"Add an NFL record to Vernon Davis' list of 2009 accomplishments.

Davis' 73-yard catch-and-run touchdown in the fourth quarter Sunday was his 13th of the season, which ties him with San Diego's Antonio Gates for most touchdown receptions by a tight end in a season. It also happened to be the longest reception of Davis' career.

Quarterback Alex Smith said that when he approached the line of scrimmage, he saw the Rams had only one deep safety. At that point, he knew he was going in Davis' direction. Smith took the snap, looked off the safety to his left, then put the ball up for Davis.

"It's hard for any team to replicate his speed on a show team (in practice), to get a feel for what he's like, and he just ran by that guy," Smith said. "He went outside and made a great play on the ball and finished it off."

Davis' score with 7:29 left put the 49ers ahead 14-6. The 49ers later marched deep into St. Louis territory twice more, and Davis admitted he thought about breaking the tight end touchdown record.

"I whispered to Frank (Gore), 'I hope they throw me the ball again so I can get 14,' " he said.

Instead, the ball went to Gore, who grabbed a record of his own with touchdown runs of three and six yards. That gave Gore 10 rushing touchdowns for the season, setting a new career high for him and tying him with five other 49ers for most rushing touchdowns in a season. The others include Joe Perry (1953), J.D. Smith (1959), Billy Kilmer (1961), Ricky Watters (1993) and Derek Loville (1995).

Sack attack - Records and career bests also were set on the defensive side. The 49ers recorded eight sacks, 3 1/2 by defensive end Justin Smith, who set a career mark for sacks in a game.

Linebacker Manny Lawson also had a sack, giving him a team-best 6 1/2 sacks for the season. He was followed by Smith and linebacker Ahmad Brooks, who both finished with six sacks, and linebacker Parys Haralson, who finished with 5 1/2.

Curtain call - Isaac Bruce received a long ovation of "Bruuuuce" from the St. Louis crowd, and it nearly brought the stoic wide receiver to tears. Bruce was an honorary captain Sunday and he played the 49ers' first offensive snap, a two-yard run by Gore.

He got a warm ovation for that, but the loudest cheers came when Bruce's image was shown on Edward Jones Dome's video board.

"I can control my emotions," Bruce said afterward. "If I was going to cry, it nearly came, but it didn't come all the way out. I was touched, truly touched by the gesture.""