East Rutherford, N.J. -- Jim Harbaugh, head coach of the Youngstown 49ers, steers a news conference like Jeff Gordon steers a race car. Harbaugh, during his postgame fireside chat Sunday, subtly steered the conversation away from Kaepermania.

The coach was being peppered with questions about Colin Kaepernick, the 49ers' second-string quarterback and first-string surprise package. Harbaugh said a few complimentary things about the young man, then ...

"Job well done by a lot of guys, I think that's the bottom line," Harbaugh said.

Fine. It's not Harbaugh's job to get all publicly excited about one man, when he's got an entire team playing superb football, as shown on the scoreboard at MetLife Stadium: 49ers 34, Jets 0.

That doesn't mean everyone else can't get over-amped about Kaepernick.

This was a bust-out day for the Turlock Tornado, who played a limited but meaningful and exciting role in this win.

On the 49ers' second series, Kaepernick ran 17 yards on a read-option play, and three plays later, he launched a 65-yard (in the air) pass to Randy Moss. The pass was slightly underthrown and batted down.

Then Kaepernick - a network radio announcer kept calling him Copper-neck - broke the scoreless tie early in the second quarter. On 3rd-and-6 at the Jets' 7, Kaepernick sprinted around left end. Joe Staley, with nobody to block, grabbed Kaepernick and flung him like cheap luggage the last 2 yards into the end zone.

(Harbaugh and Kaepernick probably would appreciate me mentioning that fullback Bruce Miller took out about five Jets on the play.)

Kaepernick later subbed for Smith in garbage time and added a 30-yard run, sliding short of the end zone so as to save his team the injury risk of another kickoff and more New York plays.

When was the last time the 49ers donated a touchdown to charity?

Kaepernick's quick-thinking slide also averted a postgame handshake in which Rex Ryan would ask Harbaugh, "What's your deal?"

The coolest play of Kaepernick's day was very subtle. Late in the second quarter, he handed the ball to Frank Gore. Then Kaepernick trotted toward the sideline, but stayed on the field and lined up as a wide receiver.

The Jets saw him and called a timeout.

What this showed: The 49ers' secret weapon is cooler than the Jets' secret weapon.

The Jets have Tim Tebow, who makes foes nervous. Twice this year, Tebow's presence caused the opposing team to burn a timeout.

On Sunday, it was the Jets burning the timeout. Maybe Kaepernick's appearance on the field early, just after Tebow made a cameo for the Jets, was Harbaugh's way of giving the middle finger to the opposing coach. I'll see your Tebow and raise you a Kaepernick.

Kaepernick vaulted into the No. 1 spot in my NFL Wild Card Guy rankings, ahead of Tebow, who is held too much under wraps by Ryan.

Harbaugh is more creative. Also gutsier.

If there's one thing NFL coaches hate and fear, it's the unexpected. They hate and fear it from the other team, and most of them are loath to try unconventional stuff.

On Sunday, Harbaugh busted out a new bag of tricks for Kaepernick. The coach also set up the game's first score with a razzle-dazzle play, a fake end-around left and a give right to Mario Manningham for 28 yards.

Why the wild stuff?

"For some creativity," Harbaugh said.

I chalk it up to Youngstown. The players and coaches staved off cabin fever last week by hanging out at Handel's ice-cream parlor, wolfing exotic flavors like Raspberry Cheesecake Chunk, Orange Dream Cream, and Elvis (I swear). Maybe Handel's inspired Harbaugh and Greg Roman to transcend vanilla.

Harbaugh seems to be gaining confidence in Kaepernick - likes what he sees in practice, likes the game poise, likes to see the what-the-heck thought balloons appear over the heads of opposing coaches when Kaepernick trots onto the field.

It might seem like a negative that many 49ers' fans will clamor for a lot more of Kaepernick, at the expense of Alex Smith snaps. That won't bother Harbaugh, who pays zero attention to that type of clamor.

Kaepernick, meanwhile, stays true to the Boy Scout Motto: Be prepared.

After the game. he wore a big smile and described his day as a "lot of fun."

Kaepernick seems to purposely keep a low profile with the media. You definitely won't catch him politicking for more playing time. He's an action guy, not a yapper.

There would be no point in asking Kaepernick how it feels to know that many fans, even though they've got a quarterback who is 17-5 under Harbaugh, would love to see more and more of the man with the tattooed arms and gazelle legs.

It's just as well Kaepernick underthrew Moss. Had they connected, the fans would be marching on team headquarters right now, torches in hand. For now, they'll be OK with his status as secret weapon, knowing his time will come.

A year from now, who knows, Handel's might be featuring Kaepermania Krunch.