruce: 6 catches for 70.
* Brett Favre: 20-of-31 for 137, 0 TDs, 1 INT.
* Thomas Jones: 10 carries for 56, 1 TD.
* 49ers D: 5 sacks of Favre.
* 49ers 5-8 (Singletary 3rd W); Jets 8-5.

A 24-14 home win over the New York Jets at Candlestick. Brett Favre makes his first 49ers appearance. The 49ers improve to 5-8.

How it unfolded

The 49ers scored on their second drive with a Shaun Hill touchdown pass to make it 7-0. The Jets answered with a Thomas Jones touchdown run to tie at 7-7. The 49ers added a Joe Nedney field goal to make it 10-7. The second quarter was another Hill touchdown to make it 17-7. The third quarter was scoreless. The fourth quarter was a 49ers touchdown to make it 24-7, then a late Jets touchdown to close it 24-14.

The turning point

The Shaun Hill second-quarter touchdown that pushed the lead to 17-7. With the score 10-7 and the Jets' offense looking for rhythm, the second touchdown gave the 49ers the kind of two-score lead the defense could close out against an interception-prone Brett Favre.

By the numbers

Hill 285 passing on 39 attempts with two TDs and an INT. Davis 65 receiving on 2 catches. Bruce 70 receiving on 6 catches. Gore 33 rushing on 8 carries (limited). DeShaun Foster 35 rushing on 16 carries. Favre 137 on 31 attempts with no TDs and an INT. Thomas Jones 56 rushing with a TD.

Personnel watch

Brett Favre in his first career 49ers appearance, the kind of veteran-quarterback game that the 49ers' defensive identity contained without a touchdown. Shaun Hill's two-touchdown passing day. DeShaun Foster as the change-of-pace back. The 49ers' defense in its second straight five-plus-sack performance. Vernon Davis quietly productive (2 catches for 65).

What it means

5-8 with the Dolphins on the road next Sunday. The kind of home win where the defense produced two consecutive masterpieces and Singletary's interim era now has the kind of football tape that builds a case for the permanent job. The 49ers' kicking and turnover game has been the season's actual identity in December.