Foster had just lost a fumble midway through the fourth quarter. Davis approached him as he came off the field and said he told him, "You're better than that." Foster was in no mood to hear it and pointed an angry finger in Davis' direction before teammates intervened. "It was nothing at all,'' Davis said later.

Davis said that he has an agreement with Foster and Frank Gore to confront each other over mistakes. "We're family. That's how we push one another,'' Davis said.

He said he told both running backs earlier this season to blast him if they ever saw him dropping his pads or missing a block. "Come to me and tell me, 'Vernon, pick it up!' Get in my face,'' Davis said. "That's how good teams become great. Don't get mad. You've got to learn how to deal with it."

The 49ers were ahead 35-9 at the time of the turnover. Foster carried five more times after the fumble, without incident, and left the locker room without comment.

Coach Mike Singletary, meanwhile, echoed Davis' sentiment.

"All I can tell you is in a family sometimes you have disagreements, and no one's perfect,'' he said. "You just have to learn how to work through things together and respect each other and deal with things in a way where you don't hurt feelings."

Road ahead

Even after a lopsided win, the 49ers recognized the challenge ahead. They play four of their final six games on the road, starting at the Dallas Cowboys next Sunday. Other games away from home are Buffalo (Nov. 30), Miami (Dec. 14) and St. Louis (Dec. 21).

"I think that's outstanding,'' Singletary said. "It means we really have to go in to tough situations. That will only help us get better."

Pace out

Rams left tackle Orlando Pace suffered an MCL injury during the first quarter and did not return. The seven-time Pro Bowl selection will have an MRI exam today, but the outlook is grim. "It sounds like it,'' St. Louis coach Jim Haslett said. "I'm not going to come to any conclusions until we get the MRI."

Extra points

The 49ers' three victories have come against some of the league's dregs. The Seattle Seahawks , Detroit Lions and Rams are a combined 4-26. (Seattle's victory total includes a win over the 49ers.) .... The 49ers reported no significant injuries. Cornerback Tarell Brown (neck strain) is expected to be fine. Running back Michael Robinson (stinger) and safety Michael Lewis (left knee) returned to the field. ... Receiver Bryant Johnson started in place of Josh Morgan (groin) and delivered four catches for 56 yards. Johnson scored his first touchdown since Week 2 against Seattle. "I'm finally starting to feel healthy out there, and it's showing in my play,'' he said. ... Gore recorded his 15th career 100-yard rushing game. The 49ers are 11-4 in those games. ... Gore needs 166 more rushing yards to become the first 49ers player ever to record three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. ... Safety Mark Roman, who had been listed as questionable because of a groin injury, played in his 89th consecutive game. ... On his way to a 1-yard touchdown run, Gore shook off a weak tackle attempt by Fakhir Brown. "What can Brown do for you? Apparently, not very much,'' radio broadcaster Joe Starkey said.

Daniel Brown MediaNews staff