SAN FRANCISCO – Joe Nedney booted a 39-yard field goal as time expired Sunday, but what was perhaps more notable was the field goal he missed in the first quarter.
That's because the misfire from 48 yards out was caused by an errant snap, something that rarely occurs to long snapper Brian Jennings, whose consistency has earned him a trip to the Pro Bowl in the past.
"I've had four years of nothing but perfection," Nedney said. "Every so often you get a hiccup."
When it came to the game winner, however, the battery of Jennings, holder Andy Lee and Nedney was perfect.
Nedney said he began mentally preparing himself for the kick when the Redskins drove inside the 10-yard line on their game-tying drive.
"That's kind of my job," he said. "I've got to be able to project myself in these situations so that when they actually do happen, I'm prepared for them."
Earlier in the week, Nedney was the focus of media attention, not for his left foot, but for his upper lip. To honor the 49ers of the past, players decided to grow mustaches for Sunday's game. Nedney's mustache, they decided, was the most impressive.
"I've been growing this mustache for six weeks, and there was no way I was spoiling all this growth by missing that kick," he said. "We had to make that ball. This was destiny."
Record run – It was an innocuous carry, a three-yard gain early in the second quarter. But with it, Frank Gore became the first running back in 49ers history to gain at least 1,000 rushing yards in three consecutive seasons.
Gore, who had missed the previous two games with a sprained ankle, finished with 58 yards Sunday and had 1,036 yards for the season. He had a franchise-record 1,695 yards in 2006 and 1,102 yards in 2007.
"I'm happy," Gore said."Everyone wanted me to do it today. My O-line, they wanted it. All of my teammates wanted it. … I have a record in this great franchise's history, and that's a great thing."
Although Gore started the game, his left ankle obviously had not fully healed. He limped off the field on two separate occasions and ended up splitting carries with DeShaun Foster, who had 44 yards on nine attempts, including a one-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
This is the first time in the last three seasons that Gore didn't finish as the team's leader in receptions. That honor instead went to wide receiver Issac Bruce, who had 61 catches this season. Gore had 43 catches.
Et cetera – Patrick Willis was the NFL tackle king last season, but this year he'll have to settle for second. Willis had seven stops Sunday, leaving him with 141 for the season. That's 13 fewer than Cleveland linebacker D'Qwell Jackson but three more than Carolina linebacker Jon Beason.
• Former 49er Andre Carter recorded the only sack on Shaun Hill Sunday. That means the 49ers allowed 55 sacks on the season, tying the franchise record they set last season.
• The 49ers only reported one injured player, safety Michael Lewis, who hurt his knee. Linebacker Manny Lawson (hamstring) and safety Mark Roman (shoulder) both left the game briefly but returned to action.
Read Matthew Barrows' 49ers blog at www.sacbee.com/ninersblog.
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