The 49ers open 2011 at Candlestick Park against the Seattle Seahawks, 1:15 PT kickoff. Year one of Jim Harbaugh.
Alex Smith is the QB1 after the Harbaugh hire reinstated him. Frank Gore at running back. Vernon Davis at tight end. Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman at linebacker. Aldon Smith is the rookie first-round pick.
Jim Harbaugh's first game as an NFL head coach Sunday afternoon at Candlestick Park. Drafted out of Stanford after the Cardinal's Orange Bowl run. Alex Smith reinstated as QB1 after his five-year struggle under Mike Singletary. The kind of opening Sunday home game where the new head coach's debut produces the kind of opening day the rebuild needed.
Tarvaris Jackson starts for the Seahawks. Marshawn Lynch at running back. The Seahawks are coming off the 2010 NFC West title (a 7-9 division winner) and a playoff upset of the Saints.
Favored by 3 at home. The opener begins the Harbaugh era against the divisional rival.
Opening Sunday begins the league sort. The defending Super Bowl champion Packers open Thursday. The Patriots, Saints, Steelers, and Falcons compete at the top of the conferences. The 49ers, with Harbaugh as the new head coach, are starting over after a 6-10 2010 under Mike Singletary. Around the AFC the Patriots, Jets, and Ravens lead. The Sunday opener is the new regime's first day.
Through zero games the 49ers reset to a 6-10 2010 in which Mike Singletary was fired and the team finished last in the NFC West. New head coach: Jim Harbaugh. Returning QB1: Alex Smith. Returning RB1: Frank Gore. Rookie DE: Aldon Smith (7th overall). Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman at linebacker. Vegas opens the 49ers as 3-point home favorites; total 39.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills | 0-0 | -- |
| Miami Dolphins | 0-0 | -- |
| New England Patriots | 0-0 | -- |
| New York Jets | 0-0 | -- |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Ravens | 0-0 | -- |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 0-0 | -- |
| Cleveland Browns | 0-0 | -- |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 0-0 | -- |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Houston Texans | 0-0 | -- |
| Indianapolis Colts | 0-0 | -- |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 0-0 | -- |
| Tennessee Titans | 0-0 | -- |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 0-0 | -- |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 0-0 | -- |
| Oakland Raiders | 0-0 | -- |
| San Diego Chargers | 0-0 | -- |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona Cardinals | 0-0 | -- |
| St. Louis Rams | 0-0 | -- |
| Seattle Seahawks | 0-0 | -- |
| San Francisco 49ers | 0-0 | -- |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 0-0 | -- |
| New York Giants | 0-0 | -- |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 0-0 | -- |
| Washington Redskins | 0-0 | -- |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 0-0 | -- |
| Detroit Lions | 0-0 | -- |
| Green Bay Packers | 0-0 | -- |
| Minnesota Vikings | 0-0 | -- |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Falcons | 0-0 | -- |
| Carolina Panthers | 0-0 | -- |
| New Orleans Saints | 0-0 | -- |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 0-0 | -- |
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 | David Akers 27 yard field goal | 0-3 |
| 49ers | David Akers 24 yard field goal | 0-6 |
| 49ers | David Akers 31 yard field goal | 0-9 |
| 49ers | Alex Smith 1 yard rush ( David Akers kick) | 0-16 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Seahawks | Golden Tate 8 yard pass from Tarvaris Jackson ( Stephen Hauschka kick) | 7-16 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Seahawks | Stephen Hauschka 39 yard field goal | 10-16 |
| 49ers | David Akers 18 yard field goal | 10-19 |
| Seahawks | Doug Baldwin 55 yard pass from Tarvaris Jackson ( Stephen Hauschka kick) | 17-19 |
| 49ers | Ted Ginn Jr. 102 yard kickoff return ( David Akers kick) | 17-26 |
| 49ers | Ted Ginn Jr. 55 yard punt return ( David Akers kick) | 17-33 |
Frank Gore ran for 59 yards and a touchdown and Ted Ginn returned a kickoff 102 yards and a punt 55 yards for two touchdowns as the 49ers beat the Seattle Seahawks 33-17 at Candlestick Park. Alex Smith threw for 124 yards and a touchdown. Vernon Davis caught one. The 49ers' defense produced two sacks. Tarvaris Jackson threw for 197 yards and two touchdowns. The 49ers improved to 1-0 in Harbaugh's debut.[1][2][3]
Ted Ginn returned a kickoff 102 yards and a punt 55 yards for two touchdowns Sunday afternoon at Candlestick Park. The 49ers beat the Seattle Seahawks 33-17 in the kind of opening Sunday home win where the new head coach's debut produced the kind of statement the rebuild needed.
