RSS
Home
Unbeaten Colts survive in 18-14 win over 49ers
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
.jpg)
Frank Gore's 64-yard touchdown run started the scoring
for the 49ers.
(AP Photo)
The San Francisco 49ers kept it close with the Indianapolis Colts, but in the end, a trick play would spoil the 49ers' bid to win their fourth game and putting a stop to the Colts' undefeated season.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, the Colts ran a stretch play in which cornerback Shawntae Spencer broke towards running back Joseph Addai. Reggie Wayne was left wide open in the end zone for Addai to pass the ball for a 22-yard touchdown score. That would give the Colts their first lead of the game at 18-14.
The game started well for the 49ers offense. On the team's second offensive drive, running back Frank Gore took a run right up the middle, eluded two tackles and ran for a 64-yard score to give the 49ers a 7-0 lead.
After that score, the offense struggled to make the big third down conversions. On third down plays, the 49ers were 2-10 in converting for a first down. This led to eight punts Andy Lee.
Quarterback Alex Smith had decent numbers but nothing impressive in his first NFL start since 2007. Smith had 198 yards on 19 of 32 passing. He had an interception on a tipped ball and an 8-yard touchdown pass to tight end Vernon Davis for his league-leading seventh touchdown catch.
That touchdown to Davis came during the 49ers two-minute drill to end the first half. Smith was in the shotgun formation in all his pass attempts in the drive. Starting from the team's own 11 yard line, Smith took the 49ers in 1:11 down the field, completing six of seven passes.
Smith was comfortable in the shotgun/spread offense formation throughout the day and the fact that the 49ers didn't use that later in the game might have prevented the offense from scoring in the second half.
The 49ers defense for the most part played extremely well. They limited the Colts to four field goals until Addai's touchdown pass. The running game for the Colts totaled only 61 yards, which forced the passing game to step up. Quarterback Peyton Manning passed for 347 yards, but the defense prevented Manning from throwing a touchdown.
Manning struggled throughout the game with some of his passes, many of them either overthrown or just out of the reach of the receivers. The 49ers secondary played well enough to get the 49ers a win and the defensive line sacked Manning three times. What did cost the 49ers was their inability to stop the Colts on third down-- the Colts went 8-19 on third down.
The loss for the 49ers puts them at 3-4 and at this moment, they trail the Cardinals by 1.5 games as the defending division champions are 4-2.
===
Game notes:
- CB Nate Clements is reported to have fractured scapula and that might be a season-ending injury.
- RT Joe Staley was injured early in the game with a sprained right knee. Barry Sims took his spot and did well against DE Dwight Freeney.
- WR Michael Crabtree had 6 catches for 81 yards.
- RB Frank Gore only had 13 carries for 91 yards. If you take away his 64-yard touchdown run, it wasn't that great of a day on the ground for him. But he did make five catches for 43 yards.
- The Colts challenged a Dallas Clark fumble and it was overturned. The 49ers challenged Crabtree's fumble but lost.
- For what the offensive line had gone through this week, the team did surrender four sacks.
- Brandon Jones was assigned punt returning duties and his lack of experience showed. On a play in which he should have allowed a punt to bounce into the end zone, Jones fielded the ball and was stopped at the 6 yard line.
- WR Josh Morgan was flagged 15 yards for excessive celebration on TE Vernon Davis' touchdown. That helped the Colts with great field position, which helped them drive down the field for a field goal to end the first half.
Follow me on Twitter for updates. Check me out here @SLam49ers
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
