49ers vs. St. Louis Rams

Troy Smith threw for 356 yards and a touchdown in his second start and the 49ers beat the St. Louis Rams 23-20 at Candlestick Park. Frank Gore ran for 87 yards and a touchdown. Delanie Walker caught four for 80. The 49ers led 17-13 in the fourth quarter. Sam Bradford threw a touchdown to tie it at 20. A Joe Nedney field goal won it for the 49ers. The 49ers improved to 3-6 inside the NFC West.[1][2][3]

Troy Smith threw for 356 yards Sunday afternoon at Candlestick. The 49ers' new starter, in his second NFL start in two weeks, beat Sam Bradford and the St. Louis Rams 23-20 in the kind of NFC West home game where the division leader's bullet at the 49ers' season went wide.

Smith was 17-of-28 for 356 with a touchdown and a 116.7 rating. The kind of pass-game production the position has not produced for the franchise in a decade. Frank Gore added 87 rushing and a touchdown. Delanie Walker caught four for 80. Vernon Davis quiet but Crabtree productive. Joe Nedney made the late field goal that broke a 20-20 tie.

The kind of home win that, at 3-6 in the NFC West, would make a team in any other division still a long shot. In this division at this point, it is the architecture of an argument. Bay Area football still has competitive football to watch. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers come to town next Sunday. The kind of road back, theoretical as it is, runs through home games against beatable opponents.

49ers 23, Rams 20. Margin: +3. Nine-game record: 3-6, -38 differential.

* Troy Smith: 17-of-28 for 356, 1 TD, 0 INTs, 116.7 rating (2nd start).
* Frank Gore: 22 carries for 87, 1 TD.
* Delanie Walker: 4 catches for 80.
* Joe Nedney: game-winning FG in 4Q.
* Sam Bradford: 30-of-42 for 251, 1 TD.
* Steven Jackson: 20 carries for 81, 1 TD.
* 49ers 3-6 (still 1 game out of NFC West lead); Rams 4-5.

A 23-20 home win over the St. Louis Rams at Candlestick. The 49ers improve to 3-6 and stay one game out of the NFC West lead.

How it unfolded

The 49ers opened with a touchdown drive that ended on a Frank Gore run to make it 7-0. The Rams answered with a Josh Brown field goal. The second quarter went Joe Nedney field goal, then a long Sam Bradford-to-Danny Amendola touchdown to tie at 10. The third quarter was a Bradford touchdown run that put the Rams up 17-10. The 49ers answered with a Troy Smith touchdown to Delanie Walker on a deep ball to make it 17-17. A Brown field goal put the Rams up 20-17. Troy Smith led a long drive to tie at 20-20. Then a final Smith drive into Nedney range produced the winning field goal in the final minute.

The turning point

Troy Smith's deep touchdown to Delanie Walker in the third quarter. With the 49ers down 17-10 and the offense unable to break through against the Rams' defensive front, the deep ball, the kind of play Smith's first start at Denver had hinted at, gave the 49ers the kind of strike-and-tie possession that changed the game's tempo.

By the numbers

Smith 356 passing on 28 attempts with a TD and the 116.7 rating. Gore 87 rushing on 22 carries with a TD. Walker 80 receiving on 4 catches. Crabtree 5 catches for 80. Bradford 251 on 42 attempts with a TD. Steven Jackson 81 rushing with a TD.

Personnel watch

Troy Smith's 356-yard passing day, the kind of throwing day the position has not produced for the franchise in years. Frank Gore in his fourth 100-yard-or-near-it game of the year. Joe Nedney with the winning kick. Patrick Willis again leading the defense.

What it means

3-6 with Tampa Bay at home next Sunday. The kind of home win that keeps the team in the conversation in a way that the standings of the NFC West nationally suggest is improbable but locally suggest is open. Troy Smith stays the starter.