Colin Kaepernick rises to occasion as 49ers top Patriots

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick exits the field after the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. (Photo: David Butler II, USA TODAY Sports)

Story Highlights
  • Niners build early lead, hold on late to beat Patriots 41-34.
  • Tom Brady rallied the Patriots back from a 31-3 deficit with four unanswered TD drives.
  • Colin Kaepernick threw a career-high four touchdown passes.

    FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- If Colin Kaepernick was going to crack, this was the place, against a future Hall of Fame quarterback leading a furious comeback amid a cold, relentless December rain.

    Forget the modern-day Joe Montana, three-time New England Patriots Super Bowl-winner Tom Brady, who grew up with posters of Montana and Jerry Rice hanging on the walls of his San Mateo, Calif., bedroom. The second-year 49ers quarterback channeled his own inner Montana, staying calm amid the storm after Brady led his fourth unanswered touchdown drive to tie a back-and-forth shootout at 31-all.

    Then, against an all-out, Bill Belichick-orchestrated Patriots blitz, Kaepernick found his quick answer throw and, just maybe, the 49ers' road map to Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans.

    San Francisco's newest comeback kid came of age on a national stage Sunday night when he hit Michael Crabtree for the winning 28-yard touchdown to out-duel Brady in a riveting 41-34 San Francisco win.

    BOX SCORE: Niners 41, Patriots 34

    This was the type of night that compelled coach Jim Harbaugh to elevate Kaepernick over Alex Smith five games ago -- to win a game billed as a potential Super Bowl preview.

    "I told everybody from the beginning, Colin is the truth," linebacker Aldon Smith said. "Everybody wants to be surprised. The kid is good. We keep expecting good things from him. We want to get past where we were last year and get to New Orleans."

    A 49ers team that went 13-3 only to lose a heart-breaking NFC Championship game to the eventual Super Bowl-champion New York Giants may be on its way to where it hopes after clinching a postseason berth.

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    If he was nervous, Kaepernick never showed it, throwing four touchdowns in leading his team to the most points the 10-4 Patriots have allowed this season.

    His best play this season, his second touchdown to Crabtree, was the type of pressure throw elite comeback quarterbacks make on the biggest stages.

    "It is a little bit crazy, a little bit surreal," Kaepernick said after hitting 14 of 25 passes for 216 yards. "But I'm just trying to keep my head down and keep it going as long as I can."

    His teammates will take care of getting him his due.

    "I don't think anyone can question him now," tight end Vernon Davis said. "He made some big-time plays in a big-time game. We've got to stick with him."

    PHOTOS: NFL WEEK 15

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    Arizona Cardinals defensive end Darnell Dockett (90) takes off his gloves after the game against the Detroit Lions at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals beat the Lions 38-10.  Matt Kartozian, USA TODAY Sports
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    San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) runs the ball against New England Patriots during the second quarter at Gillette Stadium. The 49ers won 41-34.  David Butler II, USA TODAY Sports
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      Replay

