The 49ers (6-8) host the Detroit Lions (2-12) at Candlestick Park for a 1:15 PT kickoff in the home stretch run.
Drew Stanton is expected to start at quarterback for Detroit in place of the rookie Matthew Stafford. Maurice Morris runs the ball. Calvin Johnson leads the receivers. Alex Smith starts for the 49ers; Frank Gore the lead back. Vernon Davis the tight end. Michael Crabtree continues development.
A 2-12 Detroit Lions team comes to Candlestick Sunday afternoon. The 49ers (6-8) host the kind of late-December home game where the path to 8-8, the first non-losing season since 2002, is in the kind of opponent the team should handle.
Alex Smith stays the starter. Frank Gore at running back. Vernon Davis as the team's tight-end record holder. Drew Stanton is the Lions' likely starter with rookie Matthew Stafford on the injury report. The kind of home game where a 49ers win moves the team into the year-end 8-8 conversation.
Favored by 11 at home. The kind of December home game where the team gets to put together the kind of complete-team performance the 8-8 finish needs.
Week 16 across the NFC sees the playoff field nearly set. The Saints (13-1), Vikings (11-3), Cowboys, Eagles, Cardinals, Packers, and Falcons compete for top seeds and the final wild-card spot. The 49ers (6-8) are functionally eliminated but still alive for the first 8-8 finish since 2002. The Sunday game is the kind of week where, against a 2-12 Lions team, the 49ers handle business and finish the year with a season-closing road game at the Rams.
Through fourteen games the 49ers are 6-8 with a +13 point differential. Alex Smith averages 6.6 yards per attempt with 13 TDs and 11 INTs. Frank Gore averages 78 rushing yards per game. Vernon Davis has 12 receiving TDs (NFL TE leader). The defense allows 18.2 points a game. The Lions are 2-12 with Drew Stanton averaging 130 passing yards a game. Matthew Stafford on injury report. Maurice Morris averages 40 rushing yards a game. Calvin Johnson leads the team in catches. Vegas opens the 49ers as 11-point home favorites; total 41.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots | 9-5 | W2 |
| Miami Dolphins | 7-7 | L1 |
| New York Jets | 7-7 | L1 |
| Buffalo Bills | 5-9 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals | 9-5 | L2 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 8-6 | W2 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 7-7 | W1 |
| Cleveland Browns | 3-11 | W2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis Colts | 14-0 | W14 |
| Houston Texans | 7-7 | W2 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 7-7 | L2 |
| Tennessee Titans | 7-7 | W2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego Chargers | 11-3 | W9 |
| Denver Broncos | 8-6 | L2 |
| Oakland Raiders | 5-9 | W1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 3-11 | L4 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona Cardinals | 9-5 | -- |
| San Francisco 49ers | 6-8 | L1 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 5-9 | L2 |
| St. Louis Rams | 1-13 | L6 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia Eagles | 10-4 | W5 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 9-5 | W1 |
| New York Giants | 8-6 | W1 |
| Washington Redskins | 4-10 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings | 11-3 | L1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 9-5 | L1 |
| Chicago Bears | 5-9 | L2 |
| Detroit Lions | 2-12 | L4 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans Saints | 13-1 | L1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 7-7 | W1 |
| Carolina Panthers | 6-8 | W1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 2-12 | W1 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Lions | Jason Hanson 27 yard field goal | 3-0 |
| 49ers | Ricky Schmitt 33 yard field goal | 3-3 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Ricky Schmitt 39 yard field goal | 3-6 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Vernon Davis 2 yard pass from Alex Smith ( Ricky Schmitt kick) | 3-13 |
| 49ers | Frank Gore 1 yard rush ( Ricky Schmitt kick) | 3-20 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Lions | Jason Hanson 38 yard field goal | 6-20 |
Frank Gore ran for 71 yards and a touchdown and the 49ers beat the Detroit Lions 20-6 at Candlestick Park. Alex Smith threw for 230 yards and a touchdown to Vernon Davis (his 13th of the year, tying the NFL TE record). Crabtree caught seven for 102. The defense intercepted Drew Stanton three times. The 49ers improved to 7-8 and stayed alive for an 8-8 finish.[1][2][3]
Frank Gore ran for 71 yards and a touchdown Sunday afternoon at Candlestick. Vernon Davis caught his 13th touchdown reception of the season, tying the NFL single-season tight-end record. The 49ers beat the Detroit Lions 20-6 in the kind of late-December home win where the team's year-closing path to 8-8 stayed open.
