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Saturday, Dec.22, at 3COM Park, 2:00pm PDT
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SAN FRANCISCO (AP)
In a game of missed chances, the San Francisco 49ers knew exactly when
to cash in.
Derek Smith made two exceptional defensive plays, and Terrell Owens caught a 32-yard TD pass with 6:52 left as the 49ers beat Philadelphia 13-3 on Saturday, the Eagles' first road loss of the season. Playing for little more than playoff position, the 49ers (11-3) got yet another sparkling performance from a young defense led by Smith, their hard-hitting linebacker. Later, Garcia and Owens broke San Francisco's offense out of its doldrums with a scoring strike that clinched the game. With a handful of big plays, the 49ers finished their home schedule 7-1 and countered Philadelphia's much more consistent effort. The Eagles (9-5) could have wrapped up a playoff berth and their first NFC East title since 1988. Instead, Philadelphia got just three points from two trips inside San Francisco's 5, and the Eagles' pass defense failed at a critical time. Though Philadelphia still is all but certain to win its division and make the playoffs, the Eagles will regret the opportunities that got away from them on a misty, windy day. The heavy rains that pelted the Bay Area on Saturday had stopped by game time, but the field was slippery and muddy in many spots. The Niners posted the first consecutive home shutouts in franchise history in their previous two games. They frustrated Donovan McNabb, who was 23-of-34 for 232 yards but couldn't get his team in the end zone. Niners coach Steve Mariucci also won his first meeting with Philadelphia's Andy Reid, his former colleague and close friend. Leading 6-3 early in the fourth, the 49ers thought they had made a dramatic goal-line stand when Smith, who had nine tackles, flung McNabb out of bounds on fourth down - but Lance Schulters was called for holding behind the play. Two plays later, Smith stepped in front of McNabb's pass to Chad Lewis for an end-zone interception. It was the first interception of the season for Smith, who came to the 49ers as a free agent from Washington last season and has quickly emerged as a team leader. San Francisco also failed to score touchdowns on two drives inside the Eagles' 5, but the Niners' banged-up unit finally came alive after Smith's interception with one big play from their two biggest talents. Jeff Garcia, whose bruised ribs limited his practice time all week, started for the 49ers with extra padding. Owens is nursing a hip pointer and injuries to both feet, limiting his effectiveness in recent weeks. But after the Niners moved to midfield when Owens drew an interference penalty, Garcia hit his favorite target over the middle for Owens' 14th score of the season. The Eagles came out with the energy expected from a team playing for a postseason berth, but the Niners hung in. McNabb completed all eight of his passes in the first quarter, but the Eagles' best drive stalled on the 2. David Akers' 20-yard field goal was the first - and only - score allowed by San Francisco at 3Com Park since Nov. 8. The Niners tied it shortly before halftime on a 21-yard chip by Jose Cortez, and they went ahead on another short field goal late in the third quarter.
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Kicking
Punting
Kick/Punt Returns
Defense
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