Delanie Walker Video: Watch 49ers TE's Game-Winning TD Catch vs. Lions

In the battle between two surprise teams, it was the San Francisco 49ers going into Detroit and stealing a victory from the previously undefeated Lions. The go-ahead score came on 4th-and-goal when Alex Smith hit tight end Delanie Walker to give the 49ers a 22-19 lead with just under two minutes to play. 

The touchdown was very close, as Walker's knee hit the ground at the same time the ball crossed the goal line. Initially—to me, at least—it looked like he was down before he got in. The referees signaled touchdown, and on the review it is clear that he broke the plane before being down. 

When the season started, there was a lot of fanfare behind the Lions for the first time since Barry Sanders retired. They won four straight to close out 2010 and got some impressive performances from Calvin Johnson and Ndamukong Suh. 

They are 5-1 after six games and have nothing to be upset about. 

The 49ers are a different story. They made no significant upgrades to their roster—maybe Braylon Edwards, but he has been hurt most of the season—and are 5-1 with two impressive victories over Tampa Bay and Detroit in the last two weeks. 

Head coach Jim Harbaugh has done something to get this team to play better than any of us gave them credit for. The offensive line, which looked like a problem in the preseason, has gelled quite nicely. Frank Gore has rushed for over 100 yards in each of the last three games.  

Alex Smith is not always throwing for a lot of yards, but with the game on the line he has been dynamite for this team. Even the announcers said that the throw to Walker was his best of the game. 

The skeptics can say what they want about the 49ers, but they have been winning games against good teams. It is time to start giving the devil his due. They are going to be tough to beat come playoff time. 

No, it's not too soon to talk playoffs with the 49ers. They will probably have the NFC West wrapped up around Nov. 1.