49ers at St. Louis Rams

Frank Gore ran for 107 yards on 23 carries with two touchdowns and the 49ers beat the St. Louis Rams 28-6 at the Edward Jones Dome to close the season at 8-8. Alex Smith threw for 222 and a touchdown to Vernon Davis (Davis's 13th of the year). The defense intercepted Keith Null twice and held the Rams to two field goals. The 49ers finished 8-8, their first non-losing season since 2002.[1][2][3]

Frank Gore ran for 107 yards and two touchdowns Sunday morning at the Edward Jones Dome. The 49ers beat the St. Louis Rams 28-6 in the kind of season-finale road win where the year's identity, against the league's worst team, produced the kind of full-team performance Mike Singletary's first full year deserved.

Vernon Davis caught his 13th receiving touchdown of the year, putting the season at 13 total receiving touchdowns and tying the NFL single-season tight-end record with Antonio Gates (2004). Alex Smith finished 17-of-28 for 222 with a 97.6 rating. The defense intercepted Keith Null twice. The kind of road finale where everything worked.

8-8. The franchise's first non-losing season since 2002. The kind of year-end finish where Singletary's first full year, after the post-Mike Nolan promotion, ended exactly where the team hoped it would. The offseason begins with a number one pick of the 17th overall. The kind of finish that has the offseason 2010 conversation pointed at adding receivers and tackles and a closer at quarterback. The kind of finale where the year's competitive identity, against the league's worst team, produced the kind of road finish the 49ers have not produced in seven years.

49ers 28, Rams 6. Margin: +22. Sixteen-game record: 8-8, +49 differential.

* Frank Gore: 23 carries for 107, 2 TDs.
* Alex Smith: 17-of-28 for 222, 1 TD (Davis), 0 INTs, 97.6 rating.
* Vernon Davis: 6 catches for 89, 1 TD (13th of season; ties NFL TE single-season TD record).
* 49ers D: 2 INTs of Keith Null.
* Keith Null: 7-of-17 for 57, 0 TD.
* Steven Jackson: 20 carries for 63.
* 49ers finish 8-8 (1st non-losing season since 2002); Rams 1-15.

A 28-6 season-finale road win over the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome. The 49ers finish 8-8, their first non-losing record since 2002.

How it unfolded

The Rams kicked a field goal on their opening drive. The 49ers answered with a Vernon Davis touchdown to make it 7-3 (his 13th of the year, tying the NFL TE single-season TD record). The second quarter was scoreless. The third quarter was a Frank Gore short touchdown run to make it 14-3, then another Gore touchdown to make it 21-3. The fourth quarter was a Rams field goal to make it 21-6, then a 49ers touchdown to close it 28-6.

The turning point

Vernon Davis's first-quarter touchdown that tied the NFL tight-end single-season TD record. With the game tied 3-3 and the season's TE storyline finally about to land, Davis's touchdown set the year's individual narrative and gave the 49ers the lead they never gave back.

By the numbers

Smith 222 passing on 28 attempts with a TD and no INTs. Davis 89 receiving on 6 catches with the record-tying TD. Crabtree 47 receiving on 4 catches. Gore 107 rushing on 23 carries with two TDs. Keith Null 57 passing on 17 attempts. Steven Jackson 63 rushing on 20 carries.

Personnel watch

Vernon Davis's 13th receiving touchdown of the season, tying the NFL TE single-season TD record. Frank Gore in his eighth 100-yard rushing game of the year. Alex Smith with the season-ending 97.6 rating, the kind of finish that gave Singletary's first year a sustainable QB1 conversation into the offseason. The defense's two interceptions.

What it means

8-8 with the offseason beginning. The team's first non-losing record since 2002. Vernon Davis's NFL TE TD record tying season. Frank Gore's eighth 100-yard rushing game. The kind of finale that gives Mike Singletary's first full year the right kind of year-end finish and a basis for the 2010 conversation. The offseason will be about adding receivers, tackles, and closing in on a real QB1 plan.