Live Commentary: San Francisco 49ers 20-23 New Orleans Saints - as it happened

Good evening! As kickoff at the Superdome is just 10 minutes away, let's take a look at the inactives.

SAINTS INACTIVES! Vaccaro, Watson, Robinson, Sweeting, Armstead, Walker, Griffin

49ERS INACTIVES! Bethel-Thompson, Patton, Moody, Looney, Celek, McDonald, Carradine

The big news for the 49ers is that Vernon Davis and Eric Reid have both passed concussion tests and are able to start. There are no big surprises on the Saints list.

The 49ers will receive in the first half.

KICKOFF! Mortstead kicks off the first quarter, and LaMichael James takes a touchback for the visitors.

Kaepernick tries a deep pass to Mario Manningham, but the recently returned receiver can't haul it in. Frank Gore gets a short gain, before the quarterback looks to Davis, but the tight end can't get the first down so Andy Lee comes on for the punt.

Drew Brees comes onto the field for the first time. He hands the ball off to Pierre Thomas who picks up four, before Jimmy Graham gives the home side a first down.

Brees looks for Ingram, but the pass is incomplete, before Thomas comes up short following a tackle from Patrick Willis looking for the first down, bringing the 49ers' offense back out.

It's another quick three and out for the 49ers. Gore tries a run but can't pick up a gain, before Kaepernick tries a pass to the running back, and he's pushed out of bounds for a six-yard gain. Manningham tries a catch for a first down, but he can't hold onto it. It looks like the 49ers are still trying to find their offensive rhythm at the start of this game.

It's another quick possession for the Saints, as Brees continues to turn to his running back, but the 49ers defense holds firm to stop their hosts from getting the first down. It looks like it's going to be tough to create red zone opportunities early in this meeting.

Kaepernick tries to force some yardage, attempting a pass to Anquan Boldin, but Lewis has got the wide receiver covered and breaks up the play. He looks for Boldin again on the next play, but it's the same outcome. The quarterback tosses it long for Jon Baldwin on third down. The wide receiver thinks that Jabari Greer should be penalised for holding onto his shirt. However, the cornerback appears to have picked up a nasty injury in the process and is carted off the field. It looks like that will be the end of his game, having landed awkwardly on his leg.

After Greer is taken off the field, Lee punts to the Saints, but CJ Spillman manages to bat the ball down, forcing the Saints to start the drive from their own three-yard line. It's a smart play from the 49ers special teamer.

Mark Ingram manages to find a hole in the 49ers' defensive line and manages to sprint for a 15-yard gain before Eric Reid catches the running back at the New Orleans 26. The former Heisman Trophy winner has been looking strong in recent games.

Brees makes a short pass to Robert Meachem, who runs through the 49ers defenders and tears down the sideline before being pushed out of bounds of the San Francisco 25, giving the wide receiver a gain of 44 yards. That's should give the home side at least a field goal attempt from this drive.

There's another injury concern for the Saints as Darren Sproles twists his knee awkwardly under a tackle from Eric Reid after picking up a gain of eight. He manages to hobble to the sideline for further treatment, but really isn't moving too well. That would be a big loss for the Saints, as the versatile running back has been stretching defenses all season.

Meanwhile, 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh has thrown the challenge flag, believing that Drew Brees made an illegal pass to Sproles. However, the officials confirm that the call on the field.

Brees connects with Thomas, but the tight end is immediately stopped by Willis, but Graham manages to get the first down at the three-yard line moments later.

The Saints complete a 97-yard drive as Drew Brees finds rookie tight end Josh Hill for a three-yard touchdown, which is the first touchdown of Hill's NFL career.

INJURY UPDATE! The Saints have confirmed that Greer will not return today, having suffered a knee injury. However, there's better news for Sproles, who only needed some tape on his ankle, and will return on the Saints' next offensive drive.

Gore rushes for four yards before picking Kaepernick passes to the running back for another short gain in the final seconds of the opening quarter.

With the first play of the second quarter, Kaepernick finds Boldin for a seven-yard completion, giving the visitors their first first down of the game.

The 49ers don't seem to have any consistency in their passing game at the moment, so they turn back to the run, with Gore and Kendall Hunter alternating carries to pick up another first down. Kaepernick turns back to the pass on the next play as Vernon Davis picks up a four-yard gain, before the quarterback scrambles to the sideline, leaving the 49ers two yards short of the first down. James tries to rush for the necessary yards, but a good tackle halts his progress.

Andy Lee punts the ball away. Lance Moore waits to take the catch, but he can't hold on, and the 49ers recover the ball at the 11-yard line.

Jon Baldwin thinks that he has a touchdown, as he collects the ball from Kaepernick, but the officials call it incomplete as it appeared to come loose as he landed. Harbaugh has challenged the call, but I can't see it being overturned.

After the review, the call on the field has been confirmed. Baldwin had the ball inbounds and got both of his feet down, but it came loose as he landed out of bounds as he tried to complete the catch.

