Week 10 Game Recap: San Francisco 49ers 19, Detroit Lions 13

What you need to know

San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco won its second game in a row with a 19-13 victory at Ford Field. Frank Gore opened the scoring when he took a handoff 61 yards on a third and 16 draw play on the team’s first drive. Gore rushed for a career high 159 yards before leaving the game in the third quarter with a reported concussion.

Alex Smith completed 14 of 20 pass attempts for 136 yards without a touchdown or an interception. Arnaz Battle led the 49ers with six catches for 55 yards.

Detroit Lions

The Lions came out of the gates flat in the contest and an early fumble by Kevin Jones led to a 49er field goal. Jones on the day had 115 total yards with 44 yards rushing and nine catches for 71 yards.

Roy Williams led the Lions’ receivers with five catches for 81 yards while Dan Campbell scored the team’s lone touchdown on a scramble and throw by Jon Kitna. Kitna had an opportunity late in the game to put his team ahead but was intercepted at the goal line and finished 19 of 30 for 202 yards.

What you ought to know

QB Alex Smith, Pass: 14 - 20 - 136 - 0 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 8 - 15 - 0

Smith was efficient and safe with the football completing 14 of 20 attempts without an interception. He just missed on a long toss to Antonio Bryant but the ball tipped off the receivers’ fingertips in the end zone.

RB Frank Gore, Rush: 22 - 159 - 1, Rec: 2 - 14 - 0 (2 targets)

Gore had his career performance interrupted by a reported concussion in the third quarter. On the afternoon Gore rushed 22 times for 159 yards and a touchdown. His touchdown came on the 49ers first possession of the game when he took a third and 16 draw play 61 yards to pay dirt. Gore completed the first half with 18 carries for 148 yards. He added two catches for 14 yards to his total.

RB Maurice Hicks, Rush: 9 - 20 - 0, Rec: 2 - 18 - 0 (2 targets)

Hicks spelled the injured Frank Gore and carried nine times for 20 yards while catching two balls for 18 yards. Hicks was unable to enjoy the success of starter Gore who left with a reported concussion.

RB Michael Robinson, Rush: 5 - 4 - 0

Robinson carried the ball five times for four yards and was used almost exclusively in short yardage situations.

WR Arnaz Battle, Pass: 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 TD / 0 INT, Rec: 6 - 55 - 0 (9 targets)

Battle led the 49ers with six catches and 55 yards as he converted a number of key first downs for the 49ers.

WR Antonio Bryant, Rec: 2 - 42 - 0 (7 targets)

Bryant caught only two of the seven balls thrown his way for 42 yards. He did have a long toss go off his fingertips in the end zone.

TE Eric Johnson, Rec: 2 - 7 - 0 (2 targets)

Johnson caught both balls thrown his way for a total of seven yards. Both catches were out of a scramble by Alex Smith as he was a secondary option on both completions.

PK Joe Nedney 4 - 4 FG, 1 - 1 XP, 13 points

Nedney was perfect on the afternoon kicking four field goals including a 47 yarder in the fourth quarter. He was also successful on his lone extra point attempt.

SF Rush Defense

The 49ers’ rush defense held the Lions’ run game in check limiting Kevin Jones to 44 yards on 13 carries. Brandon Moore led the team in tackles with seven including two sacks of Jon Kitna.

SF Pass Defense

The 49ers’ pass defense allowed 202 yards and a touchdown but did have a critical interception in the fourth quarter by Keith Lewis to preserve the victory. Lewis also forced a Kevin Jones fumble in the first half that led to a 49ers’ field goal.

QB Jon Kitna, Pass: 19 - 30 - 202 - 1 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 4 - 27 - 0

Kitna spent most of the afternoon holding on to the ball for extended periods of time as the 49ers’ defense confused him with coverage. He finished with 202 yards and a touchdown as well as an interception. He completed 19 of 30 attempts and had an opportunity to put the team ahead in the fourth quarter but threw a key interception that sealed the team’s fate.

RB Kevin Jones, Rush: 13 - 44 - 0, Rec: 9 - 71 - 0 (11 targets)

Jones struggled running the ball as he was held to 44 yards on 13 carries versus the 49er front seven. He did catch nine of the 11 balls thrown his way for 71 yards but his fumble in the first quarter led to a 49ers’ field goal.

WR Roy Williams, Rec: 5 - 81 - 0 (9 targets)

Williams led the Lions’ receivers with five catches for 81 yards, as he was double and triple teamed all afternoon. Williams was the victim of some tough bumps and some questionable calls as he was constantly bumped and had a couple of balls just out of reach in the end zone.

WR Mike Furrey, Rec: 2 - 13 - 0 (4 targets)

Furrey had two catches for 13 yards.

TE Dan Campbell, Rec: 2 - 32 - 1 (2 targets)

Campbell caught both balls thrown his way for 32 yards and the team’s lone touchdown. Campbell alertly headed towards the end zone on a Kitna scramble and caught the short pass for the quarterback.

TE Marcus Pollard, Rec: 1 - 5 - 0 (3 targets)

Pollard caught one pass for 5 yards.

PK Jason Hanson 2 - 2 FG, 1 - 1 XP, 7 points

Hanson was perfect on the afternoon with two field goals and an extra point. His longest field goal on the afternoon came from 33 yards.

DET Rush Defense

Frank Gore gashed the Lions’ rush defense as the second year back seldom went down on first contact including breaking tackles on a 61 yard touchdown jaunt on the 49ers’ first possession. Terrence Holt led the Lions with five tackles.

DET Pass Defense

The Lions’ pass defense did not allow a touchdown and held Alex Smith to 136 yards. Corey Redding had two sacks for the Lions as well as a forced fumble.