*Seahawks KO Smith, 49ers*
By Damin Esper PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer
SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) - The Seattle Seahawks used a dominating performance on both sides of the ball to beat the San Francisco 49ers, 23-3, on Sunday.
The win allows the Seahawks to take sole possession of first place in the NFC West at 3-1.
"It was a great win for us," Seattle coach Mike Holmgren said. "For early in the year, it was as big a game as you can play."
It was especially big because despite winning the NFC West Division last season, the Seahawks were swept by the 49ers.
"This was a statement game," said Seahawks linebacker Julian Peterson, a former 49er who had three sacks.
San Francisco fell to 2-2 and also lost quarterback Alex Smith to a separated throwing shoulder. 49ers coach Mike Nolan said the injury will be re-evaluated on Monday.
"It's frustrating," Smith said. "I came out here to win the game. I prepared all week and I couldn't be out there."
Seattle started slow, punting on its first three possessions. Then, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and company got it into gear.
Hasselbeck completed 23-of-31 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns. Deion Branch caught seven of those passes for 130 yards, setting up 10 of Seattle's points.
"We still haven't played our best game," Branch said. "If anybody thinks that's our best game, they've got a rude awakening coming to them."
Running back Shaun Alexander ran for 78 yards on 25 carries.
On the other side of the ball, Seattle knocked out Smith on the third play of the game with a right (throwing) shoulder injury.
Backup Trent Dilfer came on to complete 12-of-33 passes for 128 yards with two interceptions. Dilfer was sacked five times and the 49ers fumbled five times, losing three.
Frank Gore, who destroyed Seattle in two games last season with 356 yards rushing, was not a factor, rushing for 79 yards on 16 carries.
Smith was sacked on a clean hit by Rocky Bernard coming up the middle. He left the game immediately and was carted to the locker room.
Seattle used a big second quarter to take over the game. Josh Brown kicked a 23-yard field goal early in the quarter to get the Seahawks on the board.
Midway through the quarter, Seattle's defense came up big, forcing a three-and-out after San Francisco's Keith Lewis partially blocked a Ryan Plackmeier punt and the 49ers took over on the Seahawka 48.
On the first play following the punt, Hasselbeck hit Branch for a 65-yard pass to the San Francisco 17. On the next play, Hasselbeck connected with Bobby Engram for the touchdown.
"We called a double-move," Hasselbeck said of the long pass to Branch. "(Cornerback) Nate Clemments actually had pretty good coverage. I just led Deion inside just a little bit."
Seattle added a 31-yard field goal by Brown late in the half, set up by a 31-yard catch-and-run by Branch.
San Francisco recovered an onside kick to start the second half, but Dilfer was immediately intercepted by Marcus Trufant, who brought the ball back 24 yards to the 49ers 44.
Alexander had a nice 17-yard run on the ensuing drive and Hasselbeck hit Marcus Pollard for a 14-yard touchdown and a 20-0 lead.
San Francisco came back later in the quarter to get a 43-yard field goal from Joe Nedney to get on the board. But the 49ers' offense never got going and Seattle chewed up the clock in the fourth quarter.
