Final Score: Philadelphia 27, San Francisco 24

San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - Kevin Kolb threw for a touchdown in his return to a starting role and Quintin Mikell ran back a fumble 52 yards for a score as the Eagles held off the mistake-prone 49ers, 27-24, keeping San Francisco without a victory.

Kolb connected on 21-of-31 passes for 253 yards for the Eagles (3-2), who bounced back from a 17-12 loss at home to the Redskins last week in Donovan McNabb's return to Philadelphia.

LeSean McCoy rushed 18 times for 92 yards and a score for the Eagles, who are 3-0 on the road for the first time since 2004.

Alex Smith went 25-of-39 for 309 yards with three TDs and two interceptions, the last of which went to Trevard Lindley at the Philadelphia 24 in the final minute. Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis each went over 100 yards receiving with a TD for the 49ers (0-5), who had five turnovers and are off to their worst start in 31 years. They lost their first seven games in 1979 on the way to a 2-14 finish.

Kolb began the year as the team's successor to McNabb, but he sustained a concussion in a season-opening loss to Green Bay and was replaced by Michael Vick. Vick, though, suffered cartilage damage in addition to a small fracture in his rib area in last Sunday's loss.

After the game, Eagles coach Andy Reid reaffirmed that Vick is still the team's starting QB, when he's healthy again.

"I don't know how many guys we had play hurt out there," Kolb said. "LeSean McCoy played his tail off with the broken rib. That's hard to do and give it up for the benefit of the team."

As for the 49ers, head coach Mike Singletary said he would look at the tape heading into next week's game against Oakland with the possibility of changing QBs, maybe going to David Carr.

David Akers missed a 53-yard field goal on the first play of the final quarter, but the Eagles used their defense to seemingly take control. On second down from the Philadelphia 35, Smith was flushed to his left by Brandon Graham and fumbled. Mikell scooped the ball up and bolted to the end zone with 13:26 remaining for a 24-10 lead.

After that play, Singletary had an animated talk with his QB on the sideline and was going to take him out of the game, but instead Smith stayed in and on the next possession threw a seven-yard TD pass to Davis with 7:35 to go.

"I thought at the moment I really wanted to see what his response would be," Singletary said. "More than anything, in a situation like that, a quarterback that has anything in him is going to have something to say about that. We were in a situation. Hopefully you're part of the solution. I think in the conversation we had, I felt he felt he was part of the solution and we went forward from there."

Akers countered with a 45-yard field goal three minutes later, but Smith led the 49ers on another scoring march after Ted Ginn Jr. returned the kickoff 61 yards to the Philadelphia 36. Smith threw to Gore for a one-yard TD on third down with 2:02 left.

The Eagles then attempted to kill the clock after getting the ball back after the ensuing kickoff, but McCoy, playing despite a cracked rib, went to the ground instead of heading for a first down. After receiving an 11-yard pass and with tacklers closing in, McCoy fell down, causing a 3rd-and-2 at the Philadelphia 28. Kolb's short pass to tight end Brent Celek was knocked away and the Eagles punted.

Smith threw a 27-yard pass to Davis, moving the ball to the Philadelphia 44 with 46 seconds left. On the next play, Smith had a pass intended for a wide open Gore knocked away at the line of scrimmage. On third down, Trevor Laws plowed into Smith, causing him to throw the ball short to Lindley, sealing the win.

A seven-yard TD pass to Crabtree capped San Francisco's opening drive, but Celek caught an eight-yard scoring toss from Kolb later in the first quarter.

Gore fumbled the ball away in the closing minute, and Akers moved the Eagles ahead, 10-7, on a 33-yard field goal early in the second.

Dimitri Patterson picked off Smith at the Philadelphia three later in the second and McCoy surged up the middle for a 29-yard touchdown with 1:53 remaining. Joe Nedney's 50-yard field goal had the 49ers within 17-10 at the break, although he missed a 40-yarder with two seconds left shortly after Kolb fumbled.

Gore fumbled the ball away again early in a scoreless third quarter.

Game Notes

The Eagles have won 21 straight games when leading at the half...Gore ended with 18 carries for 52 yards..Crabtree had nine catches for 105 yards and Davis four for 104...Jeremy Maclin led the Eagles with six receptions for 95 yards, while DeSean Jackson was limited to a pair of catches for 24 yards...San Francisco was penalized 10 times for 65 yards...The Eagles have won the last five meetings...Former Eagle Brian Westbrook played against his ex-team and had one carry for six yards.