Marshawn Lynch had three total TDs for the Seahawks.(Photo Joe Nicholson USA TODAY Sports)
Story HighlightsMarshawn Lynch rushed for 98 yards and two TDs and had 37 yards and a TD receiving for Seahawks49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick turned the ball over four times on three INTs and a fumbleSeahawks weathered an hour long lightning delay to strike first in the matchup of NFC West contendersSHARE 1592 CONNECT 89 TWEET 24 COMMENTEMAILMORE
SEATTLE Richard Sherman straightened his bowtie and scooped up a pair of footballs souvenirs he collected from Sunday's 29 3 win against the San Francisco 49ers the type of dominant win that showed that the balance of power in the NFC might have shifted completely to the Pacific Northwest.
Sure the 49ers might have won the NFC West last year and represented the NFC in the Super Bowl last February but Sherman the Seattle Seahawks' brash cornerback stepped up to an interview podium and used a lot of big words to send one message to San Francisco Scoreboard.
In the teams' past two meetings both here in Seattle the Seahawks have outscored the 49ers 71 16. It has mattered little to the Seahawks what sort of beating San Francisco has handed out to others including the Green Bay Packers last week.
We did what we expected. I think you guys expected something different. A little more Kaepernicking A little more something like that Sherman said mimicking Colin Kaepernick's bicep kissing touchdown celebration. We didn't expect any of that.
BOX SCORE Seahawks 29 49ers 3
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Indeed Sherman and his Seattle defensive teammates thoroughly shut down Kaepernick Anquan Boldin and a San Francisco offense that was so dominant a week ago. Kaepernick who threw for more than 400 yards on the Packers threw for only 127 yards in the first three interception game of his career. Boldin who had 208 receiving yards last week in his Niners debut was held without a catch until midway through the fourth quarter and finished with a lone reception for seven yards after being shadowed by Sherman for much of the game.
They got nothing done. What were their numbers What did Anquan do tonight Seattle coach Pete Carroll asked about 49ers offense.
Carroll knew the answer of course. Just like Sherman Carroll wanted to make sure everyone else knew it too.
Seattle spent the offseason trading barbs and matching moves with the 49ers and ushered in 2013 with Super Bowl expectations.
But until Sunday night it was all hype and all talk. A second dominant win against San Francisco means something even in mid September.
It's only Week 2 but it's big from the standpoint of we're probably in first place right now. Everybody's chasing us safety Earl Thomas said.
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Thomas sat in his locker stripped down to his leggings and chuckled like the question of how the Seahawks were able to shut down Kaepernick and Boldin and running back Frank Gore (nine rushes for 16 yards) was the funniest thing he'd heard all night.
It's just different personnel Thomas said like it was the most obvious answer. We have guys that beat you up safeties that are aggressive. We're so connected right now and that's the biggest thing. It's going to be hard for teams to beat us.
Thomas said the Seahawks would gather at their training facility Monday for Tell the Truth Monday their weekly film session where they watch what really happened in the previous day's game. There will be plenty for the Seahawks' defensive backs to crow about like the three interceptions one each for Thomas Sherman and safety Kam Chancellor but plenty of things to correct.
Quarterback Russell Wilson won't like much of the tape. He completed only 8 of 19 pass attempts for 142 yards and didn't complete a pass in the first quarter.
While the rest of his teammates spent the lightning delay listening to music dancing riding stationary bikes or stretching out with trainers Wilson took a shower. It was a chance he thought to start his night over.
He looked like a bad man Sherman said and I knew we were alright.
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Last SlideNext SlideSeattle players eventually emerged from the locker room some cleaner than others to greet a raucous crowd that waited out a rare Seattle thunderstorm. Seattle's defense scored a safety early in the second quarter when the 49ers were called with holding in the end zone and Wilson led a field goal drive to take a 5 0 lead at halftime.
It turns out that would have been enough though running back Marshawn Lynch added three second half touchdowns two rushing and one receiving.
On two of his touchdowns Lynch strolled into the end zone almost acting surprised there were no 49ers defenders there to tackle him.
Meanwhile San Francisco imploded.
The Niners were penalized 12 times for 121 yards including three unnecessary roughness fouls in the second half.
If any team continues to stock up the penalties just penalty after penalty it can cost you the season if you do it every game 49ers tight end Vernon Davis said. But we're not going to let that happen. We're better than that. It was just a game where we just acted instead of thinking so we have to think first and then act and we know that.
The 49ers rebounded nicely from their last blowout loss at CenturyLink Field embarking on a run to the Super Bowl and coach Jim Harbaugh said the challenge is now for his team to do the same again. It won't hurt that the 49ers won't have to return here to face Seattle again in the regular season.
I'm certainly not proud of the way that we played tonight or coached Harbaugh said. It was not our finest hour.
Follow USA TODAY Sports NFL reporter Lindsay H. Jones on Twitter bylindsayhjones.
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