Golden Nuggets: Let's not speak of that 1st quarter

I have to say, when that first quarter came to an end, I was just about done. I'm notoriously pessimistic, but I rarely ever turn off a game or anything like that, but I was close. I said on Twitter that I was catching up on Game of Thrones with the game on in the background. But the San Francisco 49ers picked things up in the second quarter, and the masses will only remember the fact that they dominated the St. Louis Rams for three out of four quarters.

I'm not going to sit here and pretend like everything is perfect, but at the same time, the team that we saw for much of the final three quarters was more akin to what we were expecting this season. The best I can do is hope that's what we see week-in and week-out going forward. Colin Kaepernick needs to have confidence ... that seemed absent against the Indianapolis Colts.

Hopefully what he was able to do in Thursday's game will change that going forward. Onto the links for the day.

Powering through: 49ers return to proven formula vs. Rams (Maiocco)

49ers 'dodge a bullet,' Staley's injury doesn't appear serious (Branch)

Colin Kaepernick: Critics 'can tweet to me tonight' (NFL)

T.J. McDonald fractures leg in Rams' loss to 49ers (NFL)

Do-it-all Bowman steps up for depleted defense (SFGate)

Gore and Bowman lead 49ers to 35-11 win over Rams (BA Sports Guy)

Back to basics: Gore, 49ers beat Rams in romp (Barrows)

All is well for 49ers again thanks to dominant win over St. Louis (SI)

Steve Young is back on KNBR (BA Sports Guy)

49ers notes: Bowman assumes leadership role; Baldwin's debut; Staley OK (Barrows)

49ers' Phil Dawon attempts rare free kick against Rams, misses from 71 yards (SI)

Postgame notes: Bowman takes charge of makeshift defense (Inman)

What we learned Thursday: Sam Bradford regressing (NFL)

Colin Kaepernick Solid in Blowout Win (49ers)