49ers notebook: Colin Kaepernick's TD pass to Frank Gore a memorable play (w/video)

SANTA CLARA — It wasn't the longest throw of Colin Kaepernick's young career. It certainly didn't have the most velocity. But on the first snap of the second quarter, the quarterback — in combination with veteran running back Frank Gore — turned in one of the most memorable plays of the 49ers' 26-21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

On second-and-17 from the San Francisco 45-yard line, Kaepernick faked a handoff to Gore, dropped back, then started running to his left. Just as it appeared he might have to throw the ball away, he spun and threw far across the field to his right, where Gore was standing all alone. Gore looked like a punt returner waiting for the arcing throw to descend.

'Kap did a great job keeping his eyes upfield,' Niners coach Jim Harbaugh said. 'I had no idea. When he stopped, pulled it up and started to throw, I didn't know where he was going with the ball.'

Gore took off after the catch, shook off an attempted tackle by Eagles safety Earl Wolff and proceeded to a 55-yard touchdown — the longest scoring reception of his 10-year career.

'(Running backs) coach (Tom) Rathman told me all week, he keeps telling me all the time when I fake the ball, stay alive for Kap to keep the play alive and get me the ball, and he did,' Gore said.

BLEMISHES COVERED UP BY A WIN

If the 49ers had let this one slip away, we'd all be talking about the clock and timeout management issues that plagued them in the final quarter – the same stumbling blocks they've been dealing with for three years.

It started a minute into the final period when the offense stayed on the field for a fourth-and-2 play from the Philadelphia 43, with the home team clinging to a 23-21 lead. The 49ers were trying to draw the Eagles offside, but it didn't work. When Kaepernick called time out before the play clock expired, Harbaugh was clearly irritated.

'I wanted to take the delay of game, but I didn't tell him. I didn't tell him that,' Harbaugh said. 'I've gotta tell him that. Sloppy play by me. I should have alerted him that if we didn't get the offsides, to let the clock, take the delay of game. Sloppy coaching on my part.'

The next time the Niners got the ball, they drove to the Philly 11, only to have Kaepernick take an unintentional delay of game. Third-and-3 became third-and-8, Carlos Hyde was stopped after a 3-yard gain and San Francisco settled for a field goal.

The Eagles got the ball and mounted a long drive, and reached the 49ers' 17 on an acrobatic catch by Jeremy Maclin. Harbaugh threw his challenge flag, believing Maclin was juggling the ball as he went out of bounds. He lost his challenge and forfeited the Niners' final timeout in the process.

'Would have been an amazing catch for him to catch it,' Harbaugh said. 'Thought I saw on the replay board the ball moved and slid a little bit. But good catch by him. Would have set up a fourth down. Thought it was worth the challenge.'

THE INJURY REPORT

The 49ers were buoyed by the return of a couple of Davises on Sunday. Right tackle Anthony Davis made his 2014 debut after recovering from both offseason shoulder surgery and a more recent hamstring injury. Tight end Vernon Davis returned from less serious ankle and knee injuries.

Then both promptly got hurt again.

Anthony was injured on the final play of the first quarter, when Kaepernick was sacked by linebacker Brandon Graham and fell into the back of the lineman's knee. Jonathan Martin, who started the first three games of the season, replaced Davis at tackle.

Early in the third quarter, Vernon caught a short pass in the right flat and had his back bent on the tackle. He said after the game that X-rays were negative.

EXTRA POINTS

The only other game in which the 49ers allowed three non-offensive touchdowns was on Nov. 7, 1965, when the Dallas Cowboys scored on a kickoff return, a fumble return and an interception return.

The Eagles became just the second team in NFL history with a punt return, blocked punt and interception return for a touchdown in one game.

It was Gore's 36th career 100-yard rushing game. He finished with 119.

Kaepernick's scoring pass to Gore was his first to someone not named Anquan Boldin, Michael Crabtree or Vernon Davis since Week 16 of 2012.

Before Malcolms Jenkins' touchdown on an interception, the most recent Pick 6 against the 49ers was by Seattle's Marcus Trufant on Sept. 12, 2010, against Alex Smith.