Field Gulls - Seahawks vs. 49ers: Game time, TV Schedule, radio info, odds, injury reports, predictions, and moreThe stupidest name in smart football analysis.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50215/fieldgulls-fav.png2015-10-23T16:39:31-07:00http://www.fieldgulls.com/rss/stream/93456082015-10-23T16:39:31-07:002015-10-23T16:39:31-07:00Don't blame it on Jermaine
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<figcaption>Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Not pictured: Jermaine Kearse</p> <p dir="ltr"><span>On the second drive of the third quarter against San Francisco, Russell Wilson threw his second of two interceptions on the night. Russ was targeting Jermaine Kearse deep over the middle of the field. On first view, the interception looked like this:</span></p>
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<p dir="ltr"><span>From just that single broadcast still, it’s pretty obvious that the throw was a poor decision by Russ. Perhaps because it was such an obviously poor decision from a usually smart quarterback, CBS and the NFL Network decided to give it’s audience a peek at the play from the All 22 view. That looked like this:</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span><iframe src="https://vine.co/v/eVHj1IKM2xr/embed/simple" width="600" height="600" frameborder="0"></iframe></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>On that view you can see Jermaine Kearse momentarily slow down at the top of his route, which lead to a bunch of people with takes like this bozo:</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span></span></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kearse stopped running his route. Awesome.</p>
— Danny Kelly (@FieldGulls) <a href="https://twitter.com/FieldGulls/status/657380738916990976">October 23, 2015</a>
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<p dir="ltr"><span>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p><span>As the resident Kearse apologist, this cannot stand.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>So, let’s break this play down a little. Here’s the play design from Seattle’s presnap alignment.</span></p>
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<p dir="ltr"><span>This is a pretty familiar play. Seattle will run one or two play action shot plays where they send two receivers deep on post or crossing routes, with a back or tight end leaking out as a dump off option. I haven’t been able to see the All 22 on Lockett’s touchdown, but I expect it to have come off of a similar play.</span></p>
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<p dir="ltr"><span>Here is the play about three seconds after the snap. This is roughly the time that Jermaine Kearse slows down in his route. The Niners pressure Russ up the middle and he rolls outside the pocket to his left. Jermaine Kearse, nearly 30 yards down field at this point, has his head turned around looking for Russ or the ball.</span></p>
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<p><span>Kearse likely identifies this as a scramble drill and reads the situation. He can continue on his route, but that takes him the opposite direction from Russ and there is a safety closing the middle of the field. He can try to get deep, but he has a corner in man over the top of him. Plus, he’s already 30 yards down field. Any deep ball would likely give a DB the chance to recover and make a play on the ball.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Kearse slows down here because he likely, and correctly, reads that he needs to work back to the area along the sideline marked by the green box. We’ve seen Seattle receivers do this many times, breaking off their route to run diagonally back towards Russ to make a toe tapping catch along the sidelines.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Jermaine isn’t quitting on his route, in fact it’s the exact opposite. He’s read the play and is looking for a way to uncover.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Instead, Russ forces the issue and launches the ball deep. Like, really deep.</span></p>
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<p dir="ltr">The yellow circles are where Kearse, the corner, and the safety were in the previous picture. The ball is a little over 25 yards from where Kearse is when he initially slows. The corner, who has about a yard on Kearse and didn’t slow, has to make a really nice diving catch to pick off the pass and the safety has also converged on Kearse.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Even without slowing around the 40 yard line, this ball is destined to be intercepted. If Jermaine is able to get to the ball at all, two defenders are in place to jar it loose or tip it up for the other to grab. The best case scenario is that Jermaine is somehow able to break up the interception and force an incompletion. Kearse knew that back on the 40 yard line, which is why he didn’t expect the pass to be forced deep.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/seattle-seahawks/post/_/id/15402/russell-wilsons-dogs-pete-carroll-disappointed-with-interceptions"> <span>Pete Carroll agrees with what Jermaine saw</span></a><span>.</span></p>
