With the playoffs out of the picture, the 49ers wrapped up their home schedule with a 20-6 win over the Detroit Lions.
Alex Smith helped Vernon Davis get one step closer to the single-season record for touchdowns by a tight end as he lobbed Davis a 2-yard touchdown instead of running it in himself in the third quarter. Davis has 12 touchdowns, which is one shy of the record held by Antonio Gates of San Diego.
The 49ers next offensive series saw Frank Gore pound in a one-yard touchdown capping a 63-yard drive where he touched the ball on every play. In the process, Gore also eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the fourth straight season.
Both teams scored only on field goals in the first half. 49ers kicker Joe Nedney missed the game with a hamstring injury. Newly signed kicker Ricky Schmitt hit a 33-yard field goal in the first quarter to match a 27-yard field goal by the Lions’ Jason Hanson that opened the scoring.
With over two minutes before the half, Schmitt added a 39-yard field goal to give the Niners a 6-3 halftime lead. But the 49ers didn’t take advantage of an interception by linebacker Patrick Willis that set up San Francisco at the Detroit 40 on the ensuing series. With 10 seconds on the clock, Schmitt had a 28-yard attempt blocked before the Niners headed in for halftime. Hanson added a 38-yard fourth quarter field goal to end the scoring.
San Francisco finishes the season next week on the road when they face the Rams in St. Louis.
