Lynch, defense lead Seahawks past 49ers in 29-3 pounding

Sep 15, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) celebrates after rushing for a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the third quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Marshawn Lynch scored three touchdowns, Seattle’s defense forced five turnovers, and in front of a CenturyLink Field record crowd of 68,338, the Seahawks beat the San Francisco 49ers, 29-3.

Prior to Sunday night, both teams were considered to be among the best in the NFC, but Seattle stood in a league of its own against its division rival in front of a national audience on Sunday Night Football.

The first quarter was offensively sloppy for both teams, while both defenses looked outstanding. Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick both threw interceptions before lightening forced a 60-minute weather delay towards the end of the first quarter.

The Seahawks put the first points on the board early in the second quarter, thanks to San Francisco’s Bruce Miller being called for a holding penalty in his own end zone. The result was a safety and a 2-0 Seahawks lead.

Later in the quarter, Steven Hauschka nailed a 30-yard field goal that gave the Seahawks a 5-0 advantage, one that they would take to the half.

According to ESPN Stats & Info, that 5-0 halftime score was the first the NFL had seen since 1992.

In the third quarter, the Seahawks offense finally got going. On their first possession of the half, the offense marched 80 yards in ten plays, the final one a 14-yard touchdown run from Lynch.

Sep 15, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) rushes for a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the third quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

On the 49ers next possession, the Seahawks defense put up an impressive red-zone stand. San Francisco had a 1st and 10 on Seattle’s 10 yard line, but they managed only a field goal after going three and out.  It was the last scoring play of the third quarter and made Seattle’s lead 12-3 going to the fourth.

Then the Seahawks erupted. Two interceptions allowed the offense to score 17 points in the final quarter, courtesy of two touchdowns by Lynch (one a 7-yard reception reception and the other a 2-yard rush) and another field goal from Hauschka.

Lynch finished the night with 28 carries for 98 yards (135 total) and two rushing touchdowns. Wilson had a tough night, going 8 of 19 for 142 yards and both a touchdown and interception.

The Seattle defense held San Francisco’s offense to just 207 total yards and forced Kaepernick to throw three interceptions. San Francisco also lost two fumbles.

For just the third time since 1979, the 49ers finished a game with five turnovers and no touchdowns, according to ESPN.

Turnovers weren’t the only thing that hurt San Francisco — the 49ers had a few costly penalties that ended up hurting them big time by allowing Seattle’s offense to stay on the field. The Niners finished with 12 penalties that went against them for 121 yards.

The Seahawks offense had possession for 36:43, while San Francisco had possession for 23:17.

Seattle (2-0) will host the Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2) next Sunday at CenturyLink Field, where they have won nine straight games.

The Seahawks will not play the 49ers (1-1) again until Week 14 in San Francisco.