49ers enter NFL record book

Share

The 49ers capped their historical regular season Sunday with three entries into the NFL record book.--Punter Andy Lee set the NFL record for single-season net punting average of 43.99 yards. The previous record was held by Oakland's Shane Lechler, who averaged 43.85 net yards in 2009. On Sunday, Lee averaged 56.8 yards (51.4 net) on five punts.
--Kicker David Akers scored 165 points on the season to set the NFL record for most points scored in a single season with no touchdowns. Gary Anderson (Minnesota) held the previous record of 164 points in 1998.RELATED: David Akers 2011 game logs
--The 49ers committed just 10 turnovers on the season to tie the NFL record for fewest giveaways in a season. Last year, the New England Patriots had 10 turnovers. The 49ers went the final 22 quarters without turning the ball over.Among their other superlatives . . .
--The 49ers finished with a plus-28 turnover margin, tied for second-best margin in the NFL for a single season since 1970.--Quarterback Alex Smith finished the season with 160 attempts without an interception -- the second-longest streak in franchise history. In 1993, Steve Young attempted 183 passes without an interception.RELATED: Alex Smith 2011 game logs
--Smith finished with 17 touchdown passes and five interceptions. His 3.40 touchdown-to-interception ratio is third in franchise history behind Young's 3.57 and 3.50 in 1992 and 1994, respectively.--Smith threw for a career-high 3,150 yards on the season. Receiver Michael Crabtree set single-season highs with 73 catches for 880 yards.
--The 49ers' 13-3 record was the franchise's best mark in the regular season since 1997.--The 49ers won six road games, marking the most road wins for the team since 1996.--The team won five games with 10 a.m. (PT) start times for the first time since going 5-0 in those such games since 1990.RELATED: NFL standings
--Coach Jim Harbaugh became the fourth rookie head coach in NFL history to win 13 or more games. He is the first coach to accomplish the feat after inheriting a team coming off a losing record.
--The 49ers allowed just 23 touchdowns on the season, tying the fewest allowed in a single season in franchise history. In 1971, the 49ers also allowed 23 touchdowns -- but in a 14-game season.RELATED: Final 49ers 2011 regular season stats--The 49ers allowed an average of 14.3 points a game, the third-best mark in franchise history.--After setting an NFL record for not allowing a rushing touchdown for the first 14 games of the season, the defense fell short of the record for fewest rushing TDs allowed in a season. The Rams scored two rushing touchdowns on Sunday to give the 49ers' defense three TDs allowed on the ground. The NFL record is two, set by four teams. "Many teams" have allowed three rushing TDs in a season, according to the league.--It's almost impossible to track the uniqueness of this, but . . . starting offensive tackles Joe Staley and Anthony Davis were not penalized for holding the entire season.

Contact Us