49ers slap an 'L' on Lions

Jim Harbaugh charged across the field, lifting his shirt to expose his belly to attempt a chest bump. He extended his right hand to Jim Schwartz for a shake and slapped him on the back with his left hand.

Schwartz didn't like what was done or said - claiming he heard an expletive - and went charging after Harbaugh. What an emotion-filled scene following a meeting of turnaround teams that matched pregame hype in San Francisco's 25-19 victory over Detroit on Sunday.

The NFC might have a nasty new rivalry no one saw coming.

After the 49ers knocked the Lions from the unbeaten ranks on Alex Smith's touchdown pass with 1:51 left, both coaches added some highlights - or lowlights - of their own.

Harbaugh took the blame in one breath - and a shot in the next.

"That's totally on me," Harbaugh said. "I shook his hand too hard."

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the incident will be reviewed.

Harbaugh, a first-year NFL coach who played at Michigan, had to be separated from Schwartz more than once after Schwartz came running and lunging toward him as both teams were going to the tunnel.

"I went to congratulate coach Harbaugh and got shoved out of the way," Schwartz said. "I didn't expect an obscenity at that point. Obviously, when you win a game like that, you are excited, but there is a protocol that goes with this league."

Players from the 49ers (5-1) and Lions (5-1) gathered and appeared to restore order - probably because they were worn out from a hard-hitting, penalty-filled game with four lead changes after halftime.

"Ironically, I was playing peacemaker," Detroit defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch said. "But this is an emotional sport."

Smith's fourth-down, 6-yard pass to Delanie Walker gave San Francisco the go-ahead touchdown with 1:51 left. The play stood after video review didn't show definitely whether Walker's right knee was down before the ball reached the goal line.

David Akers gave San Francisco a six-point lead with 1:02 to go with a 37-yard field goal.

Detroit had a chance to drive for a winning TD, but couldn't get a first down against a swarming defense that hit and confused quarterback Matthew Stafford from the start.

That last drive started with San Francisco's fifth sack and ended with a catch and lateral - 69 yards short of the end zone - to trigger Harbaugh's exuberant celebration.

"It fires me up a lot," Harbaugh said. "If that offends you or anybody else, then so be it."

San Francisco lost its first five games last season and the five-time championship franchise failed to finish with a winning record for the eighth straight year. Harbaugh has made an instant impact, quickly changing culture with many of the same players. The NFC West-leading 49ers have won five of their first six games for the first time since 1998.

"He loves football," Smith said. "He's an emotional guy, and it's showing up on this team."

Smith lost a fumble on his first snap and threw an interception late in the third quarter, matching his turnover totals from the first five games in both categories.

But the No. 1 pick overall from the 2005 draft made a clutch pass to Walker for the win when Michael Crabtree drew away the defense.

"They kind of jumped Crab and left me open in the middle," Walker said. "Alex made a great read and made a perfect throw."

Smith was 17 of 32 for 125 yards, going early and often to Crabtree, who matched a career high with nine receptions for 77 yards. Frank Gore ran 15 times for 141 yards, including a season-long 55-yard gain, and scored a TD that pulled the 49ers within three after they were outscored 10-0 in the first quarter.

Stafford looked shaky for the first time this season and San Francisco had a lot to do with that.

"It's a good defense," he acknowledged.

Stafford was 28 of 50 for 293 yards with two TDs.

Detroit had won nine straight regular-season games, dating to last season, in what was the league's longest active streak.

"We had trouble getting guys free, and when we did, we didn't always make the throws," Schwartz said. "We need to get the running game going so that we don't look quite so one-dimensional."

Packers 24, Rams 3: At Green Bay, Wis., Aaron Rodgers threw three touchdowns, including a career-long 93-yarder to Jordy Nelson, and Green Bay (6-0) now stands as the NFL's only undefeated team after beating St. Louis (0-5).

Giants 27, Bills 24: At East Rutherford, N.J., Ahmad Bradshaw ran for 104 yards and a career-best three touchdowns and Lawrence Tynes kicked a go-ahead 23-yard field goal with 1:32 remaining to New York (4-2) past Buffalo (4-2).

Patriots 20, Cowboys 16: At Foxborough, Mass., Tom Brady threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Hernandez with 22 seconds left to rally New England (5-1) over Dallas (2-3).

Raiders 24, Browns 17: At Oakland, Calif., Jacoby Ford returned a kickoff 101 yards and Kevin Boss caught a 35-yard touchdown pass on a fake field goal to lead Oakland (4-2) over Cleveland ( 2-3) in its first home game since the death of longtime owner Al Davis.

Ravens 29, Texans 14: Joe Flacco threw for 305 yards and ran for a score and Billy Cundiff kicked five field goals to lift host Baltimore (4-1) over Houston (3-3).

Buccaneers 26, Saints 20: At Tampa, Fla., Josh Freeman threw for 303 yards and two touchdowns and Earnest Graham rushed for 109 yards in place of injured starter LeGarrette Blount and Tampa Bay (4-2) held off New Orleans (4-2).

Eagles 20, Redskins 13: At Landover, Md., Michael Vick threw for 237 yards and a touchdown, Kurt Coleman had three interceptions and Philadelphia (2-4) snapped a four-game losing streak by beating Washington (3-2).

Bengals 27, Colts 17: Nate Clements blocked a late field goal try that would have tied the game, and Carlos Dunlap returned an Indianapolis fumble 35 yards for the clinching score to lift host Cincinnati (4-2) over the Colts (0-6).

Falcons 31, Panthers 17: Michael Turner ran for 139 yards and two touchdowns, Matt Ryan scored the tie-breaking TD with 7 minutes remaining, and Corey Peters came up with a huge interception and host Atlanta (3-3) beat Carolina (1-5).

Steelers 17, Jaguars 13: Rashard Mendenhall ran for a season-high 146 yards and a touchdown and host Pittsburgh (4-2) narrowly avoided a second-half collapse and beat Jacksonville (1-5).

Bears 39, Vikings 10: Devin Hester set the tone with a 48-yard touchdown catch and scored on a career-best 98-yard kickoff return before leaving with a chest injury, and host Chicago (3-3) routed Minnesota (1-5).