The 49ers (2-1) host the Seattle Seahawks (2-1) at Candlestick Park for a 1:15 PT kickoff in the NFC West home rematch.
Matt Hasselbeck starts at quarterback for Seattle. Shaun Alexander runs the ball. Deion Branch leads the receivers. Trent Dilfer starts for the 49ers in place of the injured Alex Smith (shoulder). Frank Gore at running back; Darrell Jackson at receiver against his former team.
Trent Dilfer makes his first start of the year Sunday afternoon at Candlestick after Alex Smith's shoulder injury from last Sunday at Pittsburgh. The kind of division home game where the veteran journeyman, in his first 49ers start since the offseason signing, gets the kind of opponent the year's competitive arc requires.
Frank Gore the lead back. Darrell Jackson against his former team. The Seahawks come in 2-1 with Matt Hasselbeck healthy and Shaun Alexander as the lead back.
Favored by Seattle by 3 on the road. The kind of home game where the Smith injury changes the year's narrative.
Week 4 across the NFC sees the conference contenders pulling away. The Bears, Cowboys, Packers, Eagles, and Saints lead the playoff conversation. The 49ers (2-1) and Seahawks (2-1) compete in the NFC West with the Cardinals 1-2 and the Rams 0-3. Around the AFC the Patriots, Steelers, Colts, and Chargers dominate. The Sunday game is the kind of week where the loser falls behind in the NFC West tiebreaker hunt with most of the season still to play.
Through three games the 49ers are 2-1 with a -17 point differential. Alex Smith out (separated shoulder). Trent Dilfer makes his first start of the year. Frank Gore averages 58 rushing yards a game with three TDs. The defense allows 23.3 points per game. The Seahawks are 2-1 with Matt Hasselbeck averaging 250 passing yards a game and 6 TDs/2 INTs. Shaun Alexander averages 90 rushing yards a game. Deion Branch leads the team in receiving. Vegas opens Seattle as 3-point road favorites; total 39.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots | 3-0 | W3 |
| New York Jets | 1-2 | W1 |
| Buffalo Bills | 0-3 | L3 |
| Miami Dolphins | 0-3 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 3-0 | W3 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 2-1 | W2 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 1-2 | L2 |
| Cleveland Browns | 1-2 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis Colts | 3-0 | W3 |
| Houston Texans | 2-1 | L1 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 2-1 | W2 |
| Tennessee Titans | 2-1 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 2-1 | L1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 1-2 | W1 |
| Oakland Raiders | 1-2 | W1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 1-2 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle Seahawks | 2-1 | W1 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 2-1 | L1 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 1-2 | -- |
| St. Louis Rams | 0-3 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 3-0 | W3 |
| Washington Redskins | 2-1 | L1 |
| New York Giants | 1-2 | W1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 1-2 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Green Bay Packers | 3-0 | W3 |
| Detroit Lions | 2-1 | L1 |
| Chicago Bears | 1-2 | L1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 1-2 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Carolina Panthers | 2-1 | W1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 2-1 | W2 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 0-3 | L3 |
| New Orleans Saints | 0-3 | L3 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| No scoring this quarter. | ||
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Seahawks | Josh Brown 23 yard field goal | 3-0 |
| Seahawks | Bobby Engram 17 yard pass from Matt Hasselbeck ( Josh Brown kick) | 10-0 |
| Seahawks | Josh Brown 31 yard field goal | 13-0 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Seahawks | Marcus Pollard 14 yard pass from Matt Hasselbeck ( Josh Brown kick) | 20-0 |
| 49ers | Joe Nedney 43 yard field goal | 20-3 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Seahawks | Josh Brown 25 yard field goal | 23-3 |
Matt Hasselbeck threw for 281 yards and two touchdowns and the Seattle Seahawks beat the 49ers 23-3 at Candlestick Park. Trent Dilfer threw for 128 yards and two interceptions in his first start. Frank Gore ran for 79. The 49ers managed one Joe Nedney field goal and never reached the red zone. The Seahawks' defense generated three sacks. The 49ers fell to 2-2 with the loss.[1][2][3]
Matt Hasselbeck went for 281 yards Sunday afternoon at Candlestick. The Seattle Seahawks beat the 49ers 23-3 in the kind of home division loss where Trent Dilfer's first start, after the Alex Smith shoulder injury, produced the kind of game the year's competitive arc had been trying to avoid.
