And so we come to the end of the 2009 season. The 49ers did not play particularly inspiring football today, but they did provide a variety of highlights worth checking out on both sides of the ball. Once again it was the defense that was most notable, although Frank Gore and Vernon Davis certainly acquitted themselves quite nicely today.
Given that the defense put together yet another solid performance, we'll start off with some of their accomplishments:
- The 49ers defense kept the Rams out of the end zone, allowing just 2 field goals. This marks the 5th time this season that the 49ers defense kept an opposing team from scoring a TD. The 49ers rank first in the NFL for the most games holding an opponent without a TD (5) in the NFL this season. The N.Y. Jets enter the game tonight ranking 2nd with 4 games holding an opponent without a TD.
- For the 7th time this season, the 49ers held their opponent to 10 points-or-less, which is tops in the NFL.
- San Francisco's defense allowed a total of 109 net yards against the Rams, marking the fewest total net yards allowed in a game since December 12, 2000, when the team allowed 104 vs. Chicago.
- The 49ers defense finished the year with 44 sacks, which is the highest team total since 1998 (51 sacks).
- With 8 sacks on the day, the 49ers defense has now registered 2-or-more sacks in 11 games this season. The last time the Niners recorded 2-or-more sacks in at least 11 games was in 2003.
- The 49ers allowed just 1,552 rushing yards this season, marking the lowest rushing total allowed by the team since 1997 (1,366 rushing yards).
Frank Gore
- RB Frank Gore registered his 9th and 10th rushing TDs of the season, setting a new career-high and tying the 49ers record for most rushing TDs in a season. He joins RB Derek Loville (1995), RB Ricky Watters (1993), RB Billy Kilmer (1961), RB J.D. Smith (1959) and RB Joe Perry (1953) as the other 49ers running backs to register 10 rushing TDs in a season. Gore's previous career-high was 8 rushing TDs in 2006.
- With 107 rushing yards on the day, this marks Gore's 20th career 100-yd, rushing performance. He is now tied with Perry for the most 100-yd. games in franchise history.
Vernon Davis
- TE Vernon Davis tied the NFL record for TD receptions by a tight end with a career-long 73-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter. Davis' 13 TD receptions ties TE Antonio Gates (13 TDs in 2004).