As if there was ever any doubt Quinton Patton would do something memorable when he scored his first career touchdown.
The animated wide receiver is frequently the center of attention in the San Francisco 49ers locker room.
Patton showed off that affable personality on Sunday when he found the end zone late in the fourth quarter. The celebration made for perfect GIF material (see tweet below).
How did the play come to fruition?
With the 49ers leading the Baltimore Ravens by six points, a heavy pass-rush forced Colin Kaepernick to scramble around the pocket on a broken third-down snap designed for Vernon Davis.
While Kaepernick extended the play, Patton got loose from his defender, former 49ers cornerback Shareece Wright. The quarterback recognized the gaffe and fired a rocket to his receiver for a wide-open 21-yard touchdown. The score proved to be the game-winner.
"It feels good for it to come all together," Patton said. "I just run these routes, man. The ball comes my way when the ball comes my way.
"Just playing football. Sometime the play isn't going to be there, so just play football."
Postgame, Kaepernick praised the third-year wideout for improvising the play.
"We were trying to get the ball to Vernon, but they had two people jump out there and take it away," Kaepernick said. "(Patton) did a great job working the scramble drill and getting open late."
Through six games this season, Patton already has 11 receptions for 129 yards. In the two previous years combined, he only had six catches for 78 yards.
Despite the success, Patton was happier with his team's victory, which snapped a four-game losing streak.
"You always get momentum after a big win like this," Patton said. "Everybody is trusting each other. We're playing hard and we're playing for one another.
"But hey, on to the next."
Speaking of the next game, Patton and the 49ers will take the field again on Thursday night against the rival Seattle Seahawks. San Francisco lost both meetings last year against the NFC West foe.
"I have a short-term memory, so I don't remember that," Patton said. "I don't get caught up in the rivalry. I just play the next team and that happens to be the Seahawks.
"It's always a tough game, but we just have to play football at the end of the day. They might hit a little harder because it's a division game, but it's just football."
