49ers send Eagles to first loss
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Colin Kaepernick improvised. Off-balance, he threw across his body and across the field, finding Frank Gore open near the opposite sideline more than 20 yards away.
Gore bailed out a broken play and helped get the San Francisco 49ers back on track with a big day.
He caught that career-best 55-yard touchdown and ran for 119 yards in his first 100-yard game of 2014, leading San Francisco past Philadelphia 26-21 on Sunday to hand the Eagles their first loss.
“I don’t think I’ve ever had one quite like that,” Kaepernick said. “It was a great job by Frank.”
“Great job by Kap,” Gore offered, standing next to his quarterback on the postgame podium.
Coach Jim Harbaugh didn’t see Gore open and had no idea where Kaepernick was going on that play.
“Kap did a great job keeping his eyes up field. I had no idea. When he stopped, pulled it up and started to throw, I didn’t know where he was going with the ball,” Harbaugh said.
“The speed, the angle, the way he got into the end zone was something. I didn’t think he was going to get it in.”
Regardless, the 49ers got Gore involved in the offense again, and it returned them to their winning ways. Hard-nosed defense helped, too.
At least for one Sunday, it seems the Niners reclaimed their offensive identity and defensive swagger.
The 49ers (2-2) avoided their first three-game losing streak under Harbaugh, containing the league’s top passer.
Nick Foles threw two incomplete passes from the 1 in the waning moments after gaining six first downs on a lengthy drive, more than the five the Eagles managed before that.
“We just didn’t execute, it’s as simple as that,” Foles said. “I’m not going to break it down or anything.”
Foles completed a 22-yard pass to Jeremy Maclin on the right sideline on that late drive. The 49ers challenged whether he had possession, but the play stood, costing the 49ers their final timeout.
The Eagles couldn’t pull off the second-half magic that had carried them in their three wins.
On a day the 49ers gave up big plays on special teams, Gore delivered. Kaepernick also threw a touchdown pass to Stevie Johnson and Phil Dawson kicked four field goals – two of at least 46 yards. Kaepernick finished 17 for 30 for 218 yards, two TDs and four sacks.
Darren Sproles had a career-best 82-yard punt return for a touchdown, Malcolm Jenkins ran an interception 53 yards for a score for the Eagles (3-1). Brad Smith recovered Trey Burton’s blocked punt against Andy Lee for a TD.