SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- Jeff Garcia and Terrell Owens settled their differences at a pregame breakfast and spoiled the return of Steve Mariucci.
Garcia hit Owens with a six-yard touchdown 3:21 into the game and the San Francisco 49ers raced to a 17-point lead en route to a 24-17 victory over the Detroit Lions.
The Niners (2-3) appeared to be a team in turmoil with Owens berating offensive coordinator Greg Knapp on the sidelines during last week's 35-7 loss at Minnesota. Niners coach Dennis Erickson did not fine Owens, but Garcia called Owens' latest outburst "a sickness that can spread."
The two waited until Sunday morning to heal the wounds.
"It happened this morning at breakfast," Garcia said of his talk with Owens. "We were the only two in there at that time. We were both very uncomfortable. We needed to put that to rest. I don't like to have any sort of negativity in the locker room. He was definitely open to it. We acknowledged the negativities and created a positive situation that carried over into some of the plays that happened today."
The first was a 15-yard pass from Garcia to Owens on a 3rd-and-7 play to the Detroit 5. Two plays later, Garcia hit Owens with a six-yard touchdown, giving the Niners a 7-0 lead. While Owens danced in the end zone, Garcia was the first to greet him.
"It gave us an opportunity to connect as a team, T.O. (Owens) and me," Garcia said. "It was good to have something positive like that happen early in the game."
Garcia completed 15-of-27 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns with one interception and rushed for 35 yards on 11 scrambles. Owens caught five passes for 79 yards, but ducked out of the locker room wearing a Michael Irvin jersey without talking to reporters.
"Considering the distractions that took place this week, it was a difficult game," Garcia said. "But T.O. and I think in many ways that we can put our differences aside and work together. That is the best thing that came out of this week. And we'll continue to grow and resolve any personal issues in tandem."
Mariucci certainly saw no signs of turmoil from his former team. He coached the Niners from 1997-2002 and led them to a 60-43 record, two NFC West titles and four playoff appearances. But that wasn't good enough for Niners owner John York, who fired Mariucci three days after a 31-6 loss at Tampa Bay in the divisional playoffs.
The Lions then pounced on Mariucci, signing him to a five-year, $25 million contract. Faced with rebuilding the Lions (1-4), Mariucci has far less pressure than he did when he coached the Niners, who have Super Bowl aspirations.
On Sunday, his young team fought back from a 17-0 deficit, but still suffered its 19th straight road loss.
"I was proud of our team, being 17-down on the road," Mariucci said. "We put ourselves in position several times to tie it, though we came here to win the game. It's an empty feeling. we didn't quite get it done.
"I told my coaches I believe we are making progress. It hasn't shown up in the win-loss column, but some of that is strength of schedule. Certainly this team competes. We just have to be more consistent."
After the Lions fell behind 17-0, Jason Hanson kicked a 28-yard field goal and Joey Harrington hit Mikhael Ricks with a six-yard scoring play in the second quarter to pull the Lions within a touchdown at halftime.
Garcia scored on a one-yard run with 61 seconds left in the third quarter to increase the Niners' lead to 24-10. The touchdown came three plays after safety Tony Parrish returned an interception 49 yards to the Detroit 38.
"Tony Parrish's interception was a turning point," Erickson said.
Olandis Gary scored on a two-yard run 3:16 into the fourth quarter to pull the Lions within 24-17.
Detroit's Joey Harrington completed 19-of-35 for 200 yards, but also was intercepted twice, raising his season total to eight.
"Of course we wanted to win for him (Mariucci)," Harrington said. "We respect coach very much. I can't say enough good things about him. We want to win a lot of games for him."
Cornerback Ahmed Plummer intercepted Harrington on the opening drive and returned it four yards to the San Francisco 23.
"I read the play and went to the guy and made the pick," Plummer said. "I wanted to score but couldn't get there."
Owens caught a 15-yard pass over the middle before catching his six-yard TD.
The Niners also scored on their next two possessions. An eight-play, 72-yard drive resulted in a 48-yard field goal by Owen Pochman with 4:52 left in the first quarter.
Garcia hit rookie tight end Aaron Walker with a 14-yard touchdown 2:42 into the second quarter to cap an 11-play, 90-yard drive.
Hanson's 28-yard field goal with 5:57 left in the half came after Harrington completed two passes to Ricks for 53 yards.
On San Francisco's next possession, cornerback Dre' Bly picked off a pass intended for Owens at the San Francisco 34. Six plays later, Harrington hit Ricks with a six-yard TD with 2:58 left in the half.
