San Francisco 49ers travelled to Seattle Seahawks with their playoff place already confirmed, however the hosts were looking for a win to join their NFC West rivals.
The Seahawks dominated from start to finish and were 21 points up before the 49ers got their first points on the board.
An equally one-sided second half saw more touchdowns go in the hosts' favour, who ran out eventual 13-42 winners after a late consolation touchdown for 49ers.
Read how the action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text commentary.
Hello and thanks for joining me tonight for what should be a very high quality game of football.
We have a clash between the top two sides in the NFC West and indeed the second and fifth top franchises in the entire National Conference - 49ers and Seahawks.
Some news on the inactive front before we go any further.
The 49ers's biggest loss will be defensive tackle Justin Smith, who has not recovered from his injury picked up in the 41-34 win against the Patriots.
49ers inactives: QB Scott Tolzien, RB Jewel Hampton, WR A.J. Jenkins, G Joe Looney, DT Justin Smith, LB Clark Haggans, S Trenton Robinson
The hosts are missing two cornerbacks tonight, Marcus Trufant and Walter Thurmond.
Seahawks inactives: G Rishaw Johnson, G John Moffitt, G Michael Person, DT Jaye Howard, CB Marcus Trufant, CB Walter Thurmond, DB DeShawn Shead
We have the two tightest defences in the entire league up against each other tonight. The hosts have conceded just one more point than the 49ers with 219 to 218.
Both teams also have a 4-1 streak, which suggests too that there will be very little in this one.
In fact, just to further that point a little bit more.. In week 7 these sides met for the reverse fixture, with the score just 13-6 to the team from San Francisco.
Two solid, if not world-beating QBs on display tonight. Colin Kaepernick for the 49ers has helped his side to 357 points and 40 TDs, while Russell Wilson's Seahawks have 350 points and 41 TDs.
Kaepernick has a rating of 101.5, with seven TD throws and just the two interceptions. He threw four of those TDs against the Patriots last week.
Wilson has a slightly lower rating at 95.5, but has 21 TDs - remember he has started all season while Kaepernick hasn't - and nine interceptions for his 2,697 yards.
Wide receiver Mario Manningham could be key for the 49ers tonight. It's not been his best season to this point, with an average of 11 yards and just one TD, but he's played a bit of a part rushing as well with 64 yards from three attempts.
Sidney Rice is probably Seattle's key man. He's had arguably his best season on reception, with 734 yards for seven touchdowns. He looks to finally be back to his 2009 Minnesota Vikings form should he keep it up.
Just about to get underway here, and Seahawks to kick.
49ers start from the 15. Deep throw on first down towards Manningham but it's too far, then a short throw is also incomplete to set up 3rd & 10. Michael Crabtree fails to reel in a simple catch and 49ers will have to punt straight up.
It's returned to around the 50 and Seattle will get a good field position to start their first drive.
A penalty against 49ers starts Seahawks from the opposition 35. Wilson completes a throw straight up for an immediate first down.
TOUCHDOWN SEAHAWKS!
Well that is a great start for the Seahawks. Marshawn Lynch picks up the ball for the rush and gets behind some excellent blocking to take it home. The kick is good and the score is 49ers 0-7 Seahawks.
The kick is returned to the 19. No gain on the rush through the middle by Frank Gore before Kaepernick takes it into his own hands to make seven yards with a run. On 3rd & 3 Michael James just about gets over for the yards on the rush.
49ers take a timeout as the clock was about to run out. Kaepernick makes a short throw to Bruce Miller but they lose a yard. This time he has to run again with a lack of options and gains eight down the right for 3rd & 3, and Seahawks pressure forces the QB into an incomplete pass. Too far for a field goal, so they punt.
The punt is caught on the 14 yard line, so this time Seahawks have much further than 35 yards for the TD.
Lynch bursts through the middle for a gain of seven, before a HUGE throw finds Doug Baldwin and it's a massive gain.
That completion got the Seahawks all the way to the 49ers 36, a gain of 43.
Lynch is stopped for a gain of one on the run, and Sidney Rice takes in a deep throw to the right superbly for a huge completion.
Lynch again finds just a yard on the rush before getting more success down the left but not quite enough to set up a new set of downs. It's 3rd & 1, with Wilson easily finding space on the right to slide through for the required yard plus a few.
TOUCHDOWN SEAHAWKS!
Lynch picks it up on 1st & goal but is stopped at the line of scrimmage, before an easy short completion to him lets him take the ball over for a simple TD. Kick is good - 49ers 0-14 Seahawks.
