Seahawks, 49ers Face Test Tonight

They were preseason favorites to meet in the Super Bowl, but the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers each face a critical test tonight at rain-drenched Candlestick Park.

The defending champion 49ers are 6-5 and trail the division-leading Rams by 2 1/2 games. Seattle, also 6-5, trails the AFC West co-leaders Denver and the Raiders by 1 1/2 games.

“It’s just a matter of playing our best football every week,” San Francisco Coach Bill Walsh said. “What has happened is we lost early when we shouldn’t have and now every game is magnified.”

Like the 49ers, the Seahawks have been plagued by penalties, fumbles, interceptions and missed field goals.

“We’ve just made some big, big errors,” Coach Chuck Knox said. “Historically, we’ve been a team that doesn’t make key turnovers.”

San Francisco quarterback Joe Montana has struggled, but his statistics are still among the best. He has completed 200 of 331 pass attempts for 2,293 yards and 16 touchdowns and has been intercepted six times.

Seattle’s Dave Krieg has completed 196 of 361 pass attempts for 2,541 yards and 20 touchdowns, but has been intercepted 15 times.

“Quarterbacks have great years one year and not-so-great the next,” Knox said. “We’re just not getting as many plays out of that position as we did last year.”

In a 23-21 exhibition loss to the 49ers this season, Krieg hit Daryl Turner for two touchdowns against Ronnie Lott. Lott has since been moved from cornerback to safety and Dwight Hicks rotated to cornerback. Hicks, like Lott, has problems with fast outside receivers.

Both teams have outstanding versatile backs--San Francisco fullback Roger Craig and Seattle halfback Curt Warner.

Craig has gained 719 yards in 134 carries and scored 7 touchdowns rushing. He also has caught 64 passes for 757 yards and 5 touchdowns.

Warner has gained 827 yards in 210 carries for 6 touchdowns. He has grabbed 35 passes for 246 yards and 1 touchdown.