Niners squeak by Washington

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - San Francisco's first-team offense that had failed to convert a fourth-quarter touchdown all season finally did so when the 49ers' playoff hopes depended on it.

Carlos Hyde ran for a go-ahead 4-yard touchdown with 2:59 remaining, and San Francisco barely squeaked by lowly Washington with a 17-13 win Sunday that kept them in the thick of the playoff chase.

A fourth-down conversion in their own territory away from losing, the Niners finally capitalized with a rare touchdown in the final period on the way to their third straight victory.

San Francisco (7-4) overcame three turnovers.

Washington coach Jay Gruden won a challenge with 5:36 left that Vernon Davis hadn't made a first down. San Francisco went for it and Frank Gore converted the fourth-and-1. On the next play, Colin Kaepernick hit Anquan Boldin for a 29-yard gain and safety Ryan Clark was flagged for a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty for his hit on Boldin.

Boldin made a 10-yard reception two plays later, leading to Hyde's score - the first TD by San Francisco's first-team offense in the fourth quarter this season.

Kaepernick threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Boldin on San Francisco's initial series but did little else offensively to break open what was expected to be a lopsided game. San Francisco was a nine-point favorite in the opening betting line.

Boldin, who caught a pair of touchdown passes in a win at Washington last November, finished with nine catches for 137 yards.