"Stopping Frank Gore has been priority No. 1 for San Francisco's opponents this season. The Eagles' defense, however, went into Sunday's game eyeing another threat, tight end Vernon Davis.

Though eight passes were thrown his way, Davis was held to three catches for 43 yards. More important to the Philadelphia defenders was that they kept Davis, who has 11 touchdown catches on the season, out of the end zone.

"I can probably say that this is one week that we game-planned a guy and actually took him out of the game," said linebacker Jeremiah Trotter. "There have been weeks where we've game-planned a guy and he was still able to get it done – especially a tight end making catches on us.

"I'm really proud of the defense, and we were able to take him out of the game."

While most defenses have used three-linebacker formations in an effort to stop Gore, the Eagles turned to their nickel packages more often than usual against the 49ers, who have used Davis and fellow tight end Delanie Walker heavily in the passing game in recent weeks.

Gore rushed for 107 yards and became the first running back in more than 20 games to go over 100 yards against the Eagles' defense. But the 49ers could not sustain drives, and Gore became less of a factor as the Eagles pulled ahead.

Davis, meanwhile, drew unwanted attention from his head coach for not making a better effort to catch a pass that was intercepted by Eagles safety Quintin Mikell.

"I told Vernon – going down the field on that, I would have liked to have seen him go for the ball more," coach Mike Singletary said. "Obviously, it was (lofted) a little bit by Alex (Smith), but I wanted to see him go get it because I think that's what great tight ends do, and I think that's what he wants to be. You've got to try and go get them."

Said Davis of the play: "I don't know what happened. I should have made the play. I'll just take the heat for that particular play because I didn't make the play.""