Defense Gets It Done Again, 49ers 17, Rams 16 - Niners Off To 2-0 Start

The 49ers (2-0) won AGAIN, despite struggling offensively most of the game. Joe Nedney (left) nailed a 40 yard field goal , another great defense effort and timely turnovers helped the 49ers move to 2-0 to start a season for the first time since Steve Young was still under center in 1998. Alex Smith was just 11-for-17 for 126 yards without a touchdown or an interception. He did commit another fumble turnover on a sack for the second game in a row. The 49ers were just 3/13 on 3rd down conversions in the game. However, Frank Gore scored two touchdowns and gained 81 yards on 20 carries, most of those coming on a play that helped turn the game around late in the third quarter. It was an emotional and spirited effort from Gore, playing with a heavy heart after the loss of his mother this week, and he was awarded the game ball by his teammates after the win. Gore planned to leave the team following the game to travel to his home of Coral Gables, Fla. to make arrangements for services to honor his mother.

St. Louis lost despite outgaining San Francisco 392 yards to 186. The Rams had 20 first downs to eight for the 49ers. The Rams scored in the first quarter when San Fran's Brandon Williams made an ill-advised decision to field a punt that was tailing away from him. Long-snapper Chris Massey recovered at the 49ers 25.The Rams were up 13-7 late in the third quarter and on the verge of another score when Torry Holt caught a pass at the San Francisco 10 and was stripped from behind by Nate Clements. The ball skipped into the end zone, then out of bounds, giving San Francisco the ball at the 20.

The Niners' drive appeared to stall with a fourth-and-1 at the St. Louis 43, but coach Mike Nolan went for it. Gore took a handoff up the middle and got the first down after he appeared stopped by linebacker Chris Draft. But Draft lost his grasp of the running back, who ran the distance to the end zone to make it 14-13. St. Louis had one final chance, getting the ball at its 20 with 1:53 to play and no timeouts. The Rams reached the San Francisco 45 with 1:15 to play when Linehan ordered quarterback Marc Bulger to spike the ball. After a 7-yard sack, Bulger hit Isaac Bruce, who had eight catches for 145 yards, for a 14-yard gain.

Rather than go for it on fourth-and-3, Wilkins tried what would have been the second-longest field goal of his career. His career best is 57 yards, but he is 24-for-34 in his 14-year career from 50 yards or longer. The 49ers had six sacks, (Nate Clements, left with a sack) against a rebuilt Rams offensive line that was without left tackle Orlando Pace, out for the year with a shoulder injury, and guard Richie Incognito, who missed his second straight game with a high ankle sprain.

As expected, the 49ers didn't try to match the Rams point for point. The Niners ran the ball, played conservative on offense, however did take a few more shots at stretching the field. Vernon Davis and Darrell Jackson both made contributions, however, the rest of the receiving corps is still M.I.A.. The Rams were able to pass the ball pretty much all day, but when it counted, the 49ers got stops. Three trips to the red-zone for the Rams; two field goals and a fumble by Torry Holt heading into the endzone for a 49er touchback. The defense looked stellar again and barring injury problems, should keep Alex Smith and the offense in the game most weeks.

Next week, the suddenly relevant 49ers are in the national spotlight with the Fox game of the week when they travel into Pittsburgh to face the 2-0 Steelers. It will be a great test for the Niners, facing the first elite team of their schedule, and an opportunity to make a statement with a good performance by the offense.