SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – San Francisco’s Alex Smith and Kevin Kolb of Philadelphia threw touchdown passes on their opening drives, and the 49ers and Eagles were tied at 7 after one quarter Sunday night.
Smith hit Michael Crabtree for a 7-yard score on San Francisco’s crisp opening drive, but Kolb replied with a TD pass to tight end Brent Celek, who outwrestled two tacklers to reach the end zone with 2:23 left in the quarter.
Kolb was back in Philadelphia’s starting lineup in place of Michael Vick, who injured his ribs in last week’s loss to Washington. Kolb was the Eagles’ starting quarterback out of training camp, but sat out with a concussion after the opener while Vick was chosen the NFC’s offensive player of the month for September.
The Niners looked nothing like an 0-4 team on their first series in the Candlestick Park debut of new offensive coordinator Mike Johnson, scoring a touchdown on their opening drive for only the second time since 2008.
San Francisco is trying to avoid the franchise’s first 0-5 start since losing its opening seven games of a 2-14 season with first-year coach Bill Walsh in 1979.
Longtime Eagles running back Brian Westbrook even contributed to the 49ers’ opening drive after a slow start to his first year in San Francisco. Westbrook, who had been on the field for only four plays in the first four games, took his first handoff from Smith for a 6-yard gain.
San Francisco running back Frank Gore fumbled at midfield on the first play after Smith hit Crabtree for the receiver’s third catch of the quarter. Former 49ers cornerback Joselio Hanson, filling in for injured Asante Samuel, recovered Gore’s fumble.
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