<blockquote>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"I was really disappointed in the long ball," Carroll said. "That’s too bad. We don’t need to do that. He thought he had something. We don’t need to throw the ball up like that. The other one, it was a scramble, and he saw Doug [Baldwin], and he flashed to throw that ball, and he lost track of what’s going on. So that’s a mistake for us. But the other one, the last time we did that, it was against the Cardinals, I think in his first game or something like that. So don’t need to throw the ball up like that."</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p><span>And Russell confirms that there was confusion about the scramble.</span></p>
<blockquote>
<p><span>"We had a deep play. Jermaine and I kind of got confused a little bit," he said. "I think he thought I was scrambling, so I was trying to get him a shot, and we were off on the timing of the original play, I felt like."</span></p>
</blockquote>
https://www.fieldgulls.com/2015/10/23/9604736/seahawks-49ers-russell-wilson-interception-jermaine-kearseNate Dogg2015-10-23T15:13:12-07:002015-10-23T15:13:12-07:00Seahawks beat Niners: Players sound off
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<figcaption>Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Here's a roundup of player video/audio from the locker room following the Seahawks' win over the Niners.</p>
<h4>From Seahawks.com:</h4>
<p><a href="http://www.seahawks.com/video/2015/10/22/bennett-we-just-had-stay-focused">Bennett: 'We just had to stay focused' | Seattle Seahawks</a><br>Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett explains how the team came together to get the 20-3 win over the San Francisco 49ers.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.seahawks.com/video/2015/10/23/locker-room-sound-49ers-brandon-mebane-lobbies-full-sack">Locker Room Sound at 49ers: Brandon Mebane Lobbies for Full Sack | Seattle Seahawks</a><br>Seahawks defensive tackle Brandon Mebane lobbies to be awarded with a full sack rather than the half sack he was given during the Seahawks game against the 49ers.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.seahawks.com/video/2015/10/23/locker-room-sound-49ers-cliff-avril-awesome-just-finish">Locker Room Sound at 49ers: Cliff Avril "Awesome to Just Finish" | Seattle Seahawks</a><br>Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril talks about the play of the Seahawks defense as they only gave up 3 points to the 49ers.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.seahawks.com/video/2015/10/23/locker-room-sound-49ers-tyler-lockett-can-absolutely-fly">Locker Room Sound at 49ers: Tyler Lockett can "Absolutely Fly" | Seattle Seahawks</a><br>Hear from Tyler Lockett, Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll on the rookie's touchdown catch during the Seahawks 20-3 victory over the 49ers.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.seahawks.com/video/2015/10/23/locker-room-sound-49ers-marshawn-lynch-phenomenal-player">Locker Room Sound at 49ers: Marshawn Lynch is a "Phenomenal Player" | Seattle Seahawks</a><br>Seahawks players and coaches talk about the performance of Marshawn Lynch during the teams 20-3 victory over the 49ers.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.seahawks.com/video/2015/10/23/locker-room-sound-49ers-michael-bennett-was-causing-49ers-problems">Locker Room Sound at 49ers: Michael Bennett was Causing 49ers Problems | Seattle Seahawks</a><br>Hear from Pete Carroll and Michael Bennett in the locker room about the defensive end's three sack night against the 49ers.</p>
<h4>
<a href="http://mynorthwest.com/category/sports_pod_results/?p=1022&n=Seahawks%20Postgame%20Interviews" target="_blank">From 710ESPN</a>:</h4>
<p><iframe allowtransparency="true" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:100%; height:130px;" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="http://kiroradio.com/710embed.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Faudio.kiroradio.com%2Fseattle%2Fkiro%2F2015%2F10%2Fc_postgameinterviews102315_9993833.mp3&name=DT+Ahtyba+Rubin+on+his+first+taste+of+the+Seahawks-49ers+rivalry&show=Seahawks+Postgame+Interviews"></iframe></p>
<p><iframe src="http://kiroradio.com/710embed.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Faudio.kiroradio.com%2Fseattle%2Fkiro%2F2015%2F10%2Fc_postgameinterviews102315_9993834.mp3&name=DE+Cliff+Avril+on+the+Seahawks%5C%27+huge+defensive+game+vs.+49ers&show=Seahawks+Postgame+Interviews" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:100%; height:130px;" allowtransparency="true"></iframe></p>
<p><iframe src="http://kiroradio.com/710embed.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Faudio.kiroradio.com%2Fseattle%2Fkiro%2F2015%2F10%2Fc_postgameinterviews102315_9993835.mp3&name=Seahawks+WR+Tyler+Lockett+on+his+first+career+touchdown+reception&show=Seahawks+Postgame+Interviews" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:100%; height:130px;" allowtransparency="true"></iframe></p>
