Friday 28 November 2014 06:53, UK
Super Bowl champions Seattle Seahawks look well primed for another big run after disposing of fierce rivals San Francisco 49ers 19-3 in a bone-crunching encounter in Santa Clara.
After struggling somewhat earlier in the season Pete Carroll’s Seahawks have hit top gear in recent weeks, they also beat NFC West rivals Arizona 19-3 last week and a similarly stifling win over the Niners puts them right back in the thick of the playoff mix.
The Seahawks' defence was back to its best and Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers offence could just not get anything going all night as they were limited to just 164 yards of offence, while cornerback Richard Sherman grabbed two interceptions.
Robert Turbin scored the only touchdown of the game in the first quarter with a 13-yard catch and run, and Marshawn Lynch starred in the run game with 104 yards on 20 carries.
With the teams so similar and evenly matched, the big difference was in the play of the quarterbacks, with Russell Wilson elusive and able to extend plays and find receivers on the run, while Kaepernick struggled all night to find his range under pressure.
It was a traditionally hard-hitting contest and defences were thoroughly on top in the opening exchanges, and it looked like mistakes would be the key to getting the breakthrough.
That first mistake was from Kaepernick, who was at least five yards wide of where he wanted to be throwing to Brandon Lloyd, and that man Richard Sherman was waiting to gleefully gobble up the interception.
Seattle took full advantage of the turnover as seven plays later Wilson threw the short swing pass out to Turbin who raced into the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown.
With Kaepernick struggling to find his range, Wilson showed all of his attributes with his trademark escapology act to evade would-be tacklers then setting up a near-touchdown for Tony Moeaki who was inches short of stretching out the ball into the end zone.
San Francisco’s defence stood firm and limited Seattle to just a field goal, as it did again in the second quarter to leave the Seahawks just 13-0 in front despite the hosts offering hardly anything on offence.
Seattle got a big slice of luck when punter Jon Ryan dropped the snap, but managed to just about get his kick away – and then it got even better as Perrish Cox fumbled on his return attempt and Seattle regained possession, although this time they came away empty handed.
The third quarter was largely taken up by two lengthy drives which resulted in another Seattle field goal from Hauschka and a response from San Francisco’s stuttering offence with Phil Dawson kicking a field goal as the 49ers had their first real venture into Seattle territory.
Hauschka kicked Seattle 19-3 in front in the fourth quarter, when Wilson showed more of his play-making ability, getting out of trouble and finding an open receiver on the run.
Just as San Francisco were moving down the field Kaepernick again was way off with his radar as he tried to throw on the run to Stevie Johnson but Sherman was on hand to grab his second interception of the game.
That was enough to ice the game for Seattle who improve to 8-4 and remain put the pressure on NFC West leaders Arizona with all three teams to play each other again in an exciting run-in which also keeps the 7-5 Niners in the picture.
