Niners sting Lions on field, at end

Associated Press

DETROIT

Jim Harbaugh charged across the field, lifting his shirt to expose his belly to attempt a chest bump. He extended his right hand to Jim Schwartz for a shake and slapped him on the back with his left hand.

Schwartz didn’t like what was done or said — claiming he heard an expletive — and went charging after Harbaugh. What an emotion-filled scene following a meeting of turnaround teams that matched pregame hype in San Francisco’s 25-19 victory over Detroit on Sunday.

The NFC might have a nasty new rivalry no one saw coming.

After the 49ers knocked the Lions from the unbeaten ranks on Alex Smith’s touchdown pass with 1:51 left, both coaches added some highlights — or lowlights — of their own.

Harbaugh took the blame in one breath — and a shot in the next.

“That’s totally on me,” Harbaugh said. “I shook his hand too hard.”

Harbaugh, a first-year NFL coach who played at Michigan, had to be separated from Schwartz more than once after Schwartz came running and lunging toward him as both teams were going to the tunnel.

“I went to congratulate Coach Harbaugh and got shoved out of the way,” Schwartz said. “I didn’t expect an obscenity at that point. Obviously, when you win a game like that, you are excited, but there is a protocol that goes with this league.”

Players from the 49ers (5-1) and Lions (5-1) gathered and appeared to restore order — probably because they were worn out from a hard-hitting, penalty-filled game with four lead changes after halftime.

Smith’s fourth-down, 6-yard pass to Delanie Walker gave San Francisco the go-ahead touchdown with 1:51 left.