Jarryd Hayne gets “start”, finishes with fewer touches than DuJuan Harris

Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) scrambles away from San Francisco 49ers nose tackle Ian Williams (93) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Detroit.

Caldwell, perhaps coaching the Lions for the last time at home, called for a fake punt and the gamble paid off. He also challenged a spot later in the game that gave Detroit a first down.

They were able to spike the ball with two seconds left on the clock catching the 49ers offside, moving Prater’s field goal attempt five yards closer.

Mr. 1000 – Anquan Boldin hit a major milestone in his career – 1,000 catches – on the first play of the game, but the 49ers receiver wasn’t in a mood to celebrate.

More milestones: The 49ers are now 0-3 since owner Denise DeBartolo York hugged Tomsula after the overtime victory in Chicago and Jed York tweeted about the “very fun win” – when the Yorks really thought they had it all back on track, oops!

The 49ers (4-11) thus matched their combined number of regular-season losses from the 2011-2013 seasons, in which they reached the NFC Championship Game each year.

Stats pack: The 49ers were flagged 11 times in the game for 65 yards.

Harris, who said he’s 5-foot-7 despite being listed as 5-8 on the 49ers’ roster, said his lack of height gives him an edge.

– Linebacker NaVorro Bowman was at a loss to explain how his fellow defenders could commit seven offside or neutral-zone penalties, including six in the first half. The 49ers only managed three more points on a second quarter Phil Dawson field goal after he missed a 45 yarder shortly before.

“It was during warm-up, I think, just getting told that I’m going to take the first play and just rolling with it”, he said. A failed two-point conversion gave the Lions a 29-17 lead. Gabbert finished 22 of 33 for 225 yards.

Along with Gabbert’s costly fumble, one could make the argument Detroit’s successful fake punt in the second quarter led the way to the Lions eventually taking control of the game.

Stafford was 29 of 37 for 302 yards.

Hayne, however, said he was going through his pre-game warm up on the Lion’s indoor Ford Field when one of his coaches walked up and revealed he would start. “I would much rather take the win”.

Riding the heels of a career high 74-yards from Harris, Gabbert would do just that, as the fifth-year quarterback found a slanting Torrey Smith across the middle of the Detroit end zone for a 16-yard score to retake the lead at 14-10.

Used exclusively at running back, Hayne made his best ever gain of 11 yards, which ultimately led to the 49ers’ first touchdown of the match.

The Lions Johnson finished with six catches for a team-high 77 yards, and his bid for a first-quarter touchdown was broken up by the 49ers Johnson, who made his first start of the season. Matt Prater added four field goals for the Lions.