The first week of the regular season is on us and it could not have started off worse for our beloved San Francisco 49ers. The team headed into this game with high hopes of having a crushing victory to start off the season en route to being crowned NFC West champions and heading into the first round of the playoffs. Unfortunately it seemed that the team believed it's own hype and thought that the Seattle Seahawks would hand them the win.
The first half the team looked very sharp, marching up and down the field with impunity, but failing inside the red zone. Josh Morgan had a TD catch that was ruled incomplete due to not having two feet in bounds. That drive led to a field goal. A drive later we were stalled inside the 20 on a 4th and short and we ran up the gut behind Moran Norris who missed a crucial block allowing Gore to be tackled for a loss. The final trip inside the red zone also led to a 4th down play with Moran Norris rolling out left and the rest of the team going right. Norris was all by his lonesome and Alex Smith overthrew him.
The Seahawks got the ball back with 3:57 to go in the 2nd half and proceeded to march 86 yards down the field for a TD (helped with a questionable PI call on Nate Clements that gave them a first down on a 3rd and long pass). The 49ers got the ball back with a chance to score to go into the half with some points and try to salvage something out of the situation, but on a 3rd down and 5 Michael Crabtree ran the incorrect route leading to an Alex Smith INT that was returned to the 49er 20 yard down.
Two players later the Seahawks scored another TD and went into the half 14-6. The second half was more of the same as the team continued to fall apart and play very poorly. The Seahawks defense dominated the 49er offense, particularly the offensive line and Seattle manhandled the 49ers the rest of the game.
For the Seahawks Matt Hasselbeck went 17/22 for 151 yards. Justin Forsett had 7 carries for 43 yards and had another 17 yards in receptions. The leading receiver for the Seahawks was Mike Williams with 4 receptions and 64 yards.Defensively the Hawks leading tackler was Jordan Babineaux with 5 tackles and 1 INT. Marcus Trufant added another INT.
Alex Smith got plenty of opportunities to throw, going 26/45 for 225 yards, no TDs and 2 INTs. Frank Gore carried the ball 17 times for 38 yards, and added another 45 yards receiving. Vernon Davis was the leading receiver with 73 yards. Patrick Willis was led the defense with 10 tackles and Travis LaBoy notched the only sack.
There's nothing good that can be taken from this game. The offense stunk, our 3rd down conversion was atrocious just like last year and our secondary did not perform well next year. Here's hoping we rebound from this and come to play against the Saints with a vengeance.