ST. LOUIS -- While Mike Singletary and Troy Smith squabbled on the sideline, rookie Sam Bradford stayed veteran calm.
The No. 1 overall draft pick helped keep the St. Louis Rams' playoff drive motoring along, breaking Peyton Manning's NFL rookie record for completions in a 25-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.
Singletary out in San Francisco
Mike Singletary's days with the 49ers came to an end late Sunday night. The team announced the decision to fire Singletary shortly upon returning from St. Louis, where they were eliminated from playoff contention. More ... » More: NFL.com blogs
The 49ers announced hours after the loss that Singletary had been fired and said defensive line coach Jim Tomsula would run the team in next Sunday's season finale against Arizona. San Francisco was eliminated from playoff consideration and hasn't made it to the postseason since 2002.
Eclipsing Manning's 12-year-old mark was nice. Helping the Rams (7-8) stay on track to end a five-year playoff drought in a winner-take-all game for the NFC West title next week was a much bigger deal.
"I guess it's pretty cool," Bradford said of the record. "I'm all fired up about the win. If you don't get excited for a game like this, you're probably in the wrong business."
The Seahawks (6-9) have lost seven of nine after falling 38-15 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck left with a hip injury in the first quarter.
But they still could become the first team to win a division with a losing record. With a victory, Seattle would take the West based on a better division record. St. Louis snapped a 10-game losing streak in the series with a 20-3 victory in early October.
"Here we are, going into our last regular-season game, and we control our own destiny," Bradford said before the Seahawks game.
The Rams' defense kept both of the Smiths on the run, sacking Troy Smith and Alex Smith two times apiece. Singletary gave Troy Smith one more series after a heated exchange late in the third quarter, then benched him after the 49ers (5-10) went three-and-out on their first possession of the fourth quarter.
"Troy's a passionate guy and the way he responded, that's fine," Singletary said after the game. "He's frustrated, I'm frustrated.
"We're both trying to get something to happen on the field. That's all it was."
The 49ers' locker room was closed for about 20 minutes after the game before Singletary emerged, saying he had no regrets about his quarterback choice.
Singletary, who had two years to go on a four-year contract, went 18-22 with San Francisco.
"One of the greatest experiences of my life was having the opportunity to coach the San Francisco 49ers," he said in a statement after he was fired. "What made it so special were the players. They were some of the most outstanding men I have ever been around in my life. The coaches were truly professionals. I wish the 49ers nothing but the best."
The Rams finished 5-3 at home, the franchise's first winning record since 2004. They were 2-22 combined the previous three seasons.
The 49ers were 1-7 on the road, where they were outscored 200-117. They appeared to sag after missing a chance to take a 17-15 lead late in the third quarter when Jeff Reed shanked a 34-yard field goal attempt.
Troy Smith passed for 356 yards in the 49ers' overtime victory over the Rams last month, but did not play the last two games.
"I wouldn't say there was a lot of differences, but you've got to give St. Louis credit," Smith said. "Defensively, they do a lot of things to put the quarterback and team in a not-so-comfortable situation."
James Hall had 1.5 sacks for a defense that totaled four, including a safety in the first quarter when Troy Smith fumbled a poor shotgun snap in the end zone. Troy Smith was 2 for 3 for 85 yards on a second-quarter drive capped by a 60-yard touchdown pass to Michael Crabtree, but was only 7 for 19 for 153 yards when Alex Smith replaced him midway through the fourth quarter.
Bradford broke out of a three-game slump of no touchdown passes and five interceptions. He was 16 for 20 for 168 yards the second half, including a 3-yard pass to Laurent Robinson that made it 22-14 with 9:36 to go, and finished 28 for 37 for 292 yards with no interceptions.
The 49ers stuffed the run, limiting Steven Jackson to 48 yards on 24 carries.
Bradford has 335 completions, topping Manning's record of 326 in 1998. He passed Chris Weinke for second in rookie attempts with 554, needing 22 next week to eclipse Manning.
The Rams scored on their first drive for only the second time, benefiting from an interference call on Nate Clements, with Jackson scoring from the 1 on the next play.
Josh Brown kicked three field goals for St. Louis, giving him 11 the last three games, and has matched his career season best with 31.
The 49ers led 14-12 at the half even though they totaled three first downs and 82 yards in penalties. Ted Ginn was untouched on the punt return for the 49ers' first score in the second quarter.
St. Louis went up 9-0 late in the first quarter on the safety, but then went three-and-out on three straight series while the 49ers caught their stride.
Notes: On their opening possession, the Rams have scored two touchdowns and three field goals, along with seven punts, two lost fumbles, and a blocked field goal. ... 49ers C David Baas injured his left ribcage in the first quarter but returned late in the second quarter in time for the 49ers' lone touchdown drive. ... Ginn returned two kickoffs for touchdowns last year with Miami, and scored on a punt return for the Dolphins in 2007. ... 49ers backup CB Phillip Adams broke his left ankle blocking on the kickoff to open the second half. He was carted off.
Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press
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