Game Recap
SAN FRANCISCO – In their two-point loss to San Francisco at CenturyLink Field last December, Marshawn Lynch became the first player to rush for a touchdown against the 49ers in the 2011 season.
In a nationally televised rematch at Candlestick Park on Thursday night, the Seahawks couldn’t find the end zone. As a result, they dropped a 13-6 decision to the 49ers to fall out of a first-place tie in the NFC West.
Steven Hauschka supplied the Seahawks’ points with 52- and 38-yard field goals, and it was good enough to give Seattle a 6-3 halftime lead. But in the second half, Alex Smith threw a 12-yard TD pass to Delanie Walker and David Akers added a 28-yard field goal.
The loss dropped the Seahawks to 4-3, while the 49ers improved to 5-2. It also prevented the Seahawks from winning three games in a row for the first time under third-year coach Pete Carroll.
The 49ers now have won the past four matchups with the Seahawks, including sweeping them last season for the first time since 2006. The teams will play again at CenturyLink Field on Dec. 23.
After getting the extended weekend off, the players will return on Monday to begin preparing for their Oct. 28 game against the Lions in Detroit – which will complete a stretch where they have played four of five on the road.
The Seahawks scored first, the 49ers last in the opening quarter. The 49ers pinned the Seahawks at their own 4-yard line, but Russell Wilson hit his first three passes for 32 yards in a 10-play, 62-yard drive to a 52-yard field goal by Hauschka. The 49ers then drove 60 yards in 11 plays to a 38-yard field goal by Akers with 26 seconds left.
Lynch touched the ball five times for 23 yards on the Seahawks’ field goal drive and then ended the quarter with a 7-yard run.
The defense also stepped up, as the 49ers were driving late in the quarter, but defensive tackle Jason Jones dropped Smith for a 2-yard loss on a third-and-9 play from the Seahawks’ 18. Akers then kicked his field goal.
The second quarter started the same way as the first, with the Seahawks driving 63 yards in eight plays to a 35-yard field goal by Hauschka. Lynch carried twice for 22 yards on the drive that began on the final play of the first quarter with his 7-yard run, but the big play was Wilson’s 36-yard pass to Ben Obomanu to the 49ers’ 37 on third-and-3. After the defense forced a three-and-out, the Seahawks drove to the 49ers’ 33, but Hauschka was wide left on a 51-yard attempt.
The defense turned in a pair of three-and-outs, as Earl Thomas, the Seahawks’ Pro Bowl free safety, dropped Frank Gore for a 6-yard gain on a third-and-12 play; and Marcus Trufant, the Seahawks’ nickel back, dropped Michael Crabtree for a 1-yard gain on a third-and-3 play.
After the Seahawks’ second half-opening drive stalled at the 49ers’ 43 and they had to punt, the defense got “chunked” in a 10-play, 86-yard drive that ended with Smith’s 12-yard TD pass to tight end Delanie Walker. “Chunked”? Smith to Gore for 10 yards. Smith to Kendall Hunter for 11. Smith to Gore for 12. Gore for 11. Smith to Michael Crabtree for 10 on third-and-9. And the TD pass. The 49ers had seven first downs in the 10-play drive.
Smith was 5 of 5 for 58 yards on the TD drive that gave the 49ers the lead, while Gore had eight touches for 49 yards.
As the Seahawks tied to answer the 49ers’ TD, Wilson’s second-down pass to Braylon Edwards was intercepted by Pro Bowl free safety Dashon Goldson at the 49ers’ 26-yard line.
In the fourth quarter, the 49ers drove to the Seahawks’ 7, but on the fifth play of the quarter Brandon Browner intercepted Alex Smith’s pass in the end zone. The Seahawks then went three-and-out, so the 49ers got the ball at the Seahawks’ 49 after Ted Ginn Jr. returned Jon Ryan’s 56-yard punt for 16 yards. The 49ers then drove to a 28-yard field goal by Akers with 5:24 left to play.
Gore broke runs of 37, 20 and 10 yards in the quarter. After Browner’s interception, the Seahawks had a third-and-4 play from their 9-yard line, but Lynch dropped Wilson’s pass.
