Coaches lose cool after Lions fall to 49ers, 25-19

Alex Smith’s fourth-down, 6-yard pass to Delanie Walker gave San Francisco the go-ahead touchdown with 1:51 left to give the 49ers a 25-19 victory over the once-unbeaten Detroit Lions. The play stood after video review didn’t show definite proof whether Walker’s right knee was down before the ball reached the goal line. Both teams now stand at 5-1.

Smith was 17 of 32 for 125 yards, going early and often to Crabtree, who matched a career high with nine receptions for 77 yards. Frank Gore ran 15 times for 141 yards, including a season-long 55-yard gain, and scored a TD that pulled the 49ers within three after they were outscored 10-0 in the first quarter.

Matthew Stafford connected with Nate Burleson on a 5-yard pass into the end zone ruled incomplete on the field. It was overturned after video review, giving Detroit a four-point lead early in the fourth quarter. Burleson caught the ball and got both feet down, then lost the ball after tumbling beyond the end zone— a play similar to Johnson’s well-documented catch that was ruled incomplete last year at Chicago.

Stafford was 28 of 50 for 293 yards with two TDs.

David Akers gave San Francisco a six-point lead with 1:02 to go with a 37-yard field goal.



Jim Harbaugh, a first-year NFL coach with the 49ers who played at Michigan, had to be separated from Lions' head coach Jim Schwartz more than once after Schwartz came running and lunging toward him as both teams were going to the tunnel. Harbaugh extended his right hand to Schwartz for a shake and slapped him on the back with his left hand.

Schwartz didn’t like what was done or said—claiming he heard an expletive — and went charging after Harbaugh.

49ers offensive tackle & Central Michigan alumni Joe Staley shared his thoughts after the game