San Francisco 49ers dominate visiting Detroit Lions 27-19 – NFL Recap
San Francisco 49ers were once again dominant on the field as their defence stayed alert and ready to face any kind of offence, denying many scoring opportunities to Detroit Lions to defeat them 27-19 on Sunday, September 16, 2012, at Candlestick Park.
Lions were unable to reach the end zone with the ball and had to rely on field goals for most of their scoring moves. They got only one touchdown in the game and that too in the final quarter with less than two minutes remaining in the game.
49ers defence did well to contain the ferocious and aggressive Lions as quarterback Alex Smith was once again able to complete an interception-free game, while tight end Vernon Davis got two touchdowns as 49ers offence keeps on improving.
Smith completed 20 of 31 passes for 226 yards and got two touchdowns.
Lions coach Jim Schwartz was certainly unhappy with the way his team performed against 49ers. He said after the game:
"We didn't do a good enough job in anything. Whether it was the run game, the pass game, defence, special teams. We need to play better in all phases. We left a lot of opportunities on the field."
Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford also faced some tough time penetrating the sturdy 49ers defence. He completed 19 passes of 32 attempts for 230 yards, while throwing a touchdown and an interception.
Early in the first quarter, Smith found Davis on a 21-yard pass that resulted into touchdown for 49ers. Lions tried to reduce the deficit, but their entry in the end zone was prohibited. They were forced to rely on field goals and did well to get two of them in the first quarter.
49ers got another touchdown in the second quarter to increase their lead, while both teams scored a field goal each in the third quarter.
In the final quarter, 49ers got a field goal to again increase their lead, but Lions also responded by scoring another field goal.
Smith and Davis once again connected for a touchdown, which was followed by Stafford’s first and only touchdown of the game.
49ers had already expected a physical matchup and they had prepared well for the visiting Lions. 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh said after the game:
“We expected a physical game, anticipated that. We got that. They’re a physical team, but that’s good. It keeps us playing hard and fast and tough. And our guys are accustomed to that and aren’t going to shy away from that type of game.”
It was 49ers’ first home game of the season and the crowd cheered with every move of the team. 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis said of the crowd:
“Our crowd has been tremendous. Our fans have been unbelievable and they have every right to be.”
After two games, 49ers are 2-0 while Lions are 1-1.
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