Frank Gore ran for 79 yards. Dilfer threw for 128 with two interceptions. The 49ers managed one Joe Nedney field goal and never reached the red zone. Vernon Davis was held to one catch. Darrell Jackson, against his former team, caught two for 32.
2-2. The kind of home loss where the new starter's debut and the season's competitive direction both shifted. The Baltimore Ravens come to Candlestick next Sunday in another cross-conference matchup. The kind of home game where the 49ers, with the offensive identity in flux, need a win to keep the year alive.
Seahawks 23, 49ers 3. Margin: -20. Four-game record: 2-2, -37 differential.
* Matt Hasselbeck: 23-of-31 for 281, 2 TDs, 1 INT.
* Shaun Alexander: 25 carries for 78.
* Deion Branch: receiving production.
* Trent Dilfer: 12-of-33 for 128, 0 TD, 2 INTs (1st 2007 start).
* Frank Gore: 16 carries for 79.
* Vernon Davis: 1 catch.
* Joe Nedney: 1 FG.
* 49ers D: 0 takeaways.
* 49ers 2-2; Seahawks 3-1.
A 23-3 home division loss to the Seattle Seahawks at Candlestick. Trent Dilfer makes his first 2007 start in place of the injured Alex Smith. The 49ers fall to 2-2.
How it unfolded
Seattle scored on its opening drive with a Hasselbeck touchdown to make it 7-0. The 49ers answered with a Joe Nedney field goal. The Seahawks added a Hasselbeck second touchdown to make it 14-3. Seattle added a field goal in the second quarter to make it 17-3 at halftime. The third quarter was a Seattle field goal that made it 20-3. The fourth quarter was a Seahawks field goal to close it 23-3. The 49ers never crossed the Seattle 30.
The turning point
Trent Dilfer's first-half struggles. With the new starter (after the Alex Smith shoulder injury) unable to move the offense into the red zone, the Seahawks' early lead never came under threat.
By the numbers
Dilfer 128 passing on 33 attempts with no TD and two INTs. Gore 79 rushing on 16 carries. Davis 42 receiving on 3 catches. Darrell Jackson 32 receiving on 2 catches. Hasselbeck 281 passing on 31 attempts with two TDs. Shaun Alexander 78 rushing.
Personnel watch
Trent Dilfer's first 49ers start, the kind of game where the veteran journeyman's transition into the new Hostler offense was visibly incomplete. Alex Smith out with the shoulder injury. Frank Gore productive but unable to get into the end zone. Patrick Willis with another double-digit-tackle game.
What it means
2-2 with the Ravens at home next Sunday. The kind of home division loss where the year's offensive identity, with the new starter still learning the playbook, became the lead conversation. The Smith shoulder injury is the kind of mid-season uncertainty the year needed to avoid.
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Trent Dilfer | 12/33 | 128 | 0 | 2 | |
| Alex Smith | 0/1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| SEA | |||||
| Matt Hasselbeck | 23/31 | 281 | 2 | 1 | |
| Seneca Wallace | 0/1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Frank Gore | 16 | 79 | 0 | 17 |
| Michael Robinson | 1 | 28 | 0 | 28 |
| Maurice Hicks | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| SEA | ||||
| Shaun Alexander | 25 | 78 | 0 | 17 |
| Maurice Morris | 5 | 13 | 0 | 9 |
| Leonard Weaver | 3 | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| Seneca Wallace | 1 | -1 | 0 | -1 |
| Matt Hasselbeck | 3 | -3 | 0 | -1 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Frank Gore | 3 | 42 | 0 | 22 |
| Darrell Jackson | 3 | 38 | 0 | 20 |
| Arnaz Battle | 3 | 19 | 0 | 7 |
| Taylor Jacobs | 1 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| Maurice Hicks | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| Delanie Walker | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| SEA | ||||
| Deion Branch | 7 | 130 | 0 | 65 |
| Bobby Engram | 4 | 53 | 1 | 26 |
| Leonard Weaver | 4 | 26 | 0 | 10 |
| Marcus Pollard | 2 | 23 | 1 | 14 |
| Seneca Wallace | 1 | 18 | 0 | 18 |
| Mack Strong | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| Nate Burleson | 2 | 10 | 0 | 5 |
| Shaun Alexander | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Maurice Morris | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
Find or start the canonical thread for this game on r/49ers. The thread title is deterministic so anyone running this Rewatch lands on the same place.
Find the thread Start the threadCanonical title: [Rewatch Party] 2007 W4 - 49ers vs Seattle Seahawks - Game Thread
