49ers defeat Rams 31-17 for third consecutive win

By R.B. Fallstrom, Associated Press

Monday, Oct. 13, 2014 | 9:20 p.m.

ST. LOUIS — Colin Kaepernick and the San Francisco 49ers answered St. Louis' fast start with a big finish.

Kaepernick threw for 343 yards and three touchdowns, helping the 49ers erase an early 14-point deficit and beat the Rams 31-17 on Monday night.

Brandon Lloyd, Anquan Boldin and Michael Crabtree each caught a scoring pass for the 49ers (4-2), who have won three in a row. Ahmad Brooks and Dan Skuta had two sacks apiece for a stifling defense that sacked Austin Davis five times and permitted one first down on St. Louis' first six possessions of the second half.

"Our receivers did a great job today," Kaepernick said. "Our offensive line did a great job, protecting us and giving us time."

The Rams (1-4) had 151 yards and a 14-0 lead after the first quarter on Benny Cunningham's 1-yard run and a 22-yard touchdown pass from Davis to Lance Kendricks.

St. Louis wore throwback uniforms — royal blue and bright yellow — to honor its 1999 Super Bowl title team and represented that winning squad very well for a short time. Guard Adam Timmerman joined wide receivers Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt for an impromptu bob n' weave TD dance in the end zone at halftime.

The Rams haven't had a winning season since the Greatest Show on Turf petered out in 2003. They doubled their first-quarter scoring for the year with a start that mimicked their last home game when they led Dallas 21-0.

They lost that one 34-31, and this one was all San Francisco the rest of the way.

The 49ers scuffled to a 1-2 start coming off a third straight appearance in the NFC championship game, but have won 13 of their last 14 in October.

Davis was 18 for 36 for 205 yards. He threw for 300 yards each of the last two games with six touchdown passes.