49ers 41, Patriots 34
Colin Kaepernick threw four touchdown passes and visiting San Francisco took advantage of four New England turnovers, holding off a wild rally by the defending AFC champs on a cold and rainy night.
With the score tied at 31 after a 28-point comeback by the Patriots, Kaepernick hooked up with Michael
Crabtree on a back-breaking 38-yard touchdown pass with 6:25 remaining. After David Akers booted a 28-yard field goal to increase the lead to
41-31, New England responded with a field goal by Stephen Gostkowski with 38
seconds to go but failed to cover the onside kick, sealing
the game.
In a matchup pitting New England's No. 1-ranked offense against San Francisco and its top-ranked defense, it was the 49ers and a big-play passing game that proved to be the difference. Kaepernick threw scoring passes of 24, 34, 27 and 38 yards to snap the Patriots' seven-game winning streak.
San Francisco (10-3-1) built a 31-3 lead in the third quarter before the Patriots mounted their dramatic comeback. New England (10-4) scored 28 points in under 15 minutes to tie the game, getting a pair of touchdowns by Danny Woodhead and a passing and rushing touchdown by Tom Brady.
Former Patriot Randy Moss opened the scoring, grabbing a 24-yard touchdown pass on the 49ers' first possession. The 49ers later appeared to put the game away when they turned a pair of New England turnovers into quick touchdowns early in the third quarter.
After Brady kept his touchdown streak alive with a 5-yard scoring pass to Aaron Hernandez with 12:13 to play, the Pats tied the game on Woodhead's second touchdown run. Brady finished 36-for-65 for 443 yards while Kaepernick was 14-for-25 for 216 yards.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Moss caught his 157th touchdown pass, moving him into fourth place in the all-time standings. ...The Patriots played with a decal on their helmets honoring the victims of the Newtown tragedy. ...Both teams have clinched playoff berths. ... Brandon Lloyd caught 10 passes for 190 yards for New England.