<p><iframe src="http://kiroradio.com/710embed.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Faudio.kiroradio.com%2Fseattle%2Fkiro%2F2015%2F10%2Fc_postgameinterviews102315_9993837.mp3&name=LT+Russell+Okung+on+the+Seahawks%5C%27+quick+start+on+offense&show=Seahawks+Postgame+Interviews" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:100%; height:130px;" allowtransparency="true"></iframe></p>
<p><iframe src="http://kiroradio.com/710embed.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Faudio.kiroradio.com%2Fseattle%2Fkiro%2F2015%2F10%2Fc_postgameinterviews102315_9993838.mp3&name=Seahawks%5C%27+Steven+Hauschka+on+kicking+at+49ers%5C%27+Levi%5C%27s+Stadium&show=Seahawks+Postgame+Interviews" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:100%; height:130px;" allowtransparency="true"></iframe></p>
https://www.fieldgulls.com/2015/10/23/9605576/seahawks-beat-niners-players-sound-offDanny Kelly2015-10-23T15:06:36-07:002015-10-23T15:06:36-07:00The Pete Carroll Show, Week 7
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<figcaption>Ezra Shaw/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Pete Carroll joined <a target="_blank" href="http://mynorthwest.com/category/pod_player_sports/?a=9993830&p=1027&n=Pete%20Carroll%20Show">Mike Salk and Brock Huard on 710 ESPN Seattle </a> to break down what happened in Seattle's win over the Niners. Listen in.</p>
<p><iframe allowtransparency="true" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:100%; height:130px;" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="http://kiroradio.com/710embed.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Faudio.kiroradio.com%2Fseattle%2Fkiro%2F2015%2F10%2Fc_petecarrollshow102315_9993830.mp3&name=Pete+Carroll+reviews+the+Seahawks%5C%27+win+over+San+Francisco&show=Pete+Carroll+Show"></iframe></p>
https://www.fieldgulls.com/2015/10/23/9605562/the-pete-carroll-show-week-7-via-710-espn-seattleDanny Kelly2015-10-23T11:59:40-07:002015-10-23T11:59:40-07:00Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas talk to Mike Rob, Prime after the game<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.seahawks.com/video/2015/10/22/sherman-we-could-easily-be-5-1">Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas talk to Mike Rob, Prime after the&nbsp;game</a></h3>
<div class="description"><p><p>Great interview. Watch it.</p></p></div>
https://www.fieldgulls.com/2015/10/23/9604686/richard-sherman-earl-thomas-talk-to-mike-rob-prime-after-the-gameDanny Kelly2015-10-23T01:50:44-07:002015-10-23T01:50:44-07:00Pete Carroll, Russell Wilson presser notes
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<figcaption>Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson talked to reporters following the Seahawks win over the 49ers in Santa Clara. Here are some notes on what was said.</p>
<h4>Coach Carroll:</h4>
<p><a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://www.seahawks.com/video/2015/10/22/pete-carroll-49ers-press-conference">Video Link</a></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Good trip for us. To turn this around in a few days. Handle the challenge of the week. The attitude was really good going into it. Good solid win. Always great to win on the road and in the division. The defense played really well all night, and a great night rushing the passer, highlighted by Michael Bennett. Nice to see us run again, Marshawn Lynch had a solid night tonight, the guys upfront did a good job too. Terrific play pass to get Tyler Lockett the ball down field, great pass by Russell Wilson. Like to get out of here, get a little break then play Dallas.</p>
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<p>That is the way it is supposed to be, to finish the game like normal. We should finish the game like that.</p>
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<li>
<p>It felt like a really normal Seahawk night tonight. Was great to have that opening drive, running the ball a lot and getting a touchdown.</p>
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<p>We had some good fortune with the I-formation with Will Tukuafu. Will is doing a great job, doing stuff for us on defense as well. We are going to continue to see that grow.</p>
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<li>
<p>Michael Bennett was causing problems by getting off the LOS really well, Cliff Avril had a really good night too. Mike is such a disrupter.</p>
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<p>"I was really disappointed in the long ball. That's too bad. We don't need to do that" in regards to Russell throwing the INT. He thought he had something but we don't need to throw the ball up like that. The other one to Doug Baldwin, he lost track of what was going on, that was a mistake. But the last one he threw up like that one (Kearse) was against the Cards in his first game or something.</p>
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<li>