      • Arizona Cardinals defensive end Darnell Dockett (90) takes off his gloves after the game against the Detroit Lions at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals beat the Lions 38-10.
      • Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez (88) celebrates a touchdown in the first half against the New York Giants at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons won 34-0.
      • Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Jason Babin (58) causes Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) to fumble in the second quarter at Sun Life Stadium. The Dolphins beat the Jaguars 24-3.
      • San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) runs the ball against New England Patriots during the second quarter at Gillette Stadium. The 49ers won 41-34.
      • Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Heathe Miller (83) runs after a catch against Dallas Cowboys linebacker Dan Connor (52) at Cowboys Stadium.The Cowboys beat the Steelers 27-24 in overtime.
      • Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith (89) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the third quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. The Panthers won 31-7.
      • Oakland Raiders defensive back Brandian Ross (29) prevents the pass intended for Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Jon Baldwin (89) during the fourth quarter at O.co Coliseum. The Oakland Raiders defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 15-0.
      • Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb (18) can't make the catch against Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman (33) on a long pass play during the second quarter. The Packers won 21-13.
      • Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray (29) legs stick out of the pile after diving for a fake run in the third quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Cowboys Stadium. The Cowboys beat the Steelers 27-24 in overtime.
      • Carolina Panthers fullback Mike Tolbert (35) celebrates after a touchdown during the first quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. The Panthers won 31-7.
      • New York Giants wide receiver Domenik Hixon (87) runs after a catch in the first half against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons beat the Giants 34-0.
      • Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder (7) hands off to running back Adrian Peterson (28) during the first half against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome. The Vikings won the game 36-22.
      • New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) passes as he is brought down by Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Da'Quan Bowers (91) during the first half of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints won 41-0.
      • A general view of the Jacksonville Jaguars sideline during a moment of silence in honor of the victims of the shooting in Newtown, Conn. before their game against the Miami Dolphins at at Sun Life Stadium.
      • Baltimore Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith (22) looks back to the video board after a giving up a touchdown pass to Denver Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker (not pictured) during the game at M&T Bank Stadium. The Broncos beat the Ravens 34-17.
      • Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Justin Blackmon (14) celebrates a touchdown catch over Miami Dolphins defensive back R.J. Stanford (not pictured) but it was called back on a penalty in the second quarter at Sun Life Stadium.
      • Denver Broncos cornerback Tony Carter (32) celebrates as cornerback Chris Harris (not pictured) returns an interception for a touchdown during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium.The Broncos beat the Ravens 34-17.
      • Washington Redskins running back Evan Royster (22) is forced out of bounds by Cleveland Browns strong safety T.J. Ward (43) and cornerback Joe Haden (23) during the second quarter at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Redskins beat the Browns 38-21.
      • Cleveland Browns running back Trent Richardson (33) celebrates a touchdown run in the second quarter against the Washington Redskins at Cleveland Browns Stadium.The Redskins beat the Browns 38-21.
      • New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz (80) makes a catch and is immediately tackled by Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Sean Weatherspoon (56) in the first half at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons won 34-0.
      • Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice (27) reacts in the tunnel before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium.The Broncos beat the Ravens 34-17.
      • Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Adam Hayward (57) pumps himself up before the start of their game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints won 41-0.
      • Cleveland Browns running back Trent Richardson (33) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Washington Redskins during the first quarter at Cleveland Browns Stadium.The Redskins beat the Browns 38-21.
      • Indianapolis Colts defensive end Cory Redding (90) wipes his eyes while observing a moment of silence in honor of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting in Newtown, Conn., during the first quarter against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium.
      • Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dunta Robinson celebrates after a defensive stop in the second half against the New York Giants in Atlanta. The Falcons rolled 34-0.
      • Detroit Lions kicker Jason Hanson practices kicks prior to the game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won 38-10.
      • Green Bay Packers cornerback Sam Shields (37) breaks up a pass intended for Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (not pictured) during the second half at Soldier Field. The Packers beat the Bears 21-13.
      • New England Patriots running back Shane Vereen, right, fumbles the ball while being tackled by San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman, left, during the second quarter in Foxboro, Mass. The 49ers won 41-34.
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        Especially since that 27-yard touchdown Kaepernick roped to Crabtree down the seam over three defenders that put the 49ers up 31-3 with 10:21 left in the third quarter was a throw that isn't in Alex Smith's repertoire.

        How many quarterbacks can make that throw?

        "Not many," Davis said. "Colin has a very strong arm. The situation we were put in tonight with the rain and the cold weather, it was a test for us. And we came out on top. It's an honor to win this game against Tom Brady.

        "We went to the playoffs last year for the first time. And to make it back this year is a beautiful thing. We're still on a journey."

        Coach Jim Harbaugh's 10-3-1 team next travels to Seattle for a chance to clinch a second straight NFC West title.

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        After Danny Woodhead ducked into the end zone on a 1-yard tying touchdown, rookie LaMichael James bolted 62 yards with the ensuing kickoff to the New England 38-yard line, setting up Kaepernick's winning score.

        "That was a tough game to play quarterback," Harbaugh said. "It was a heck of a football game. Kap is definitely acquitting himself well. He has a poise beyond his years."

        It's the type of battle-tested win that can carry a team a long way.

        Brady lamented a thrilling comeback that fell short, blaming four turnovers, including an uncharacteristic two interceptions by a league MVP candidate who had thrown just five in 13 previous games.

        He wound end up throwing for 443 yards, completing 36 of 65 passes.

        "I had a feeling we'd be able to come back," Brady said after surpassing 4,000 yards passing in a season for the fifth time. "We hung in there. We battled back from a 28-point deficit. But we just made too many mistakes when we needed to make the plays.

        "We just spotted them 28 points."

        And Kaepernick stood up when Brady pushed him hard.

        "I kept talking to our offense, saying, 'We have to keep putting up points; we're going to have to score, especially the way they were putting up points,' " Kaepernick said. "It feels great to get this win and help us move forward to where we want to be for the playoffs."

        Said Patriots safety Devin McCourty: "Nothing seems to rattle him."

        He could have been talking about his teammate, Brady.

        Instead, McCourty had to give praise last night to the new comeback kid.