Week 2: Seahawks Defense leaves 49ers Sleepless in Seattle

No rivalry in the NFL has been as heated in the last few seasons as the one out west between NFC heavyweights San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks. And on Sunday night, those two teams renewed their rivalry as a record crowd of 68,388 fans attended CenturyLink Field for what was regarded as one of the most highly anticipated games on the NFL's regular season schedule between two young stud quarterbacks and a pair of stout defenses. But what began as a back and forth slop fest, eventually turned into a lopsided beat down. During the game's early going you would've thought you were watching a Seattle Mariners vs San Francisco Giants baseball game not only because of the hour-long weather delay due to lightning but also because of the low-scoring affair that took place in the first half.

While power outages have worked in San Francisco's favor in the past, weather delays would prove to be another story for the reigning NFC champs who found themselves trailing 5-0 at the half following a safety and a field goal. Though it would be a forgetful day for both young QB's who made a bet prior to the game that the loser had to shave an eyebrow in promotion of the new Madden 14 video game, 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick would be on the short end of the stick when it was all said and done. Kaepernick who put up a career-high 412 passing yards in Week 1, would follow up arguably his best NFL performance with his worst, throwing for only 127 yards. With 3 interceptions in all of last season, Kaepernick matched that total in this game alone, receiving little help from his receiving corps who were held in check by Seattle's stellar secondary. Receiver Anquan Boldin who stole the headlines in his 49ers debut last week by compiling over 200 yards receiving to go along with a touchdown, was virtually a ghost in this one, hauling in just one grab for 7 yards after being blanketed in the first half by Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman.

San Francisco failed to establish the run game for the second straight week as Frank Gore was basically a non-factor, tallying just 16 yards on 9 carries. However, the same couldn't be said for the team on the other sideline. Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch has been a thorn in the side of the 49ers defense in the past and this game was no different, rushing the ball for 98 yards and 2 touchdowns. Before the game had ended the Pro-Bowl running back received enough Skittles to feed the entire coaching staff as he also added a 7-yard touchdown reception, scoring all three of Seattle's TD's. Like his 49ers counterpart, Russell Wilson would also have a hard time making plays as he and Kaepernick threw for a combined 58 yards in the first half. Only his line would be slightly better at the game's end, completing under 50% of his passes (8-for-19) for 142 yards to go along with a touchdown and an interception. But where Wilson struggled, his defense more than made up for it, giving head coach Pete Carroll a 29-3 victory over the team he grew up rooting for and once upon a time served as the defensive coordinator for on his 62nd Birthday.

With coach Carroll handing Jim Harbaugh the worst loss in his NFL coaching career the last time these two teams met, a 42-13 win in Seattle last December, Sunday night's meeting wasn't an improvement by any stretch despite the score being slightly closer. After being held scoreless in the first half, San Francisco's only points would come in the third quarter as kicker Phil Dawson put the Niners on the board with a third quarter field goal. But the scoreboard wouldn't be the only place coach Harbaugh saw his team receive a beating as they also took a hit in the injury department. Though rookie safety Eric Reid would log his second career interception in as many games this season, he would have to be helped off the field in the second quarter after suffering a concussion, forcing him to leave the game.

And while Reid has reportedly passed every NFL-mandated test since his injury and should be good to go come week 3, the news regarding nose tackle Ian Williams who departed Sunday's loss with a foot injury wouldn't be anything but pleasant as it was learned that he'll be out for the remainder of the season with a broken ankle. Former first round pick Glenn Dorsey who was acquired during the off-season will fill the void left by Williams. Vernon Davis also left Seattle banged up with a hamstring injury, causing the Pro-Bowl tight-end to miss practice all week and is questionable to play in Sunday's game.

As seen in this one, home-field advantage made all the difference in the world. After pulling out a sloppy victory from the skin of their teeth on the road in Carolina in Week 1, a game in which Seattle easily could have lost and most likely would have had it not been for DeAngelo Williams' careless late fourth quarter fumble, the Seahawks took it to their division foes much like they did last December in the same building. With both teams not scheduled to meet again until week 14 in San Francisco, Harbaugh and company has plenty of time to work out the kinks in preparation of their next bout. Whether a wager will be on the line between the two QB's in the rematch is unknown but it's only fair Kaepernick and Russell make a second bet when the two teams meet again this time on Kaepernick's home field. Check out the video of Kaepernick owning up to the bet and shaving off his eyebrow down below:


Week 3 Preview: San Francisco looks to bounce back from their ugly loss with a meeting against the Indianapolis Colts at Candlestick. Having already seen a pair of talented QB's in each of their first two games this season in Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson, the 49ers will now turn their attention to another standout passer in Andrew Luck who coach Harbaugh knows quite a few things about dating back to their time spent together at the University of Stanford. But as excited as coach Harbaugh will be to see his former star quarterback, their reunion will be the last thing on their minds once the whistle blows as both teams look to get back into the win column. Indy is coming off a 24-20 loss at home to the 2-0 Miami Dolphins and is primed to get back on track. Luck won't be the only one the Niners defense will have to keep an eye on as running back Trent Richardson will be looking to make a first impression with his new team after being dealt from the Cleveland Browns on Wednesday in one of the more bizarre trades we've seen two weeks into the season. Richardson who was drafted third overall in last year's draft was traded for a first-round pick in next year's draft. And as much as I like the move for the Colts, I just wish it had happened after week 3 so the 49ers wouldn't have to face him...


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