Advertisement

Seahawks 42, 49ers 13

 
Published Dec. 24, 2012

SEATTLE — Fueled by a deafening home crowd, the Seahawks locked up their spot in the postseason Sunday night.

They also reinforced the notion that no one in the NFC wants to see them when the playoffs begin, even as a wild card.

Russell Wilson threw a career-high four touchdowns to move into second place for most TD passes by a rookie and Marshawn Lynch had two first-quarter TDs as Seattle blew out San Francisco 42-13.

"We've had a great year so far but we have to keep moving forward," Wilson said.

Richard Sherman returned a blocked field goal 90 yards for another touchdown as the Seahawks jumped to a 21-0 lead. That only added to an already hyped crowd on a typically cold and rainy December night, with noise echoing off the walls and overhanging roof of CenturyLink Field, widely regarded as the loudest stadium in the league.

No one cared about the cold rain, not when the Seahawks punched their postseason ticket with their first 10-win season since 2007.

There remains a slight chance of winning the NFC West if the Seahawks beat St. Louis in the season finale and Arizona upsets the 49ers in San Francisco.

The Seahawks delayed San Francisco from celebrating a division title and turned Jim Harbaugh's 49th birthday into a miserable, wet evening.

Seattle was the first team since 1950 with at least 50 points in consecutive games after wins of 58-0 over Arizona and 50-17 against Buffalo. It seemed inconceivable the binge could continue against San Francisco, the best scoring defense in the NFL.

It did.

Seattle has outscored its past three opponents 150-30.

"It's really coming together," Wilson said of Seattle's output.

The 42 points were the most allowed since Harbaugh took over, and the most San Francisco yielded since 45 to Atlanta in 2009. It was the perfect way for Pete Carroll to snap a three-game losing streak against his rival.

Lynch had 111 yards on 26 carries, his third straight game against the 49ers topping 100 yards. Wilson hit Lynch on a 9-yard TD in the first quarter, Anthony McCoy for a 6-yarder late in the first half, and Doug Baldwin from 4 and 6 yards in the second half.

Wilson has 25 TD passes, one behind Peyton Manning's NFL rookie record of 26.