SAN FRANCISCO — If the Seattle Seahawks get back their quarterback this week, they’ll welcome him with open arms.
But Sunday’s 34-13 win over the San Francisco 49ers showed that the Seahawks don’t necessarily need Matt Hasselbeck to win a game.
Seneca Wallace completed 15 of 25 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns, giving Seattle its first win without Hasselbeck since Nov. 12, 2006.
“I thought he was much improved over last week,” coach Mike Holmgren said, referring to Wallace’s 73-yard passing performance in a Week 7 loss to Tampa Bay. “I think he was feeling better (physically); his (injured calf) was better. I think he settled down as the game progressed.”
Hasselbeck has missed two consecutive games due to a bulging disk in his back. He is being evaluated on a week-to-week basis, meaning Holmgren might get an update on his progress today. There is a chance Hasselbeck could return to action for Sunday’s home game against Philadelphia.
In Hasselbeck’s absence, starters Charlie Frye and Wallace went 0-2 while combining for just 156 passing yards.
On Sunday, Wallace made use of veteran Bobby Engram early in the game and found a rhythm. He also benefited from the play of fullback Leonard Weaver, who took two of Wallace’s short passes and turned them into long touchdowns.
“Those were huge plays for us,” Wallace said.
Thanks in large part to Weaver’s two long touchdowns, the Seahawks had 140 of their 222 passing yards after the catch.
Wallace added that the game was a step in the right direction — for both himself and the Seahawks.
“I’m definitely looking for some carryover effect,” said Wallace, who has an all-time record of 3-3 as starter. “It was a real confidence-booster (Sunday).”
Engram said Wallace’s performance was decent, adding that he wasn’t as bad as the numbers showed in his previous start.
“I think the quarterback gets credit when the team wins, and I think he got too much of the blame when we didn’t win,” Engram said. “Seneca’s a competitor, and he can win ball games. He’s a starting-caliber quarterback. The offense just has to hang in there.”
Tatupu, Kerney come out: Two of Seattle’s defensive stars were unable to finish the game due to injury.
Pro Bowl middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu came out in the first quarter and watched from the sideline for the second consecutive week. He suffered a concussion in a loss to Tampa Bay seven days earlier.
“He pulled his groin; strained his groin,” Holmgren said. “He’ll miss some practice time. You’ve just got to let (the injury) calm down.”
Kerney suffered a shoulder injury late in the fourth quarter.
Both injuries are likely to be further evaluated today.
Another sideline rant: For the second week in a row, frustration carried over to the Seahawks’ sideline.
This time, safety Deon Grant was so upset following the 49ers’ only touchdown that injured teammate Lofa Tatupu had to guide him toward the bench in an effort to calm the team captain down.
Grant said he was not upset at anyone in particular, just the fact that the Seahawks had given up a touchdown.
“I don’t want to give up any points,” he said. “I was upset that we gave up six. I don’t care what the score is, I don’t want to give up any points. I’m greedy.”
San Francisco’s only touchdown came early in the fourth quarter, when Jason Hill caught a 2-yard pass in front of fellow Washington State University alumnus Marcus Trufant. That touchdown cut Seattle’s lead to 27-13.
Last weekend, running back Julius Jones threw his helmet after being taken out of the game on a short-yardage play.
Bobby’s back: Wide receiver Bobby Engram caught three passes — two more than the previous two games combined — for 40 yards.
The Seahawks had him in the game plan early, resulting in a 21-yard reception on their first offensive play and a couple of overthrown passes.
“We left some plays on the field,” he said, “but I was pleased that they went to me a little bit.”
Eye of the tiger: For the first time since 2006, Seahawks defensive tackle Rocky Bernard had multiple sacks in a game.
Bernard had two sacks Sunday, and should have been credited with being in on a third. He hit San Francisco quarterback J.T. O’Sullivan on the opening drive, but Kerney got credit for a full sack because he arrived a split second later to cause a fumble.
All three of Bernard’s sacks this season have come against San Francisco. He also had a sack against the 49ers last season, injuring Alex Smith’s shoulder and eventually sending the former No. 1 pick’s career on a downward spiral.
Bernard has 6.5 sacks over the past two seasons, and four of them have come against San Francisco.
“Whenever we play them, I seem to have some success,” he said. “I don’t know what it is.
“Watching film from the last game, we felt like we could get pressure up front. That’s what we tried to do, and I think we did a pretty good job of it.”
The Seahawks had five sacks Sunday. Of their 18 sacks on the season, 13 have come in two meetings with the 49ers.
Cue the 12th Man music The 49ers are more used to the noise at Qwest Field than they are at their own stadium.
San Francisco had three false-start penalties in Sunday’s first half — one more than they did in the four quarters of a September game at Seattle.
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