<p>Gary Gilliam came into the game with a sore ankle so we had prepared Alvin Bailey to play, so they were in and out a little bit. Didn't want to pull the whole load of the game on Gary. We need to do better on the edge.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Cary Williams played against the other guy for a long time (Boldin, they were former teammates) so we had Sherman follow (Torrey Smith).</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>The players responded well coming back on Monday. Their attitude was they are ready to go at it and look forward. It is a huge asset when you have the ability to focus like that. Everybody had the right mentality and attitude.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>First drive just got Lynch a bit, gassed him, he went back in and was fine.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Thomas Rawls got a strain or bruise on his calf.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Russell Okung is fine.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Tyler Lockett did a nice job tonight. Unfortunately we can't shake lose on the returns, we will have to get right there. The execution of the pass and catch was perfect. One of the best plays of the year. Last week we missed it. We hope to continue to find him deep, he is a big threat.</p>
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<li>
<p>Doesn't even want to talk about winning again with the turnover battle lost (-2). Doesn't have the brain space to think about it. Hopes it will turn around.</p>
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<li>
<p>Felt like the turf really gave out on Russ sliding.</p>
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<li>
<p>We haven't been able to take advantage of Richard Sherman in the nickel spot much but he can do it and we are excited.</p>
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<li>
<p>Marshawn was a little rusty, he had a couple of plays he could fix. It was just great to have him back, he is a big asset to us.</p>
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<li>
<p>He (Kelcie McCray) has been really good, he has been a great standout for us on ST. Has become a real leader production wise.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h4>Russell Wilson:</h4>
<p><a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://www.seahawks.com/video/2015/10/22/russell-wilson-49ers-press-conference">Video Link</a></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>It was a great game. Besides those two INT plays we were lights out. We understood what we were trying to do.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Going on the road is huge, playing a NFCW team, getting a win is big time. We clicked on all three cylinders tonight. Nice to have the three days off and get better as a collective group.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Tyler is a special player. It was good to finally good one. He can absolutely fly. The O-line did a good job protecting on that play.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Thinks he handcuffed the Hawks on the INT's. Tried to give Kearse a chance down the field. Thinks Kearse thought Russ started scrambling (why he slowed down). Good thing is we were in attack mode.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>O-line did a great job, Marshawn was physical, was pretty cool to watch 24 run the ball the way he does.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Fred Jackson can do it all. Escaping, getting to the flat, catching the ball and getting the first down and getting out of bounds.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>We want to finish the game the right way, we have been so close, we have lost four games right at the end. We can't get too high from the win though, celebrate for a day or two but then get back on track and go 1-0 every week.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>We really grouped together after the tough loss. We choose to believe, that is our motto the past week. Believe we will find a way, that we have a great football team. We had walk-through the whole week, didn't move around much. Coach gave us a chance to play fast tonight and we did.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Michael Bennett and Russell have talked a few days before the Panthers loss. About why not believe in each other and the process. Just because we lost some tough games that isn't reason to jump ship. Take one game at a time, say the right things, trust each other and have fun while playing.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett, I couldn't imagine playing those guys. They are tough. They make plays, get to the QB. They make it tough on the opposing offense. It is a cool thing to watch.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>The second INT, we had a deep play, Jermaine probably got confused, thought he was scrambling, felt the timing was off, tried to give him a chance. It is okay, I guess it is a long punt. Just giving those guys a chance, be in attack mode.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h4>Relevant Tweets:</h4>
<ul>
<li>
<p>@Softykjr <em>Just asked Michael Bennett what it feels like to have the kind of game he did: "Feels like multiple orgasms."</em></p>