Frank Gore ran for 59 yards and a touchdown. Alex Smith threw for 124 yards and a touchdown to Vernon Davis. Davis caught one. The 49ers' defense generated two sacks. The kind of opening Sunday home game where the offense produced 33 points (much of it on Ginn's two returns) and the defense produced two sacks.
Tarvaris Jackson threw for 197 yards and two touchdowns. Marshawn Lynch ran for 33. The kind of opening Sunday home win where the Harbaugh era began with the kind of complementary game-managing performance the new regime had been planning for. 1-0 with the Cowboys at home next.
49ers 33, Seahawks 17. Margin: +16. Season opener.
A 33-17 opening Sunday home win over the Seattle Seahawks at Candlestick Park in Jim Harbaugh's NFL head-coaching debut. The 49ers improve to 1-0.
How it unfolded
David Akers kicked an opening field goal. The Seahawks kicked one of their own. Akers kicked another. The 49ers led 6-3 entering the second quarter. Ted Ginn returned a punt 55 yards for a touchdown to make it 13-3. The Seahawks scored a touchdown. Gore ran in a touchdown. The 49ers led 19-10 at halftime. Ginn returned the second-half kickoff 102 yards for a touchdown to make it 26-10. Akers kicked another field goal. The Seahawks added a late touchdown. Final 33-17.
The turning point
Ted Ginn's 102-yard kickoff return touchdown to open the second half. With the lead at 19-10 and the Seahawks looking like they would come back, Ginn's return effectively put the game out of reach and gave Harbaugh his first NFL head-coaching win in primetime fashion.
By the numbers
Smith 15-of-20 for 124 with a TD. Gore 22 carries for 59 with a TD. Davis 4 catches for 73 with a TD. Akers four field goals. Ginn's two return touchdowns. Tarvaris Jackson 21-of-37 for 197 with two TDs. Lynch 13 for 33.
Personnel watch
Ginn's two return touchdowns in his 49ers debut. Akers's four field goals. The defense's two sacks. The kind of opening Sunday home performance where Harbaugh's NFL head-coaching debut produced the kind of complete-team statement the rebuild needed.
What it means
1-0 with the Cowboys at home next week. The opening Sunday home win is the kind of debut Harbaugh's regime needed. The Cowboys on Sunday next is the next test.
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Alex Smith | 15/20 | 124 | 0 | 0 | |
| SEA | |||||
| Tarvaris Jackson | 21/37 | 197 | 2 | 1 | |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Frank Gore | 22 | 59 | 0 | 16 |
| Alex Smith | 7 | 22 | 1 | 11 |
| Kendall Hunter | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Ted Ginn Jr. | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SEA | ||||
| Marshawn Lynch | 13 | 33 | 0 | 12 |
| Tarvaris Jackson | 4 | 13 | 0 | 5 |
| Ben Obomanu | 1 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| Justin Forsett | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Michael Robinson | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Vernon Davis | 5 | 47 | 0 | 27 |
| Josh Morgan | 2 | 28 | 0 | 26 |
| Braylon Edwards | 3 | 27 | 0 | 12 |
| Frank Gore | 3 | 19 | 0 | 12 |
| Michael Crabtree | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Delanie Walker | 1 | -1 | 0 | -1 |
| SEA | ||||
| Doug Baldwin | 4 | 83 | 1 | 55 |
| Mike Williams | 4 | 34 | 0 | 12 |
| Zach Miller | 2 | 19 | 0 | 13 |
| Marshawn Lynch | 2 | 14 | 0 | 12 |
| Ben Obomanu | 2 | 12 | 0 | 7 |
| Anthony McCoy | 2 | 12 | 0 | 10 |
| Justin Forsett | 3 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| Golden Tate | 1 | 8 | 1 | 8 |
| Leon Washington | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
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