Colin Kaepernick 49ers regain form to blow by Redskins

Colin Kaepernick threw three TD passes as the 49ers improved to 7 4.(Photo Brad Mills USA TODAY Sports)

Story HighlightsKaepernick finished 15 of 24 passing for 235 yards and three TDs with a 134.5 rating49ers snapped a two game slide to improve to 7 4 while Redskins dropped to 3 849ers limited Redskins to just 33 yards and one first down in the second half

LANDOVER Md. Just more than a year after he supplanted former San Francisco 49ers starter Alex Smith Colin Kaepernick found some redemption by recapturing a glimmer of last year's form.

Like Washington Redskins counterpart Robert Griffin III Kaepernick entered Monday night's prime time matchup as a second year starter mired in a sophomore slump.

But Kaepernick threw his way out of his funk firing three touchdown passes and reminding everyone of the cannon armed dual threat who led the 49ers to Super Bowl XLVII in sparkling a 27 6 victory.

BOX SCORE 49ers 27 Redskins 6

ANALYSIS RG3 shows regression in loss

Kaepernick's improved play snapped a two game losing skid lifting 7 4 San Francisco back into the NFC wild card playoff mix tied for the conference's sixth seed with the Arizona Cardinals.

As for the 3 8 Redskins well after a week of criticism of RG3's leadership the noise figures to intensify about what's wrong with coach Mike Shanahan's first to worst team that captured the NFC East title last season. Shanahan still has another year remaining on his contract. But it was the type of ugly loss on a national stage that raises questions about whether Shanahan can fix his fallen team and a frustrated quarterback as the Redskins are reduced to playing out the string beginning Sunday night against the 4 7 New York Giants.

Any time you have three wins and eight losses it's tough when you get embarrassed like we did Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said. We haven't been dominated like that since I've been here.

OUCH RG3 gets kicked in the groin during loss

When Kaepernick hit tight end Vernon Davis on a 1 yard touchdown with 1 09 left in the third quarter many Redskins fans began streaming out of FedEx Field. And the stadium was three quarters empty with two minutes left as the Redskins gained just 33 yards with one first down in the second half.

RG3 failed to lead his team into the end zone in his worst game of the season hitting just 17 of 27 passes for 127 yards with an interception and four sacks as San Francisco's fourth ranked scoring defense limited the Redskins to a pair of Kai Forbath field goals.

It's frustrating. We're all frustrated. We're tired of losing Griffin said. The one takeaway the one thing we're not is quitters. I'll fight with these guys any day.

In back to back losses to the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints defenses made the 49ers one dimensional daring Kaepernick to beat them. The quarterback was unable to throwing for just 218 yards two touchdowns and two interceptions in those losses.

But against Washington's 29th ranked defense Kaepernick hit 15 of 23 passes for 235 yards adding a pair of touchdowns to receiver Anquan Boldin.

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Things might have been closer than 10 6 at halftime. But Griffin's up and down play continued to short circuit drives.

He got lucky when his fumble forced by two defenders while diving forward on second and 1 from the San Francisco 18 was recovered by receiver Pierre Garcon.

Forbath's 35 yard boot split the uprights before time expired at the half.

After RG3 finally caught his rhythm operating in no huddle mode a 12 play 63 yard drive bogged down on third and 9 from the San Francisco 18 when the quarterback short armed a throw for receiver Santana Moss forcing Forbath's 36 yard field goal.

Griffin was intercepted when he threw late across the middle of the field for Garcon just as linebacker Aldon Smith planted him into the turf. RG3 lay face down for a moment as safety Donte Whitner returned his interception seven yards to set up set up Phil Dawson's 29 yard field goal

Follow national NFL reporter Jim Corbett on Twitter ByJimCorbett.

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