</li>
<li>
<p>@gbellseattle <em>Kam Chancellor, asked if #Seahawks have their vibe back "We're on the verge. We're in the right direction"</em></p>
</li>
</ul>
<h4>My Thoughts:</h4>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Well, it is great to get the win and to not fall apart in the 4th quarter. I do have my concerns in regards to whether we played quite well or the 9ers are just so bad that they never stood a chance. I can't really say we will find out against the Cowboys because they have a backup QB starting and possibly no Dez Bryant.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Was really nice to see Marshawn out there doing his Marshawn thing. He looks like 2014 Marshawn which is a great thing. Was cool to see Rawls do his Rawls thing (aka look real good and do some really nice stuff). The Marshawn-Rawls 1-2 punch seems to be significantly more potent than the Marshawn-Turbin 1-2 punch. Fred Jackson looks to still be effected by his injury, looks a little slow and not very explosive. Hopefully long week helps him and the rest of the team get healthy, then we can play the Cowboys then go into the Bye and get healthy again, come out of it and play the Cards.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Loved seeing Tyler Lockett get his first TD, and of course it was a deep ball down the field. I can't wait for Paul Richardson to get back and we can have two legit receivers who are burners on the field at the same time.</p>
</li>
</ul>
https://www.fieldgulls.com/2015/10/23/9602286/seahawks-49ers-pete-carroll-russell-wilson-press-conferenceNathan Watt2015-10-22T23:02:24-07:002015-10-22T23:02:24-07:00Cigar Thoughts: Seahawks trounce 49ers 20-3
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<figcaption>Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Facing arguably the biggest challenge of the Pete Carroll era, the Seattle Seahawks beat a divisional opponent on the road on a short week and breathed life back into their playoff hopes.</p> <p>I'll admit that I wasn't expecting to be as nervous as I was coming into this game. In hindsight it seems kind of silly, now that the <a href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Seahawks</a> have smashed the <a href="https://www.ninersnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">49ers</a> 20-3, but I had my doubts coming in. I'm not saying I thought the Niners were as good as the 'Hawks or, more accurately, that the 'Hawks were as bad as the Niners, but for the first time in three years, there was cause to doubt whether Seattle still had <i>it.</i></p>
<p>I mean, not only were the Seahawks coming off of back-to-back late-game collapses, they were traveling on a short week to a divisional opponent that, despite their struggles, was feeling good after a win of their own on Sunday. There was visible frustration in the Seattle locker room, loud calls for the heads of both coordinators from the rabble, the grim emergence of a trend of failure in high-leverage situations. There was the performance of the offensive line, arguably the worst in the history of the NFL (<span>Russell Wilson</span> is getting pressured at a higher rate than any QB on record), the performance of the secondary (allowing 80%+ completions and a 135 QB rating in the 4th quarter), and the inability of the offense to keep drives alive (converting just 36.9% of 3rd downs). There were plenty of reasons to be concerned.</p>
<p>Then the game started. Almost throughout, this was classic Carroll-era Seahawks football. San Francisco went three and out on their first drive on that goulash of a field in that soulless stadium in front of fans half-cheering for their team to lose so they'd have more ammo for their Fire Jed York campaign. Seattle responded with a long, cumbersome, drive that culminated with 176 carries by <span>Marshawn Lynch</span> from inside the 5 yard line, the last of which gave Seattle a lead they'd never relinquish. After another three and out from the Niners, Seattle tacked on three more when Team MVP <span>Steven Hauschka</span> squibbed a 49-yard field goal through the bottom left quadrant of the uprights.</p>
<p>From then on, the 'Hawks never let their foe off the mat. Lynch bruised 'em up for a season-high 122 yards on a season-high 27 carries behind an offensive line that finished with a season-high of not sucking balls. And when Marshawn was on the sideline <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/si_nfl/status/657360883786633216">regurgitating the remains of devoured 49ers defenders</a>, <span>Thomas Rawls</span> borrowed Lynch's thumpin' stick and added 32 of his own on six totes. The Seahawks played downhill all game long, which allowed Wilson to push the ball downfield while the Niners licked its wounds. The result was a first half wherein Wilson notched a ridiculous 13.1 YPA including <a target="_blank" href="http://www.fieldgulls.com/2015/10/22/9601498/video-russell-wilson-to-tyler-lockett-for-six">this bomb to Tyler Lockett</a>, who scampered under it for the longest of his career-high five receptions, as well as his first NFL receiving TD.</p>