Kaepernick immediately puts the disappointed of the missed touchdown behind him, looking to the left-hand side of the end zone, where he manages to pick out Anquan Boldin with a pinpoint accurate pass from 11 yards out. Phil Dawson adds the extra points to level the scores.

Moore hauls in a five-yard pass, but the Saints are still looking for five yards on third down. Brees looking for Colston, but it's tipped away by Reid, so New Orleans will send on their punt team.

The 49ers are penalised for letting the game clock run out, but Vance McDonald manages to pick up a 10-yard gain, before Manningham gets the first down.

INTERCEPTION! Kaepernick's pass towards Manningham is picked off by Corey White, who tries to return it for a touchdown, but Kapernick gives chase, striking him as he reaches for the end zone, causing White to lose the ball. The play was called a touchback, but the whole play is being reviewed.

The review confirms the call on the field so the 49ers get the ball back at the 20-yard line.

SACK! Kaepernick is brought down for a loss of one by Hicks, but recovers quickly, handed the ball off to Gore, who brings it out to the San Francisco 43.

The 49ers quarterback tries to pass the ball to Manningham, but the Saints are penalised for pass interference. Gore has a three-yard gain on the next play before Kaepernick rushes for five yards. However, an incompletion to McDonald brings up fourth down, so Dawson will come on for a long field goal attempt.

Phil Dawson completed his longest field goal of the season, comfortably making his 55-yard attempt to give the 49ers the lead for the first time in this game.

Cadet makes a superb run on the kickoff return, breaking off numerous tackles, including one from the 49ers' kicker, before being pushed out of bounds by Brock at the San Francisco 21.

Brees connects with Thomas before handing off to the running back again, and he takes it down to the one-yard line. However, the Saints will have to wait for their next play as Tarell Brown was injured while making the touchdown-saving tackle.

TWO MINUTE WARNING It looks like the cornerback has taken a blow to the ribs, and the medical staff take their time before helping him onto the cart. His return has been listed as questionable, but he really does appears to be in quite a bit of pain. After he heads off the field, the Saints offense lets the clock run down to the two minute warning timeout.

Drew Brees hands off to Jed Collins who smashes through the 49ers' defense for his first touchdown of the season, before Hartley chips over the extra point kick.

SACK! The 49ers get their drive off to a good start, as LaMichael James gains four before Boldin gets a first down. A pass intended for Boldin is almost picked off by Carr, but he loses it while diving to make the catch. Kaepernick takes too long on the next play, allowing Cameron Jordan to sneak around the back and sack the quarterback for a loss of two yards.

James tries to get the 12 yards needed on third down, but he's swallowed up by a series of tackles, forcing Lee to come on for the punt.

Lee gets the punt away well, and a tackle from Osgood puns Moore back at the New Orleans 22. Brees briefly comes back onto the field, but takes a knee to run out the clock.

So at half time, the New Orleans Saints have a four-point lead over the San Francisco 49ers. The home side have two touchdowns, while the NFC West side have the one touchdown and a field goal.

Colin Kaepernick struggled with the passing game at the start of the game, but came into some form in the second quarter, finishing the game with 10 completions from 19 attempts for 64 yards. Drew Brees has 97 yards from 12 completions. Both have a touchdown pass, but Kaepernick has also thrown an interception.

Frank Gore leads the game in rushing, picking up 33 yards, while Pierre Thomas has the most receiving yards with 27. Both teams have split the workload throughout their team so far tonight.

The players are heading back out for the start of the second half.

KICKOFF! Phil Dawson gets the third quarter underway.

INJURY UPDATE! Tarell Brown has been diagnosed with a rib contusion and remains questionable to return. Meanwhile, the Saints have said that Darren Sproles will have a limited role in the second half after injuring his ankle early on.

Brees completes a couple of short passes, leaving the team three yards short on third down, but a 13-yard gain by Graham moves them to the New Orleans 40.

INTERCEPTION! Drew Brees looks for Graham again, but Ahmad Brooks gets to it first, returning it to the New Orleans 22. He momentarily lost the ball, but was able to recovery his fumble.

Frank Gore gets a first down on the 49ers first offensive play of the second half, but Kendall Hunter can't make a gain on the next play.

From the 17-yard line, Colin Kaepernick launches it to the back of end zone, where Vernon Davis is at full stretch to bring it in for his eighth touchdown of the season. Phil Dawson adds the extra point.

As the Saints offense comes back out to try and regain the lead, Brees hands the ball off to Thomas, but the running back can only get back to the line of scrimmage. The hosts have run the ball a lot so far today, but have struggles for long gains. Needing 12 yards on third down, Brees elects to pass, and quickly finds Colston for the first down.

INJURY UPDATE! The 49ers have confirmed that Brown is out for the rest of the game with a rib injury.

The Saints persist with the running game, and secure another first down with three short gains, before Kenny Stills picks up another 11 yards to move the team inside San Francisco territory. The home side have shown a lot of patience during their offensive drives in this game.

