Colin Kaepernick named NFC Offensive Player of the Week

49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for Week 15. In the 49ers wild 41-34 win over the New England Patriots, Kaepernick was 14 of 25 for 216 yards, with four touchdowns and an interception. He also rushed seven times for 28 yards.

The most notable number is that Kaepernick became the first 49ers quarterback to throw four touchdowns in a game since Jeff Garcia did it on December 7, 2003 against the Arizona Cardinals. Through five starts, Kaepernick has per game averages of 216 passing yards and 40 rushing yards.

While there have been some downs to go with Kaepernick's ups, the whole process still appears to be moving in the right direction. I think we are seeing the value of this decision coming at the point that it did, as the offense is developing as each week progresses. Obviously a full season might have made an even bigger difference, but that is a hypothetical we'll never really be able to answer.

This all comes even as the Colin Kaepernick-Vernon Davis connection is not really clicking yet. Davis discussed the chemistry issues, and how it is something they are working on. Davis and Smith had as good a chemistry as anybody on the offense in recent seasons, but it has not quite been there with Kaepernick. Thus far, Michael Crabtree has been Kaepernick's go-to guy, with great success. If Kaepernick and Davis can figure out their connection a bit better, that would open things up considerably.

I don't know if we'll see the connection improve in the few weeks left before the playoffs, but we'll see what the next couple weeks bring.