Alex Smith threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Delanie Walker late in the third quarter and the 49ers held off the Seahawks 13-6 last night in San Francisco as the 49ers won their long-awaited division opener.
Frank Gore ran for 131 yards and the 49ers (5-2) took over sole possession of first place in the NFC West by making just enough plays to win this defense-first game, featuring two teams allowing fewer than 16 points per game.
“That was the most physical 30 minutes of football in the second half that I have ever seen our football team play,” 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said. “It’s a sweet win. It was a real football fight, and our guys won it.”
Walker’s score was San Francisco’s first touchdown in seven quarters after an embarrassing 26-3 loss to the Giants last Sunday in a lopsided rematch of the NFC Championship Game. The tight end broke his jaw in two places at Seattle last Dec. 24 and sat out until the title game.
Smith went 14 of 23 for 140 yards in another subpar performance. The defense hung tough down the stretch.
NFC rushing leader Marshawn Lynch finished with 103 yards for Seattle (4-3). David Akers kicked two field goals for the Niners. Steven Hauschka kicked field goals of 52 and 35 yards to give Seattle a 6-3 lead. He also missed wide left from 51.
BOUNTYGATE: The NFL Players Association has filed papers in federal court pointing out that the NFL permitted a 1996 incentive program for big hits funded by then-Green Bay defensive lineman Reggie White.
In papers filed yesterday in U.S. District Court, the union questioned why NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell should now be able to suspend former Saints linebacker Scott Fujita for offering then-New Orleans teammates rewards for big plays during the 2009 season.
The filing cited media reports about White’s “smash-for-cash” program that paid $500 for big plays, including big hits.
The reports, now nearly 16 years old, include players from other teams discussing similar pools climbing into the thousands of dollars. In one report by ESPN, Troy Vincent, then a defensive back with Philadelphia, discusses a similar player-funded incentive program run by Eagles players.
Vincent now works for the NFL as a vice president overseeing player engagement. In the reports, an NFL spokesman is quoted as saying the incentive programs are permitted as long as players use their own money and the amounts players pledge are not exorbitant.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said last night the league would defer comment to its own forthcoming arguments in court.
STEELERS: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger left yesterday’s practice after turning his right ankle but said he expects to play on Sunday against Cincinnati.
REDSKINS: Coach Mike Shanahan said injured receiver Pierre Garcon, who missed a second straight day of practice with painful sweeling on the bottom of a right toe, is a “long shot” to play against the Giants on Sunday.
RAVENS: Linebacker Terrell Suggs hasn’t ruled out the possibility of making his season debut Sunday against the Texans.
“There’s no plan in place,” Suggs said yesterday. “I’ve got to take it day by day. Come Sunday I may or may not be out there.”
BROWNS: Rookie running back Trent Richardson will wear a protective flak jacket in this week’s game against the Colts to guard a rib injury.