<p>And while the second half was essentially a slow, uneventful bloodletting, it didn't matter much because the defense locked up San Francisco's offense like puppies that just peed on the rug. <span>Cliff Avril</span> consistently collapsed the corner of the line while <span>Michael Bennett</span> turned Levi's Stadium into <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/SBNation/status/507725553592705024">Black Santa</a> Clara. Meanwhile, the recently maligned Legion of Boom handcuffed the 49ers receivers to the nearest water heater and didn't let them go until after <span>Richard Sherman</span> and <span>Earl Thomas</span> yapped it up with the NFL Network crew on their field. And while perhaps no quarterback has seen a sharper regression than <span>Colin Kaepernick</span> has the last couple of years, even palindromic peak-Kaep wouldn't have stood a chance against this defense tonight.</p>
<p>Think I'm overstating it? Consider this- in his career vs Seattle coming in, Kaepernick was 88-165 (53.3%) for 961 yards (5.8 YPA), 3 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions for a passer rating of 54.1 and a record of 1-5. Tonight was just more of the same, as the Seahawks held him to a line of 13-24 (54.2%), 124 yards (5.2 YPA), 0 TDs, 0 INTs, a rating of 68.7 and another double-digit loss (his fifth vs Seattle). In the past, some of the blemishes have been hidden by his 341 rushing yards in those contests, including 130 in the NFC 'Ship but even that was stripped from him in this one, as he rushed for exactly as many yards as I did. And that's not even mentioning the 43 yards he lost on six sacks. That means the 49ers' finished with 81 net passing yards on 30 dropbacks.</p>
<p>San Fran wasn't much better on the ground either, as <span>Carlos Hyde</span> bravely played through a stress fracture in his foot while Seattle's stress fractured their run game. 61 yards for the Niners, <i>as a team, </i>rushing in his one. The result was more punts (9) than first downs (8) and a measly 1-12 on third downs. In all, the 49ers offense treated their fans to 142 yards on 45 plays. That's literally shorter than the distance between the front rows on opposing ends of their own stadium. In fact, in the last two games these teams have played in the Bay Area, the Niners have accrued a grand total of 304 yards on 96 plays.</p>
<p>Perhaps most importantly, the Seahawks not only protected their fourth quarter lead* in this one, they extended it. Was it perfect? No. Seattle didn't run away from the 49ers late, they just pressed their thumbs to their windpipe and smiled as the late faded from their eyes. A win is a win and a fourth quarter shutout can go a long ways towards dispelling the doubts that had been creeping in around this team. 20-3 isn't a glamorous final score but it is a telling one.</p>
<p>*<i>Lost in all the talk of blown fourth quarter leads is this remarkable stat: the Seahawks have had a fourth quarter lead in 67 of their last 72 games.</i></p>
<p>Look, there are still plenty of issues with this Seahawks team, and yes, the 49ers are one of the worst teams in the NFL, but this was a game that hearkened back to the type of Seahawks football we've grown accustomed to over the last few seasons. For all of my trepidation coming into this game, this was the sort of performance I expected out of the 'Hawks when the schedule first came out. The O-line was better tonight but far from good. Wilson saw his usual amount of pressure and succumbed to his usual amount of sacks but there were also a new pair of cargo pants' worth of clean pockets available to him and he stood in them confidently. He did have two interceptions in this game, both of which land firmly on his shoulders (a late throw to a briefly wide open <span>Doug Baldwin</span> in the end zone and a heave into double coverage that <span>Jermaine Kearse</span> either lost track of or gave up on). Funny enough, the Seahawks are 0-3 when winning the turnover battle and 3-1 when they don't. Strange season.</p>
<p>Jimmy Graham's production (2 catches, 31 yards) was down from last week's monster game of 8-140 but he still tied for the team lead in targets with five and had a third catch jarred loose on a big hit. I don't think this game is any cause for concern. His box score vacancy was filled by Lockett who grabbed all five of his opportunities for 79 yards and a TD.</p>
<p>The real stars of the show were the defensive linemen, namely the two starting ends. Cliff Avril and <span>Michael Bennett</span> squeezed the San Francisco pocket like a bellows, flushing Kaepernick off his spot and straight into their own loving embraces. They got off blocks quickly and rarely gave any of the Niners ballcarriers room to maneuver. Their best game of the season, bar none, and a performance that Bennett likened to having <a target="_blank" href="http://www.fieldgulls.com/2015/10/22/9601996/michael-bennett-on-his-3-5-sacks-feels-like-multiple-orgasms">multiple orgasms</a> because <span>Michael Bennett</span> will be damned if he lets you go to bed after a game without thinking of his dong.</p>