Fantastic return to the 35 by LaMichael James gives 49ers a better starting position. What can they manage here?
Chaos on the first down with a fumble by Frank Gore but it's recovered for a gain of four. Then Kaepernick makes a good throw to the middle for a fantastic catch.
Four yards gained on first down to set up 2nd & 6, but they're forced into another timeout with the clock ticking down.
Gore tackled for no gain and on 3rd & 6 the 49ers are times out this time, to set up 3rd & 11. It really is a wall of noise. Kaepernick completes to Crabtree who is pushed out of bounds just after the line.
Kaepernick completes to Delanie Walker for a four-yard gain and Manningham catches but out of bounds on 2nd & 6. HUGE hit on Davis as he catches deep on the right by Kam Chancellor, but it's deemed illegal and an automatic first down.
Gore gains a few yards on first down and 49ers are just four yards from the line now. 49ers 0-14 Seahawks
TOUCHDOWN SEAHAWKS
A Kaepernick throw gains a yard, before he's incomplete on 3rd down. The field goal attempt is blocked and recovered by Richard Sherman for an incredible 90-yard TD! Amazing stuff. Kick, good and it's a huge lead - 49ers 0-21 Seahawks.
49ers start again on their 20 and Kaepernick is incomplete on first down, and again the play clock runs down for a five-yard penalty - 2nd & 15. James powers through for a gain of six and on 3rd & 9 Kaepernick under pressure throws incomplete. The punt is long, gathered on the 20 and eventually recovered to the 23.
Ten-yard penalty for offensive holding pushes Seattle back for 1st & 20. Turbin runs for 10, before interception by Patrick Willis. The throw was high from Wilson, and tapped into the air, with Willis on it in a flash.
Kaepernick passes to Miller for no gain down the right, before again going it alone and picking up just the one with the slide. 3rd & 9 is incomplete and a great position goes begging.
FIELD GOAL 49ERS! This time it's not blocked and the visitors have their first score. 49ers 3-21 Seahawks.
Injury update: Vernon Davis, who got hit hard earlier by Chancellor, with the defender picking up a penalty, has been ruled out with a concussion. It was a nasty hit.
Very nice return to the 40 starts Seahawks in a good position. Wilson is under pressure from the blitz, but weaves his way back to the line of scrimmage. It happens all over again but this time Wilson manages a gain to set up 3rd & 6. Then Wilson finds Tate for the gain.
Offensive holding brings Seahawks right back to where they were on the previous set of downs, but now it's 1st & 20. Wilson finds Turbin, who gains a decent nine yards, then passes short to Baldwin who is double-teamed by the D for a defensive foul and an automatic first down.
Lynch pushes through for a two-yard gain then grabs another three on second down to bring up 3rd & 5. Wilson escapes a sack and races through to gain the five yards on his own.
Timeout Seattle.
Lynch breaks through down the right and gains eight yards and this time goes down the left for a big gain of about 10. First down.
TOUCHDOWN SEAHAWKS!
Lynch is again given the ball and tries to get through the middle but hits a wall of defence after gaining three, leaving Seattle needing three yards for the TD. He's dropped for a loss of three on second down, but just before the play clock ends Wilson finds McCoy in the endzone. The kick is good - 49ers 3-28 Seahawks
Decent return and 49ers will start from their 33. Kaepernick finds Crabtree left for three yards, and finds Crabtree for 11 and a big first down.
Big first down play as Kaepernick finds Randy Moss left and is then sacked for a loss of 13. 49ers take their final timeout.
Kaepernick throws out of bounds under pressure to set up 3rd & incredibly long (23). Another throw out of bounds and it looks out of FG range for me. Nope, Akers is on for a 54 yarder.
FIELD GOAL 49ERS! It's a good kick, and the score is 49ers 6-28 Seahawks with just over 30 seconds left in the half.
49ers 6-28 Seahawks
Seahawks have surely wrapped up this after a storming half. There has been barely a threat to their endzone and Wilson has thrown fantastically.
The Seahawks D has been phenomenal ans have given Kaepernick no options on the throw. If it's more of the same in the second half this could be a huge win.
We're back underway.
Seahawks touchback to the 20 and Lynch gains three yards first up before completing the remaining yards with a jinking run to the left.
Wilson's throw on first down is incomplete, and Lynch is this time stopped for just a yard gain to leave 3rd & 9. Wilson is running all over the shop to avoid tackled but is eventually brought down a couple of yards short. They'll punt for the first time tonight.
Ted Ginn catches it on the 20 and 49ers will start their first drive of the half.