Alex Smith threw for 230 yards and the TD. Crabtree caught seven for 102. The defense intercepted Drew Stanton three times and held the Lions to two field goals. Patrick Willis with double-digit tackles.
7-8. The kind of home win that, against a 2-12 team, was the easy ticket to the year's first non-losing argument. The St. Louis Rams on the road next Sunday for the finale. A 49ers win at St. Louis closes the season at 8-8, the first non-losing record since 2002. Singletary's first full year stays on track for what he promised in spring camp.
49ers 20, Lions 6. Margin: +14. Fifteen-game record: 7-8, +27 differential.
* Frank Gore: 28 carries for 71, 1 TD.
* Alex Smith: 20-of-31 for 230, 1 TD (Davis), 0 INTs, 97.5 rating.
* Vernon Davis: 4 catches for 81, 1 TD (13th of season; ties NFL TE record).
* Michael Crabtree: 7 catches for 102.
* 49ers D: 3 INTs of Drew Stanton.
* Drew Stanton: 11-of-21 for 130, 0 TD, 3 INTs.
* Maurice Morris: 18 carries for 37.
* 49ers 7-8; Lions 2-13.
A 20-6 home win over the Detroit Lions at Candlestick. The 49ers improve to 7-8 and stay alive for an 8-8 finish.
How it unfolded
Detroit kicked a field goal on its opening drive. The 49ers answered with a Joe Nedney field goal. The second quarter was a Smith touchdown pass to Vernon Davis to make it 10-3 at halftime. The third quarter was a Frank Gore short touchdown run to push the lead to 17-3, then a Nedney field goal to make it 20-3. The fourth quarter was a Detroit field goal to close it 20-6. The defense intercepted Stanton three times.
The turning point
Vernon Davis's second-quarter touchdown that tied the NFL tight-end single-season TD record at 13. With the score 3-3 and the 49ers needing to take the lead, Davis's touchdown gave them the lead they never gave back.
By the numbers
Smith 230 passing on 31 attempts with a TD and no INTs. Davis 81 receiving on 4 catches with the record-tying TD. Crabtree 102 receiving on 7 catches. Gore 71 rushing on 28 carries with a TD. Stanton 130 passing on 21 attempts with three INTs. Maurice Morris 37 rushing.
Personnel watch
Vernon Davis ties the NFL single-season TE TD record. Alex Smith's most efficient passing day of the year. The defense's three interceptions. Patrick Willis the leading tackler. The kind of late-December home win where the team played the kind of football a 8-8 finish would require.
What it means
7-8 with the Rams on the road next Sunday. A 49ers win closes the season at 8-8, the team's first non-losing record since 2002. The kind of game where the year's identity, against a beaten-down opponent, looked like the kind of team Singletary wants to coach. The Davis record-tying touchdown puts the season's TE production into the NFL record book conversation.
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Alex Smith | 20/31 | 230 | 1 | 0 | |
| DET | |||||
| Drew Stanton | 11/21 | 130 | 0 | 3 | |
| Daunte Culpepper | 7/12 | 51 | 0 | 0 | |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Frank Gore | 28 | 71 | 1 | 15 |
| Josh Morgan | 1 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| Alex Smith | 3 | -3 | 0 | -1 |
| DET | ||||
| Maurice Morris | 18 | 37 | 0 | 9 |
| Calvin Johnson | 2 | 32 | 0 | 19 |
| Drew Stanton | 6 | 23 | 0 | 11 |
| Daunte Culpepper | 2 | 16 | 0 | 12 |
| Derrick Williams | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Jerome Felton | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Aaron Brown | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Frank Gore | 4 | 81 | 0 | 48 |
| Michael Crabtree | 4 | 68 | 0 | 50 |
| Delanie Walker | 3 | 36 | 0 | 22 |
| Josh Morgan | 4 | 21 | 0 | 7 |
| Vernon Davis | 3 | 18 | 1 | 14 |
| Michael Robinson | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Moran Norris | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| DET | ||||
| Calvin Johnson | 7 | 96 | 0 | 30 |
| Maurice Morris | 4 | 29 | 0 | 14 |
| Will Heller | 3 | 22 | 0 | 16 |
| Bryant Johnson | 2 | 18 | 0 | 13 |
| Jake Nordin | 1 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| Jerome Felton | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
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