<p>Steven Hauschka, man. Now 16-16 on field goals and 14-14 on extra points in a year that has seen placekicking accuracy go haywire, Hausch Money is the team's constant, reliable rock- much the way Alan Thicke is for me.</p>
<p>I could go on for a while longer, hammering on all the ways that the Seahawks outplayed the 49ers tonight but I think the point has been made. Seattle played their best game of the season and, in so doing, re-inflated their dwindling playoff hopes. Tonight was a reminder of what this team is capable of and, perhaps more than anything, it is an encouragement to us and to them that this is still the same team that has pillaged the league over the majority of the last 1,000 days.</p>
<p>Next up is a whole bunch of rest followed by a game against the Tony Romo-less <a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cowboys</a> in Dallas followed by a shit ton more rest after that. The Seahawks have a real good chance to reach their bye week at 4-4, a respite that's followed by three consecutive home games. The pastures ahead are greener, just have to get there. Onward. Upward.</p>
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<p>The cigar I chose for this article was the quick and tasty <a target="_blank" href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1641882&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.famous-smoke.com%2Fsan%2Bcristobal%2Brevelation%2Btriumph%2Bcigars%2Fitem%2B46615&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fieldgulls.com%2F2015%2F10%2F22%2F9601998%2Fseahawks-49ers-final-score-thursday-20-3-cigar-thoughts" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">Revelation Triumph</a> from San Cristobal, available for less than $10/stick at <a target="_blank" href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1641882&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.famous-smoke.com%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fieldgulls.com%2F2015%2F10%2F22%2F9601998%2Fseahawks-49ers-final-score-thursday-20-3-cigar-thoughts" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">Famous Smoke</a>. Smooth, oily, tons of flavor and a really even burn. It may not knock your socks off but it's thoroughly satisfying, much like tonight's game.</p>
https://www.fieldgulls.com/2015/10/22/9601998/seahawks-49ers-final-score-thursday-20-3-cigar-thoughtsJacson Bevens2015-10-22T22:55:11-07:002015-10-22T22:55:11-07:00PODCAST: Instant reaction to the Seahawks 3rd win
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<figcaption>Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>They didn't blow it!</p> <p>"I'm not gonna do, what you all think I'm gonna do, which is FLIP OUT!" -- <a href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Seahawks</a> Maguire</p>
<p>The Seahawks were expected to win in Santa Clara on Thursday night, expected to perhaps even take a lead as big as 17 points because the <a href="https://www.ninersnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">49ers</a> are so bad this season, and that's exactly what they did. However, they were also expected to beat the <a href="https://www.catscratchreader.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Panthers</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams" class="sbn-auto-link">Rams</a>, plus they held a 17-point lead against the <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Bengals</a>.</p>
<p>Nothing is safe.</p>
<p>However, this week on short rest and on the road (always dangerous, no matter how much <span>Colin Kaepernick</span> decides to Colin Kaepernick), Seattle held leads of 17-0 and 20-3 against the Niners ... and that was the end of the gosh dang story. Thank Gosh.</p>
<p>Danny and Kenneth did what they do every week, which is sit down together after the game and talk about what just happened. This time we could finally talk about stuff that made us happy! Also, find out Kenneth's "Movie Pick of the Week" at the end of the show.</p>
<p><iframe width="100%" height="250" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/229689254&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true"></iframe></p>
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<a target="_blank" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/real-in-the-field-gulls/id1033390261?mt=2">Subscribe on iTunes!</a> AND RATE US 5-STARS!</h3>
<p><b><i>Sing the <a target="_blank" href="http://ballardagency.com">Ballard Agency</a> theme song and call them at 425-454-3510 and tell them Field Gulls sent you! (We'd really appreciate that.)</i></b></p>
https://www.fieldgulls.com/2015/10/22/9602136/seahawks-49ers-podcast-marshawn-lynch-colin-kaepernickKenneth Arthur2015-10-22T21:05:09-07:002015-10-22T21:05:09-07:00Michael Bennett on his 3.5 sacks: "Feels like multiple orgasms."<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://twitter.com/Softykjr/status/657405865092255744">Michael Bennett on his 3.5 sacks: "Feels like multiple&nbsp;orgasms."</a></h3>
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https://www.fieldgulls.com/2015/10/22/9601996/michael-bennett-on-his-3-5-sacks-feels-like-multiple-orgasmsDanny Kelly