Quarterback Colin Kaepernick did something in his fifth NFL start that Alex Smith never accomplished. Kaepernick threw four touchdown passes in the 49ers' 41-34 victory over the New England Patriots on Sunday night.
It was the 49ers' highest road point output since a 45-17 victory over the San Diego Chargers on Dec. 3, 2000.
On Wednesday, Kaepernick was honored as NFC Offensive Player of the Week. Earlier this season, Smith won the same honor with his 18-of-19 passing performance against the Arizona Cardinals. Smith has not played a full game at quarterback since, as he sustained a concussion in the second quarter of his next start. Kaepernick replaced Smith in the lineup, and has remained in the starting role.
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Kaepernick overcame four fumbled snaps -- none of which resulted in turnovers -- to play a huge part in the 49ers' victory, which snapped the Patriots' 20-game home win streak in the month of December. He completed 14 of 25 passes for 216 yards with four touchdowns and one interception.
After the Patriots scored 28 unanswered points to tie the game at 31-31 in the fourth quarter, Kaepernick beat an all-out blitz for the go-ahead points. He tossed a 5-yard hitch to Michael Crabtree, who eluded the tackle attempt of New England cornerback Kyle Arrington en route to a 38-yard touchdown with 6:25 remaining.
This is the fourth time in 49ers history that two quarterbacks have won player-of-the-week honors in the same season. Hall of Famers Joe Montana and Steve Young both won the award in the 1988 and '90 seasons. And in 1991, Young and Steve Bono were honored.