Kansas City wide receiver Dwayne Bowe leads the NFL with 14 touchdown catches. In two games against the Chargers secondary, though, he’s combined for two catches for 16 yards. Indianapolis’ Reggie Wayne ranks second in the NFL in receptions (94) and yards (1,213). Against San Diego, however, he had five catches for 42 yards.

This and that from today in Santa Clara: • RB Anthony Dixon says coach Mike Singletary asks him to get four yards. On Sunday, the 233-pound rookie got him 34. In the first quarter of Sunday’s 40-21 win against Seattle, Dixon swept right and cut back left on the longest run of his career. It was type of play Dixon often made en route to leading the NFL in rushing…

The 49ers starting inside linebackers sported similar casts — and messages — today. Patrick Willis and Takeo Spikes had casts on their right arms, but little news for reporters regarding their playing status for Thursday’s game at San Diego. Come to think of it, the club-wearing linebackers must also share the same media consultant. Have a listen:

As you know, the 49ers could lose at San Diego on Thursday night and still win the NFC West with a 7-9 record. The Niners would have to win their final two games and have the Rams and Seahawks both lose at least two of their remaining three games. In the event of ties, San Francisco would win the tiebreaker by virtue of a 5-1 division record. If such a…

We’ve seen Mike Singletary red-eyed after losses. We’ve seen him in defiant you’ll-see-on-Sunday mode. We’ve seen him in motivational, voice-rising, we-will-embrace-the-challenge mode. Today, however, we saw a new Singletary persona: Comatose Mike.

This and that from the 49ers’ 40-21 victory over the Seahawks: • Niners coach Mike Singletary termed Brian Westbrook’s slow transition into the offense a “blessing in the disguise.” “I’m just thankful that we didn’t use Brian very much early on, and let him get acclimated, let him understand what we’re doing, the protections, and all those things,” Singletray said. “And now he has a better sense of what he…

Happy game day. I’m about to head off to Candlestick, but here’s an early start on some pregame notes. I’ll be updating this blog leading up until kickoff: • Niners inactives: David Carr (3rd QB), K Joe Nedney, CB Tramaine Brock, RB DeShawn Wynn, CB Will James, LB Thaddeus Gibson, T Joe Staley and T Alex Boone. NT Aubrayo Franklin, who was questionable with a groin injury, will give it…

Many of you have had this fantasy, um, thought: What if Jon Gruden or Jim Harbaugh were the 49ers head coach? Some of you might have even pondered a name such as Brian Billick. What would a Super-Bowl-winning coach with an offensive background do with the smash-mouth Niners? Well, wonder no more.

Anthony Davis smiled today as he recalled a moment when his talent and preparation collided. And Green Bay sack master Clay Matthews felt the impact. Based on his pregame film study, Davis, the Niners 21-year-old rookie right tackle, said he was ready for one of Matthews’ patented moves early in San Francisco’s 34-16 loss to the Packers.

His stance was too wide and he stood too upright. And, as a result of Ricky Jean Francois’ sloppy technique, the 49ers defense was too soft when the second-year nose tackle replaced an injured Aubrayo Franklin in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 34-16 loss to the Packers. After Francois entered, Green Bay went on a game-sealing, 17-play, 74-yard drive during which it collected 53 of its 136 rushing yards. The…

In scanning the comments on this blog, I’ve come to the insightful conclusion that many of y’all have lost faith in the 49ers. Given the circumstances surrounding the team — most notably that 4-8 record — a lack of faith seems completely reasonable. But Las Vegas doesn’t share your pessimistic outlook. The sharks have installed San Francisco as a five-point favorite in Sunday’s game against the visiting Seahawks, marking the…

Alex Smith understands more of the 49ers playbook than Troy Smith. But he had a more difficult time grasping why coach Mike Singletary told him Monday that he — and not Troy Smith — would be the starting quarterback Sunday against Seattle. “It was definitely my first question, ‘What’s changed?’” Smith said. “That was definitely something that was on my mind.”

The 49ers world began turning today with coach Mike Singletary addressing the unexpected departure of assistant Johnnie Lynn, 53, who resigned this week after five years on the staff for what the team termed “personal reasons.” Lynn, a special assistant to Singletary who also coached the defensive backs with Vance Joseph, left the Niners in the wake of a 34-16 loss to Green Bay in which the secondary allowed 298…

Troy Smith or Alex Smith? It’s not exactly the NFL equivalent of choosing between filet mignon and Chateaubriand. But 49ers coach Mike Singletary said he’s going back to Alex Smith because the sixth-year quarterback is a bit better aged.

The 49ers will go back to Plan A in an effort to keep their fading playoff hopes alive. According to multiple sources, the Niners will bench quarterback Troy Smith in favor of Alex Smith for their game against visiting Seattle (6-6) on Sunday. With a loss, San Francisco (4-8) will be mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.

On the game’s first offensive play Sunday, 49ers quarterback Troy Smith heaved a deep pass to Michael Crabtree. It was incomplete. But it sure seemed looked a message was being sent: They Niners were 9½-point underdogs on the road and they were going to adopt a go-for-broke mentality. Maybe an onsides kick at some point. Possibly a little razzle-dazzle. OK, at the very least, a sweep outside with Brian Westbrook?

Greetings from Lambeau Field. Greetings from Lambeau Field. Greetings from Lambeau Field. Sorry, I just really enjoy writing that. They don’t have pigskin-lined streets here, much to my surprise, but they do have everything else to delight a diehard NFL fan, including an ocean of alcohol in the parking lot.

The stats are impressive and the Internet photos are entertaining, but how much do you really know about the newest Niner, placekicker Jeff Reed? Here’s today’s Q&A with Reed, who spoke shortly after arriving from Pittsburgh, where he began his day on a 6:55 a.m. flight:

Jeff Reed flew in from Pittsburgh this morning and based on what he said following his arrival, he probably packed more than a suitcase. It appears Reed will be sticking around for a while. “I’ve been told that I’ll be here the rest of the season,” said Reed, the veteran placekicker who officially signed with the 49ers today to fill-in for Joe Nedney. Reed’s declaration came as a bit of…