Big throw by Kaepernick gets to the 34 yard line as Moss reels it in for a first down.
Kaepernick again goes big and Crabtree catches wide right for a 35-yard gain.
Kaepernick looks for the endzone from the 35-yard scrimmage, but it's too long for Moss. On second down it's fumbled! Manningham gets hurt and drops the ball, but it is given as a fumble and a Seahawks turnover.
From his own 32 Wilson goes incomplete to the right. Lynch rushes on second down and picks up eight yards to leave 3rd & 2, and a neat play between Wilson and Lynch ends with the latter collecting a pass and making 10 yards.
Wilson goes for the endzone on first down, but Baldwin cannot gather despite getting a touch on the ball. Wilson escapes pressure really well and slides home for the 10 yard gain.
Sorry, it was only nine given and Robinson gets through for the final one.
Carlos Rogers has a chance to intercept from a deep right Wilson throw, but it's just an incompletion. Lynch gains two on second down, leaving 3rd & long. Fantastic throw and an easy catch for Jermaine Kearse gains the remainder. 49ers Timeout.
Wilson throws long left to Kearse in the endzone but he doesn't gather. Zach Miller gathers on second down and takes the hit for a short gain and it's 3rd & 6. A quick Wilson throw to the right is converted to Turbin. 1st & goal.
TOUCHDOWN SEAHAWKS!
Lynch with another short gain of two, before Wilson throws incomplete after a couple of defenders had burst through the blocks. On the 15th play of the drive Baldwin catches high and gets a foot down for the TD, excellent catch. Kick is once more good and it's now 49ers 6-35 Seahawks.
Bit play as Kaepernick finds James for a 35-yard throw, and Moss somehow catches after an interception attempt is missed for a gain of six. The remaining yards are gained with a Celek catch.
Kaepernick looks for Crabtree but he cannot gather the powerful throw. Gore steams through the blocks and gains a good 18 yards on the rush.
Kaepernick goes long with the throw on 1st & goal, and James makes a few yards with a wide run down the left. It'll be 3rd & goal when we return.
49ers 6-35 Seahawks
Just as the 49ers looked to be getting a TD there's an endzone intercerption by Richard Sherman! It was so good until then for San Francisco.
Lynch stopped at the line of scrimmage on first down, but has more success on second with a nine-yard rush middle-right. Lynch bundles over for the remainder.
Lynch running so powerfully tonight; he gains another nine on first down with Turbin steaming through down the left to pick up the final one plus another 23.
Wilson lays off to Turbin, who gets tackled for four yards. Lynch goes again but this time he's dropped for just one leaving 3rd & 5. Wilson escapes a sack neatly and lobs to Golden Tate, who makes 21.
Lynch runs middle-left and picks up three yards. He goes again and picks up two, with Wilson almost picking out a TD throw, but defensive holding gives Seahawks another set of downs.
TOUCHDOWN SEAHAWKS!
It's now 1st & goal and Lynch is brought down two yards behind the line of scrimmage. On the next play Wilson picks out Baldwin who somehow gets it to stick in the endzone for yet another TD. The extra point is scored. 49ers 6-42 Seahawks.
49ers only manage a 10-yard return and will have 90 yards to make up on this drive.
A defensive foul gives 49ers a free 20 yards and a big throw from Kaepernick finds Walker for 23 yards.
Moss lets a simple catch wide on the right slip through his hands. Kaepernick opts for Walker again on the left this time, who checks back and manages nine yards for 3rd & short. Kaepernick pushes through and gains the yard needed.
Kaepernick stretches his legs down the left for a seven-yard scramble, then picks out James for another first down.
Kaepernick escapes a sack and scrambles again, this time for six yards. A good completion under pressure from the blitz as Kaepernick finds James on the left.
Timeout San Francisco
From the 11, Anthony Dixon runs for six, before Walker can't gather a short pass from Kaepernick. Two-minute warning.
As they edge towards the line a stupid foul from Davis pushes them back to 4th & 17. They might as well go for it.
TOUCHDOWN 49ERS!
And there is their TD! Walker gathers well wide on the right from an arrowed Kaepernick throw. The kick is good - 49ers 13-42 Seahawks.
Touchback from the kick and Seahawks can see this out now.
San Francisco 49ers 13-42 Seattle Seahawks
So, the win means Seattle join San Francisco in the playoffs, but the manner of victory will really please the Seahawks. They dominated from the start and thoroughly deserved the comprehensive win.
That's all from me, thanks for joining Sports Mole and be sure to join us for the remainder of the regular season and then the playoffs!
Written by
Matt Domm
Matt Domm
