KMAX: Sports

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Steve Mariucci once flew to Atlanta and sat in a hotel room all day to mend his relationship with Terrell Owens. Jeff Garcia did it over a pregame breakfast much to Mariucci's dismay in his San Francisco homecoming.

Garcia hit Owens with a touchdown pass and rushed for another score Sunday as the 49ers methodically beat their former coach and his Detroit Lions 24-17.

Garcia completed 15 of 27 passes for 192 yards, and Owens had five catches for 79 yards as the 49ers (2-3) snapped a three-game losing streak with just enough offense to extend the Lions' road losing streak to 19 games.

After six mostly successful seasons in San Francisco that culminated in his abrupt firing last January, Mariucci has taken on another rebuilding project in Detroit. But even reviving the moribund Lions probably isn't as difficult as dealing with Owens, the Niners' mercurial All-Pro receiver.

Owens' bitter public fights with Mariucci dampened the 49ers' success in recent seasons, and the receiver hasn't changed his tune under new coach Dennis Erickson. Owens has been vocal about his teammates' shortcomings and his displeasure with his role in San Francisco's offense.

But after Detroit's (1-4) fourth straight loss, Mariucci was his usual positive self and his mind was on more pleasant things than Owens.

``I try not to think about it,'' Mariucci said of his past with Owens. ``We played a hard-fought game. We came back from 17 down on the road against a good team ... and we put ourselves in a position to tie it and make it exciting.''

But the 49ers never lost control largely because their offensive stars were back in step after a frosty week of practice. Garcia and Owens didn't speak to each other all week after Owens ripped the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback, but they ironed out their differences over breakfast Sunday.

Garcia was the first to greet Owens for a celebration after a TD catch in the first quarter.

``Both of us were very uncomfortable with the way it had gotten and didn't want to see it go on any longer,'' Garcia said. ``I don't like having any sort of negativity in the locker room. ... Considering the distractions that took place this week, it was a difficult week.''

Mariucci's familiarity with the 49ers was expected to be a big advantage for the Lions, but San Francisco defensive coordinator Jim Mora knew a few things about Mariucci's offense as well. The Niners held the Lions to 128 yards after halftime.

The 49ers took a 14-point lead into the fourth quarter after Garcia's 1-yard TD sneak late in the third, but Olandis Gary quickly scored for Detroit on a 2-yard run. Neither team scored again, and San Francisco ran out the clock at midfield.

Waves of contradictory feelings flowed through Mariucci as he faced the team he helped build into a contender.

``I suppose a little bit of everything hard, exciting, different,'' Mariucci said. ``I tried to minimize it as much as I could. Needless to say, it was different.''

Mariucci led the Niners to the NFC West title and the second round of the playoffs last season. Three days after the 49ers lost to Tampa Bay last January, Mariucci was fired by owner John York.

Mariucci paced the sidelines with his usual vigor Sunday, but Detroit couldn't move the ball consistently in its fourth straight loss. By the final minutes, Mariucci was shivering in the cold wind at Candlestick Park as San Francisco ran out the clock.

``It was a game that meant a lot to the organization, because we needed to come back with a win,'' York said. ``Our need for a win today far outweighed playing Detroit and Steve Mariucci.''

The Lions didn't put up a tremendous fight. Joey Harrington was 19-of-35 for 200 yards, but threw two key interceptions.

``I like that we showed up and played hard,'' said Lions guard Ray Brown, who played six seasons with the 49ers. ``I hate that we didn't do enough to win the ballgame. ... We'll win some football games, and a couple of them will be on the road.''< ^Notes:@ Ahmed Plummer and Tony Parrish had interceptions for the Niners, while Dre Bly had one for the Lions. ... San Francisco LB Jeff Ulbrich was knocked out of the game in the second half by a concussion. ... Lions TE John Owens also had a concussion.