San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick did something in his first year that Alex Smith never has over his seven-year career -- throw four touchdowns in a game.

Kaepernick was 14-for-25 for just 216 yards, but made his yards count. He threw four touchdowns as the 49ers held off the New England Patriots, 41-34, on Sunday.

Smith has thrown three touchdowns during a game multiple times during his career, but has never pushed past that glass ceiling. It took Kaepernick essentially six games as a 49er to vault over Smith on that personal record book.

Kaepernick will try to keep the good fortunes rolling, as the 49ers head to Seattle in a big game with potential NFC West implications. He might need to throw four touchdowns, or possibly more, against a red-hot Seattle offense that has scored 108 points in its last two games.

Kaepernick has thrown 1,289 yards and seven touchdowns on the season, most of that coming since taking over for Smith on Nov. 11. Smith had thrown 1,731 yards and 13 touchdowns over nine games before losing his starting job to Kaepernick.