It’s always nice when the football gods can add a little insult to injury.
Such was the case on Sunday when the Seahawks fell to the now 2-0 49ers 23-10 in San Francisco. Seattle signal caller Matt Hasselbeck was knocked out of the game after taking a blow to the back from linebacker Patrick Willis while trying to scramble into the end zone at the end of the first half. The team is calling it a rib injury, although there has to be major concern that Hasselbeck took the hit in the back after he virtually missed the entire 2008 season due to back problems.
The insult to Hasselbeck’s injury came when Seneca Wallace entered the game and couldn’t generate any second half points. He did throw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Julius Jones after Hasselbeck left the field, but that’s about where Wallace’s contributions to Seattle stopped as he often settled for check down and underneath passes.
Of course, even if he did attempt to throw the ball vertically, Niners’ cornerback Nate Clements was blanketing the field like a freaking tarp. Clements was all over the field on Sunday, racking up six tackles (five solo) and four pass breakups. This was Clemens’ second solid game and it looks like he’s setting himself up for a stellar year.
Frank Gore also had a monster day for San Fran, churning out 207 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries. He limped off the field late in the game and didn’t return, but apparently he didn’t re-enter for precautionary reasons and at least at this point, it doesn’t appear that he’ll miss any time.
San Fran was aided by Hasselbeck’s injury today, but that doesn’t mean that Mike Singletary’s group didn’t play a fine game. The young defensive players flew to the football and the secondary once again proved that it could hang with most offenses in the NFL. It’s a little early to say that the Niners are for real, but after two weeks they have sole possession of first place in the NFC West.
