Alex Smith News

Winning on the road has been a quandary during the last year for the playoff-hopeful San Francisco 49ers.

If individual 100- and 300-yard games are the benchmark, the San Francisco 49ers' passing game is sorely lacking.

That knowledge, combined with JaMarcus Russell 's season-long struggles, gave coach Tom Cable comfort in making the radical switch to Gradkowski as his starting quarterback nine games into the season.

The question is: Who is the 49ers' No. 1 receiver? The 49ers answer is: Who cares? "If everybody is making plays, then that's teamwork," Michael Crabtree said.

Chris Johnson ran for 135 yards and scored twice, as Tennessee got back to its winning ways in a 34-27 triumph over San Francisco.

Sunday's matchup between Aaron Rodgers and Alex Smith -- er, San Francisco and Green Bay -- brings to mind the quirky coincidences of the 2005 draft.

Following is a scouting report on the San Francisco 49ers based on interviews with several coaches and scouts whose teams recently played them: ♦ Sign up for Green Bay Packers text alerts.

Hey, should we get back to talking football? The 49ers were back at work Tuesday in full pads for an immense task in Green Bay on Sunday, a place the 49ers haven't won since 1990.

San Francisco intercepted Jay Cutler five times as the 49ers ended a four-game losing streak with a 10-6 win over the Chicago Bears.

Vernon Davis ' season of excellence continues apace. Although he did not have a touchdown catch Sunday for the first time in three games, the tight end did achieve career highs in receptions and yards.

The San Francisco 49ers came into the 2009 season as a run-first, run-second, pass-if-necessary type of football team.

Worse still, the 49ers did not score any offensive points on their own, as the touchdown and field goal were both set up by interceptions.

As the season progresses the one thing that remains clear is that Jimmy Raye as a play caller and an offensive coordinator does not mix.

Frank Gore ran for 104 yards and a touchdown, Jay Cutler threw a career-high five interceptions with his last coming in the end zone on the game's final play and the San Francisco 49ers snapped a four-game losing streak by beating the Chicago Bears 10-6 on Thursday night.

Forget about the Chicago defensive line. Here is what Vernon Davis and the 49ers really need to destroy Thursday night: Their own stupid mistakes.

TWO MONTHS ago he was the head man in charge of charisma, equal parts football coach and religious figure.

In the next segment, the Tennessee Titans are the focus as I answer his five questions regarding this week's Titans / 49ers matchup.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 2:02 p.m. SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Alex Smith briefly watched film of Sunday's game before moving on to the next task: the Chicago Bears on Thursday night.

Well, that first half was quite the roller-coaster of events, and it was well reflected in our two open threads.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith is sacked against Tennessee Titans William Hayes and Jovan Haye in the first quarter in San Francisco, Calif.