For Gore, milestone salves disappointing year

Gaining 1,000 yards rushing over the course of a 16-game season doesn't have the cachet it once did when seasons were 12 and 14 games, but it's still a nice four-digit figure, and Frank Gore will take it.

With 71 yards on 28 carries, Gore cracked 1,000 yards for a fourth straight season in helping the 49ers to a 20-6 win over the Detroit Lions at Candlestick Park. He was already the first back in franchise history to post three straight 1,000-yard seasons.

"It means a lot," Gore said. "It was an up-and-down season. It was a tough year. It's a blessing. I got to give it all to my offensive line, and the receivers downfield blocking well. I just stayed positive."

Gore was a busy Niner on Sunday. In addition to his rushing total that included a 1-yard touchdown run, Gore also had four receptions for a team-high 81 yards. One of his catches was on a fourth-down play that surprised the Lions, gaining 48 yards to set up his touchdown run in the third quarter.

It has been a strange season for Gore. His offense tried to start out as a power-running team, abandoned that for a spread-shotgun attack and, of late, has gone back to a more traditional two-back set out of an I-formation.

Gore missed all of two games and most of a third with an ankle injury, so his season total of 1,013 yards carries a little more weight.

His motivation now is to reach .500 for the first time in his five seasons in San Francisco.

"That will be good," he said. "Since I've been here, the best record was 7-9. My boys (teammates) know we had a good chance to go to the playoffs. We hurt ourselves. All the games we lost on the road by three to seven points, that hurt."

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(sfgate.com)