The Sports Xchange

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens faced each other Sunday for the first time since Feb. 3, 2013.

Super Bowl XLVII was on the line that day, and the Ravens held on for a 34-31 victory.

This time, the 49ers and Ravens entered the game with matching 1-4 records and were fighting just to keep their fading playoff hopes alive.

The 49ers prevailed as quarterback Colin Kaepernick passed for a season-high 340 yards and two touchdowns in a 25-20 victory at Levi’s Stadium.

Ex-Ravens wide receivers Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith faced their former team for the first time and had big games, helping the 49ers snap a four-game losing streak. Boldin caught five passes for 102 yards, and Smith caught three passes for 96 yards and a 76-yard touchdown. Fullback Bruce Miller added three catches for 89 yards.

The 49ers (2-4) pulled to within two games of first-place Arizona in the NFC West and can move even close Thursday night at Levi’s with a victory over Seattle.

“You understand what’s at stake,” Smith said. “The more you win the better position you’re going to be in. We just need to try to figure out a way to win the next game. We can’t really look too far ahead. We aren’t in any position to even think about doing that with our record.”

Kaepernick completed 16 of 27 passes with no interceptions. Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco completed 33-of-53 passes for 343 yards and two touchdowns but was intercepted twice.

“It all starts with me not making those mistakes,” Flacco said. “We can’t afford to do that right now. We have to go out there and play fundamental football, take care of the football, and when the plays present themselves, we’ve got to make them. We weren’t able to do that. I didn’t play smart.”

Baltimore wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. caught seven passes for 137 yards and one touchdown.

What we learned about the 49ers:

1. San Francisco won’t go down without a fight. The 49ers beat Baltimore 25-20 in a battle of 1-4 teams, snapping a four-game losing streak and giving their slim playoff chances a boost. The 49ers pulled to within two games of the first-place Arizona Cardinals in the NFC West, and they face the Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium on Thursday night. “You understand what’s at stake,” wide receiver Torrey Smith said. “The more you win, the better position you’re going to be in. We just need to try to figure out a way to win the next game. We can’t really look too far ahead. We aren’t in any position to even think about doing that with our record.”

2. There is something about Levi’s Stadium that brings the best out of San Francisco’s defense. The 49ers held Minnesota to a field goal in a season-opening win in Santa Clara. The 49ers held down quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay offense in a 17-3 home loss to the Packers on Oct. 4. Then on Sunday, the 49ers’ defense held Baltimore to 20 points, picking off two Joe Flacco passes.

3. Quarterback Colin Kaepernick ended questions — at least for now — about whether he will be benched. Since throwing four interceptions in a 47-7 loss to Arizona, Kaepernick was picked off just once in the past three games. He passed for a season-high 340 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions Sunday against Baltimore. He had a 128.2 passer rating, another season high. In his previous start, Kaepernick threw for 262 yards and two TDs with zero picks and a 107.1 passer rating in a 30-27 loss to the New York Giants.

Etc.

–QB Colin Kaepernick completed 16 of 27 passes for a season-high 340 yards and two touchdowns Sunday in a 25-20 victory against Baltimore. He wasn’t intercepted, and he posted a 128.2 passer rating, another season best.

–WR Anquan Boldin, a former Raven, caught five passes for 102 yards Sunday in a 25-20 victory against Baltimore. Boldin had a 51-yard grab during a 65-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter that put San Francisco ahead 25-13.

–WR Torrey Smith caught three passes for 96 yards in a victory against Baltimore, his former team. Smith’s 76-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter gave San Francisco a 13-3 lead. He beat former 49ers CB Shareece Wright, who made his Ravens debut. “That was a double move,” Smith said. “I was able to beat him. I had to keep my feet. You’re going to expect contact.”