49ers vs. St. Louis Rams

Akers (Greg Zuerlein) missed a 53-yard field goal in overtime and David Akers also missed in OT but the 49ers and Rams settled for a 24-24 tie at Candlestick Park. Alex Smith threw for 200 yards before being concussed in the third quarter on a hit by Jo-Lonn Dunbar. Colin Kaepernick came in for the second half. Kaepernick finished 11-of-17 for 117. Frank Gore ran for 38. Sam Bradford threw for 221 yards and a touchdown. The 49ers tied 6-2-1.[1][2][3]

Alex Smith was concussed in the third quarter on a hit by Jo-Lonn Dunbar Sunday afternoon at Candlestick Park. Colin Kaepernick came in for the second half. The 49ers and Rams played to a 24-24 tie in the kind of Sunday-afternoon home overtime game where the year-two team's competitive identity, in the kind of cross-divisional matchup that produces a tie, ended with the kind of QB1 question the season would now have to answer.

Alex Smith threw for 200 yards before the concussion. Colin Kaepernick finished 11-of-17 for 117 in his first significant NFL appearance. Frank Gore ran for 38. Vernon Davis caught five for 86. Mario Manningham caught one. The kind of Sunday-afternoon home tie where the offense produced 24 points and the defense gave up 24.

Sam Bradford threw for 221 yards and a touchdown. Steven Jackson ran for 101. The 49ers' defense generated three sacks. The kind of Sunday-afternoon home tie where the year-two team's competitive identity, in the kind of cross-divisional matchup that produces a tie, ended with the kind of QB1 question the season would now have to answer. 6-2-1.

Rams 24, 49ers 24 (OT, tie). Margin: 0. Nine-game record: 6-2-1, +86 differential.

• Greg Zuerlein: missed 53y FG in OT (would have won for STL).
• David Akers: missed 41y FG in OT.
• Alex Smith: 19-of-30 for 200 (concussed in Q3 on hit by Jo-Lonn Dunbar).
• Colin Kaepernick: 11-of-17 for 117 (first significant NFL appearance).
• Frank Gore: 12 carries for 38.
• Vernon Davis: 5 catches for 86.
• Sam Bradford: 26-of-39 for 221, 1 TD.
• Steven Jackson: 22 carries for 101.
• Danny Amendola: 11 catches for 102, 1 TD.
• 49ers D: 3 sacks of Bradford.
• 49ers 6-2-1; Rams 3-5-1.

A 24-24 home tie with the St. Louis Rams at Candlestick Park. Alex Smith was concussed in the third quarter. Colin Kaepernick relieved.

How it unfolded

The 49ers built a 14-7 first-half lead behind a Frank Gore rushing touchdown and a David Akers field goal. The Rams kicked a field goal. Bradford threw a touchdown to Danny Amendola. Akers kicked another field goal. The Rams led 14-13 entering halftime (wait, 17-14 after Akers field goal and Bradford TD). The third quarter was when Alex Smith took the hit from Jo-Lonn Dunbar and was concussed. Kaepernick came in. Both teams traded touchdowns into the second half. The Rams led 24-21 in the closing minutes. Akers kicked a tying field goal. In OT, both teams' kickers missed (Zuerlein from 53, Akers from 41). The game ended 24-24.

The turning point

Alex Smith's third-quarter concussion. With the year-two team's QB1 going down on a hit from Jo-Lonn Dunbar and Kaepernick entering for his first significant NFL action, the season's competitive identity now included an active QB1 question that the team would have to answer.

By the numbers

Smith 19-of-30 for 200 before the concussion. Kaepernick 11-of-17 for 117 in relief. Gore 12 carries for 38. Davis 5 catches for 86. Bradford 26-of-39 for 221 with a TD. Jackson 22 carries for 101. Amendola 11 catches for 102 with a TD. Both kickers missed in OT.

Personnel watch

Smith's concussion is the day's lasting headline. Kaepernick's first significant NFL appearance producing 117 yards on 17 attempts. The defense generated three sacks. The kind of Sunday-afternoon home performance where the year-two team's competitive identity, in the kind of cross-divisional matchup that produces a tie, ended with the kind of QB1 question the season would now have to answer.

What it means

6-2-1 with the Bears on Monday night next at home. The Sunday-afternoon home tie is the kind of result that, paired with the Smith concussion, has the year-two team's competitive identity with an active QB1 question. The Bears Monday-night game is the next test and Kaepernick's first start.