On Monday night, Kaepernick tossed three touchdowns in a 15-minute span to rally the 49ers from a 14-point, second-quarter deficit in a 31-17 win over the Rams that was sealed by a 20-yard interception return for a score by cornerback Dontae Johnson with one minute left.
The 49ers (4-2) scored 24 straight points thanks to Kaepernick, who completed 22 of 36 passes for 343 yards with three touchdowns. Perhaps it’s something about Monday nights? Kaepernick has thrown nine touchdowns and no interceptions in four MNF starts. His record: 4-0. His passer rating: 124.6.
What is about Kaepernick and this stage?
“I think he’s good all the time,” Jim Harbaugh said. “He’s done it, and done it and done it. And he keeps doing it, and doing it and doing it.”
At the Edward Jones Dome, Kaepernick had the longest completion of his career (80 yards) his second-highest passing yardage total and added 37 yards on three carries.
Kaepernick went to work with the 49ers reeling. After 29 minutes, they trailed 14-3 thanks to a slew of missed tackles, penalties (4) and a turnover St. Louis (2-4) turned into a touchdown.
With 27 seconds before halftime, they faced 3rd-and-6 at their own 20 and appeared destined to slink back to their locker room. Instead, they sprinted off after they improbably left the field with momentum. The reason: Kaepernick fired an 80-yard touchdown to wideout Brandon Lloyd, who used a double move to sprint down the left sideline past cornerback Janoris Jenkins, who inexplicably failed to keep Lloyd in front of him.
“It definitely gave us momentum and then we were just talking about coming back and keeping it,” Harbaugh said. “Keeping the momentum with the next drive. We knew were getting the ball back offensively. Thought that was going to be an important drive.”
And Kaepernick made it a productive drive.
Trailing 14-10, Kaepernick highlighted the 12-play, 80-yard march by sprinting around right end for a 23-yard gain before finishing it by showing off his right arm.
On 3rd-and-1, Kaepernick was flushed to his left, where he fired an on-the-run, sidearm laser off his back foot over the outstretched arms of Jenkins to Anquan Boldin in the back of the end zone for an 11-yard score.
The play was designed to be a pass to left tackle Joe Staley, who reported as an eligible receiver. But Staley was tackled by defensive end Robert Quinn, which drew a penalty flag, and Kaepernick improvised.
“I didn’t see that coming,” Harbaugh said. “That was another where it’s like what is he doing with the ball? … How he saw (Boldin), I don’t know.”
Harbaugh was asked if Kaepernick has done drills that allow him to throw at awkward, gravity defying angles.
“I’ve done drills with a lot of quarterbacks through the years and nobody plays like this guy does,” Harbaugh said. “Can’t really attribute to any drills or any practice. He’s got a way.”
Two drives later, Kaepernick led another touchdown drive by completing 4 of 4 passes for 72 yards. His last completion was a 32-yard dart to Michael Crabtree, who broke free over the middle on a post pattern and celebrated the score by heaving the ball into the stands.
Meanwhile, the 49ers defense also woke up after it surrendered two first-quarter touchdowns. After the Rams took a 14-0 lead, they punted on seven straight possessions and didn’t score again until a 38-yard field goal by Greg Zuerlein with 2:24 left.
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