Don't call it The Drive. It was too game-opening, too exhibition-season, too Aug. 22 to merit a capital-lettered nickname.

The 49ers will settle with calling it a welcome leap forward for their starting offense, which kicked off Sunday's 15-10 exhibition victory over the Vikings with a 12-play, 70-yard, 6:57-long touchdown drive.

That was one of the NFL's top returning defenses on Candlestick's grass, mind you.

"We just took it down the field methodically," quarterback Alex Smith said. "That's not a bad defense we were going up against. We just came out against the No. 1 rush defense in the NFL and marched it down the field."

The 49ers did it with tight end Delanie Walker catching 24- and 11-yard passes, all while Pro Bowl starter Vernon Davis and his strained knee sat.

They did it with rookie running back Anthony Dixon bouncing around the corner on a 4-yard touchdown, all while Pro Bowl running backs Frank Gore and Brian Westbrook rested.

They did it with receivers Ted Ginn Jr. and Dominique Zeigler moving the chains on third-down catches, all while Michael Crabtree and has sprained neck took the game off.

Above all, they did it with Smith running the show, stepping up in the pocket and completing 5 of 6 passes for 59 yards behind an offensive line that did not allow a single quarterback hit on the first drive.

It was perhaps the most flawless compilation of plays by the 49ers' first-team offense this side of the 2009 season. Smith did it, as if to say, "Look mom, no stars!"

"I've heard, 'Alex Smith (can't) play without Gore ... without Vernon ... without Crabtree,' " Niners coach Mike Singletary said. "But, to me, if you're a good quarterback, you have to make the situation better.

"At some point in the season, you may not have them and what are you going to do then?"

If Sunday was any indication, Smith's answer will be to put all available moving parts to good use.

There was a checkdown pass to Dixon when the tempting idea was to force something downfield. There was a zipped 3rd-and-2 throw to Ginn in tight coverage just north of the first-down marker.

The 49ers ran the ball in three-receiver sets, with Dixon powering forward for 5 yards. They passed the ball in possible 3rd-and-run situations, with Zeigler running down a 13-yard catch over the middle. When nothing was there, Smith wisely threw the ball out of bounds in the red zone.

In short, they rectified many of the mistakes of the first exhibition game at Indianapolis, when Smith was 3-for-9, sacked and pointless.

"It's what we always talk about, starting fast, something we didn't do a lot last year," Smith said. "It was nice to see it come through here and come into play."

Rookie right tackle Anthony Davis, coming off a one-sack, one-penalty debut, handled Vikings left end Ray Edwards, shoving him high and around Smith - who had the presence of mind to step up and throw.

Walker, who tipped a deep pass into a Colts interception, did a spin move over the middle to get away from Jared Allen for 11 yards after the catch to the Vikings' 4.

Dixon has been criticized by Singletary for dancing too much and not hitting the pedal. On his 4-yard score, Dixon took the pitch around the left corner and past Vikings defensive backs Madieu Williams and Asher Allen.

Not the slightest of stutter in step. Any rushing touchdown scored against the Vikings' starters should be put on a mantle.

"It kind of boosted me a little bit," Dixon said. "I wanted to break a big play and put them away early."

Alas, not all was perfect for a first-team offense that did not score again in a full half of play.

Singletary bemoaned the total lack of a running game, as if it didn't matter that the Vikings' fierce front stood in the way, or that Gore and Westbrook didn't play a down.

On eight 1st-and-10 runs in the first half, the 49ers gained 3 yards. If Dixon had happy feet in the backfield, Singletary said it was because there was no hole to hit. That has to do with a young offensive line as much as anything, he said.

"I told the young guys we were playing against the No. 1-ranked team against the run in the past five years," Singletary said. "I'm sure they'll take me at my word after playing this game."