Sproles is held up short of the first down by a Dan Skuta tackle. Brees looks to pass on third down, but Aldon Smith closes in on a sack, forcing the quarterback to throw the ball away. The Saints go for it on fourth down, tossing it deep towards Hill, but Donte Whitner charges in to break up the pass. The 49ers will start their drive from their own 40-yard line.

Gore looks to force his way through the middle but collides with teammate Mike Iupati, who has been nursing a sore knee. The guard is left on the ground clutching his knee, and needs attention from the 49ers' medicals staff.

Iupati is slowly helped to his feet and eventually off the field. The 49ers have listed his return as doubtful, and Adam Snyder comes into the offensive line in his place.

As the 49ers continue their drive, Kaepernick continues to gain passing momentum, connecting with David for seven before throwing it out wide for Boldin, who gains 12 and the first down.

Bruce Miller takes his first reception of the game for seven yards, leaving the team needing three on third down. After a timeout, Boldin switches sides, and takes another reception for a first down. The 49ers' passing play has been hit and miss throughout this season, but Kaepernick appears to have grown in confidence as this game has gone on.

Gore had a couple of short carries, picking up three yards. The 49ers will let the clock run down for the end of the quarter.

INJURY UPDATE! The 49ers have announced that Iupati will not return after aggravating his knee injury in the third quarter.

Neeing seven yards for the first down, Kaepernick goes to Boldin again, and the wide receiver makes the catch for 12 yards. A short gain for Gore and an incompletion leaves the visitors on third down and the quarterback looks for Davis in the end zone again, but the tight end can't hold onto it.

It's a shorter field goal attempt for the 49ers kicker this time around, as he easily makes the 29-yard attempt to extend the NFC West side's lead.

Drew Brees makes a sensational pass down field, finding Robert Meachem for a 34-yard gain, taking the Saints to the San Francisco 41. Sproles follows it up with a seven-yard carry, before Ingram adds two.

Brees goes deep again, launching it forward for Colston, who takes it down to the six-yard line. He tosses it to Graham looking for the touchdown, but Whitner holds up the tight end for the loss of a yard.

Justin Smith block Pierre Thomas to force the Saints to take the field goal. It's an easy 21-yard chip Shot from Garrett Hartley to move the Saints to within a field goal of the 49ers' score.

Kaepernick comes under pressure in the pocket but manages to scramble out wide. He goes for a pass to Gore, but the running back can't get hold of it. It's missed opportunity for the 49ers, as Gore had plenty of space in front of him had he been able to get control of the ball.

On third down, Kaepernick goes deep looking for Baldwin, but the pair can't get their timing right, and the ball ends up well ahead of the wide receiver, bringing Lee out to punt.

Two plays by Pierre Thomas give the Saints a first down, but an attempted pass for Jimmy Graham goes incomplete. Brees makes another brilliant deep pass on the next play, picking out Lance Moore for a 16-yard gain. However, on third down Brees is sacked, but the play is chalked off for a high hit on the quarterback by Brooks.

Colston gains 14 yards for a first down, moving the Saints to the 16-yard line, but an intentional grounding penalty against Brees, who has been left bleeding from the mouth following the hit from Brooks, moves the home side back. They can't get the first down, so take a timeout to decide whether to send on the field goal unit or try for it on fourth down.

The home side decide to send on Hartley, who has struggled at times this season. However, there are not such problems with this attempt, as he easily makes the 42-yard attempt to level the scores.

SACK! It's a bad start for the 49ers as they look for a potentially game-winning drive. The quarterback is brought down by Galette for a loss of nine.

TWO MINUTE WARNING! The Saints drive Kaepernick back to the edge of the end zone, and appeal for a safety as he throws it away, believing that he has committed an intentional grounding penalty, but the officials disagree, much to the annoyance of the home players and fans.

Kaepernick scrambles looking for the 19 yards needed for a first down, but he is forced out of bounds for a 16-yard gain.

Sproles calls for a fair catch from the punt, but Osgood misses it, giving away a costly penalty when he tackles the returner. The running back then adds six yards before Graham gets the yardage for a first down.

Brees finds Graham again, leaving Hartley with a 31-yard field goal attempt for the win.

Drew Brees leads the team on an impressive final drive to set up Garrett Harley for the game-winning field goal, which was his third of the final quarter.

The 49ers came out strong in the third quarter, but stalled in the final 15 minutes to allow the NFC South leaders to come from behind. Brees finished the game with 305 passing yards from 30 completions, while Kaepernick had just 127 passing yards.

The result leaves the Saints two wins clear of the Carolina Panthers in their Division, while the 49ers slip to four wins behind the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC West.

That's all from the Superdome, but stick around for reports for all of today's NFL games, and coverage of the clash between the AFC heavyweight the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos, which gets underway shortly. Until then, thanks for joining me this evening, goodbye.