Last Updated on December 9, 2010 4:01 am by Anthony Rome
Seahawks vs. 49ers Preview
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (AP) – The Seattle Seahawks posted a dominant home win over the San Francisco 49ers in their season opener and Bay Area native Pete Carroll’s return to the NFL sidelines.
A road victory over the 49ers on Sunday could help the Seahawks move a step closer to the franchise’s fifth NFC West title in seven seasons.
According to latest NFL odds, oddsmakers from online sports book SBGGLOBAL.com have made the 49ers 5.5-point spread favorites for Sunday’s game against Seahawks. Current NFL Public Betting Information shows that 68% of more than 4,840 bets for this game have been placed on the Seahawks +5.5.
Seattle (6-6) remained tied with St. Louis atop its division entering this week by rallying for a 31-14 win over Carolina. The Seahawks fell behind 14-0 before rallying behind running back Marshawn Lynch’s career-high three TDs.
Seattle finished with a season-high 161 yards on the ground, and Lynch had his second-best performance since being acquired from Buffalo on Oct. 5 with 83 yards on 21 carries.
The Seahawks had a combined 284 rushing yards while losing four of their previous five games.
“We felt like we could get on track with a more balanced attack,” Carroll said. “Now that we have got it going the way we like, we would to love to keep it that way.”
Carroll, who was born in San Francisco and attended high school in nearby Larkspur, might need Lynch’s help again especially if two of his wide receivers are out with injuries.
Already dealing with a strained left foot, Mike Williams sprained his left ankle in the win over the Panthers. Ben Obomanu also suffered a severe laceration that required a number of stitches.
Carroll hopes both receivers and defensive tackle Colin Cole (sprained ankle) can play against San Francisco, a team Seattle beat 31-6 at home Sept. 12 in its coach’s first NFL game in 11 years.
The Seahawks also scored 31 unanswered points in that win with Matt Hasselbeck throwing a pair of touchdowns. They also limited Frank Gore to 38 yards on 17 carries but won’t have to deal with the 49ers’ leading rusher in this matchup.
Gore, who had 207 yards in last season’s 23-10 home win over Seattle, is out for the season after fracturing his right hip against Arizona on Nov. 29.
San Francisco struggled in its first game without him, losing 34-16 at Green Bay last week. The 49ers (4-8) held the ball for a season-low 22:49 in that game and scored three points after halftime.
San Francisco finished with 97 yards on 22 carries, and veteran Brian Westbrook, who rushed for 136 yards in the win over the Cardinals, had 31 on nine attempts. San Francisco also managed just four rushing first downs against the Packers.
Troy Smith, who scrambled for 28 yards on his three runs, is not expected to rush or pass in this week’s game. San Francisco coach Mike Singletary said he plans to start Alex Smith with his team possibly facing playoff elimination with a loss to its division rival.
“With the games we have left, it’s about being able to use the entire playbook,” the 49ers coach said. “Troy has been working his tail off to get everything in, but there’s not enough time in the day. I think right now we need everything that we possibly have. Alex Smith will give us the opportunity to do that.”
Alex Smith, the 2005 No. 1 overall draft pick, hasn’t played since separating his left shoulder in a 23-20 loss at Carolina on Oct. 24.
Alex Smith has beaten the Seahawks twice in seven career matchups and was intercepted twice during the road loss in September. Marcus Trufant returned one of those 32 yards for a third-quarter touchdown, and Seattle denied San Francisco on 14 of 15 third-down conversion attempts.
Hasselbeck, meanwhile, has won 10 of 14 starts against the 49ers. He’s had two touchdowns in each of his last two meetings and 25 total, the most versus one opponent in his career.
Seattle has won 11 of 15 versus San Francisco, including five of seven on the road.
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