Seahawks extend lead to 22-3
Well, it’s not quite over yet, but the Seahawks are starting to pull away. First Marshawn Lynch scored his second touchdown of the game, literally walking into the end zone for a 7-yard score after catching a pass in tons of space.
Not long after, Colin Kaepernick made the poor decision of challenging Richard Sherman down the sideline, and Sherman came up with the pick. That led to a field goal, and the Seahawks now lead by 19 with 11:31 left in the game.
Seahawks lead 12-3
Sorry for the infrequent updates, that delay is messing things up for those of us with deadlines. So along those lines, I may not have much more on here after this other than a score update or two.
The Seahawks got a touchdown out of the opening drive of the second half, going 80 yards and capping things with a 14-yard Marshawn Lynch run. The big play that kept that drive going was a 51-yard pass to Doug Baldwin on 3rd and 12. That play, like so many big plays by Seattle’s offense, was the result of Russell Wilson extending a play with his legs, then finding an open—well in this case, wide open—receiver.
San Francisco countered with its best drive of the day, but that stalled out at the 3-yard line, so the 49ers had to settle for a field goal.
Halftime: Seahawks lead 5-0
A quick update on Russell Okung. He did come back out the sideline and was going through some pass-blocking drills, so the injury doesn’t appear to be too serious. He did not, however, come back and play on the final possession after returning from the locker room. Perhaps Seattle will bring him back in the second half.
And as the scoreline would indicate, not a lot of offense for either team. Russell Wilson has completed just two passess and the Seahawks have 32 net passing yards. The good news for the Seahawks, however, is that they are running the ball well, and already have 109 rushing yards.
San Francisco, meanwhile, has 26 net passing yards and just 62 total yards.
Seahawks lead 5-0, Okung injured
Yes, you read that score right, it’s 5-0 Seahawks with 5:52 left in the first half. Seattle opened the scoring with a safety thanks to a hold in the end zone.
The Seahawks had a short field after that, but couldn’t take advantage when Russell Wilson was stuffed on a fourth-and-one run. Seattle got the ball right back, however, when Cliff Avril stripped Colin Kaepernick on a sack. KJ Wright recovered to give the Seahawks the ball at the SF 29 yard liine, but had to settle for a field goal.
Russell Wilson has still completed just one pass so far, and took some big hits on that series.
And some potentially bad news for the Seahawks, Russell Okung left the game with what is being called a foot injury. His return is questionable.
Update on delay
Both teams are back on the field warming up. We should be back underway at 7:05 pm, making this an one-hour delay.
Lightning delay
Well, this is different. Teams have cleared the field because of lightning in the area. No word yet on how long this delay will go.
Of note since I last checked in… Seattle’s passing game is still struggling. Russell Wilson is currently 0 for 6 with an interception, and the Seahawks have punted twice (well, tried to punt once and punted once) and turned the ball over… Cliff Avril was on the field for SF’s last possession… As was the case last week, the Seahawks are swapping Paul McQuistan and James Carpenter at LG. Carpenter was on for the third series after McQuistan played the first two.
It’s currently 0-0 with 3:13 left in the first quarter, and whenever we get going again, San Francisco will have 1st and 10 at its own 36.
Two big plays, no score yet
After the Seahawks and 49ers traded three and outs, the 49ers came up with a blocked punt when the ball was snapped with a good portion of Seattle’s punt team not ready for the play. That was apparently the result of a whistle being blown somewhere in the stadium, but not by an official on the field.
The 49ers didn’t get anything out of it, however, because after driving to the Seahawks 5-yard line, Colin Kaepernick had a pass intended for Vernon Davis broken up by Walter Thurmond and intercepted by Earl Thomas.
A few early notes… Michael Bennett was the starter at the Leo end spot. As far as I can tell, Cliff Avril hasn’t played yet… New tight end Kellen Davis was in early as blocker on Seattle’s first possession… Recently re-signed DT Clinton McDonald had some nice pressure on Kaepernick on San Francisco’s second possession.
PREGAME
We’re a little hour from a highly-anticipated kickoff at CenturyLink Field, where momentarily it is dry, but we just had a pretty good downpour not long ago, and more rain, and perhaps some thunder and lightning, are expected.
If you’re trying to kill time and missed it earlier, here’s today’s column on Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick, the two young quarterbacks who could define this rivalry for years to come.
As expected, the Seahawks will be without Brandon Browner, who has a hamstring injury, as well as Chris Clemons, who is close to being back from knee surgery.
Seahawks inactives: S Jeron Johnson, RB Christine Michael, CB Brandon Browner, T Michael Bowie, T Alvin Bailey, DE Chris Clemons, DT Jordan Hill.
49ers inactives: QB B.J. Daniels, WR Chris Harper, RB LaMichael James, LB Nate Stupar, DT Tony Jerod-Eddie, G Joe Looney, WR Jon Baldwin.
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