SEATTLE — For all the buzz about the NFC West's hot young quarterbacks, the read option and I'll-bet-you-an-eyebrow wagers, defense is at the heart of the rivalry between the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers.
And for now, the baddest defense in the NFL's best rivalry belongs to the Seahawks after Seattle's 29-3 win at CenturyLink Field.
Seattle thoroughly shut down San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers offense, holding Kaepernick to just 127 passing yards. San Francisco receiver Anquan Boldin, who had more than 200 receiving yards last week against the Green Bay Packers, was held without a catch until the fourth quarter after being shadowed most of the night by cornerback Richard Sherman.
BOX SCORE: Seahawks 29, 49ers 3
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It was Sherman, the loudmouth cornerback, who sealed Seattle's win with an interception early in the fourth quarter. Sherman out-jumped tight end Vernon Davis directly in front of the Seattle bench and head coach Pete Carroll, who was celebrating his 62nd birthday. Sherman raced to the sideline to dance with Seattle's cheerleaders, and minutes later blew kisses to the fans seated in the metal bleachers above the north end zone.
Kaepernick was also intercepted by Earl Thomas in the first quarter and Kam Chancellor later in the fourth quarter for the first three-interception game of his career.
Seattle's fans earned the raucous celebration after waiting out a 60-minute lightning delay in the first quarter. Players were cleared from the field for 50 minutes as a rare lightning storm filled the Seattle sky, and though many fans sought shelter, none left.
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When play resumed, the record crowd was rowdier than ever, and only grew louder when San Francisco was called for holding in the end zone — resulting in a safety and a 2-0 lead for Seattle. The Seahawks added a field goal in the second quarter to take a 5-0 lead at halftime.
San Francisco's defense, meanwhile, focused on corralling Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson. Wilson was hit repeatedly in the first half, including one particularly hard hit by linebacker Ahmad Brooks that appeared to be just the kind of hit San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh lamented last week — when they happened to Kaepernick.
Wilson didn't complete a pass in the first quarter, only connected on 2-of-10 passes in the first half and finished the game with only eight completions and 142 yards — his lowest totals since completing only seven passes for 148 yards in a win against Arizona last December.
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But the passes Wilson completed ended up being plenty, including a 16-yard touchdown to running back Marshawn Lynch early in the fourth quarter that gave Seattle a 19-3 lead.
It was Lynch's second touchdown after rushing for a 14-yard score in the third quarter, and he added another touchdown late in the fourth quarter. On his first two touchdowns, Lynch was able to stroll into the end zone — and seemed to relish the chance to do so.
Seattle improves to 2-0, and San Francisco falls to 1-1. The rivals don't play again until Dec. 8 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.
San Francisco lost starting nose tackle Ian Williams to a broken ankle. 49ers rookie safety Eric Reid left the game with a concussion, and tight end Vernon Davis suffered a hamstring injury.
For Seattle, left tackle Russell Okung injured his foot in the first half and did not return.
Follow USA TODAY Sports NFL reporter Lindsay H. Jones on Twitter @bylindsayhjones.
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