Seahawks...23 49ers...3
SAN FRANCISCO -- From the moment Rocky Bernard drove Alex Smith into the turf, the upstart San Francisco 49ers were put back in their place.
They’re still crushed underneath the mighty Seattle Seahawks.
Matt Hasselbeck passed for 281 yards and two touchdowns, Bernard ended Smith’s day early with a punishing sack and the Seahawks claimed early supremacy in the NFC West with a 23-3 victory Sunday over the 49ers.
Deion Branch had seven catches for 130 yards for the Seahawks (3-1), who snapped a two-game losing streak against San Francisco (2-2) with a uniformly overwhelming performance.
Bernard made the biggest of Seattle’s six first-half sacks on the 49ers’ third play from scrimmage, pile-driving Smith with his 308-pound frame. The impact separated Smith’s right shoulder.
Trent Dilfer replaced Smith and went 12 for 33 for 128 yards in his first regular-season action since one tough year with Cleveland in 2005.
Quoteworthy: “I think we have the most depth and the most experience throughout the conference.” -- Julian Peterson, Seahawks linebacker
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