Niners shut out for first time since 1977

SEATTLE (AP) -- Rashad Moore, Ken Lucas and Ken Hamlin weren't even born the last time the San Francisco 49ers failed to score.

Allen's Analysis

49ers-Seahawks: Do the 'Hawks finally have the right schemes and personnel on defense? There's no doubt about it. Right now, the Seahawks' defense is flying completely under the radar. The offense is getting all the publicity because they have an emerging quarterback, great receivers and running backs. The offense is excellent and has played great football this season. They are dissecting opposing defenses and aren't showing any mercy. That said, the real story is the play of the defense. Everyone knew the offense would be good, but no one was sure how good defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes' squad would be. He's a great coordinator whose doing a fine job getting his guys to play well in different schemes. Before the season this team was looked at as a contender, but the defense ensures they'll be in the hunt. Eric Allen played cornerback for 14 NFL seasons with the Eagles, Saints and Raiders. He's a regular contributor to Insider.

Cedric Woodard and Chike Okeafor were in diapers.

Those playmakers and other stars from the Seattle defense -- it's a long list -- ended San Francisco's NFL record streak of scoring in 420 regular season as the Seahawks won 34-0 on Sunday.

"At halftime, we came in and talked about it," Woodard said. "We had a chance to stop them, and they hadn't been shut out since the '70s. It sure was nice to be in that position. It was even better to go out and do it."

It was the first time San Francisco failed to score since a 7-0 loss to Atlanta at Candlestick Park on Oct. 9, 1977, breaking its league record spanning 420 regular season and 36 playoff games.

"I probably had some friends here, but they all probably left in the third quarter," said 49ers coach Dennis Erickson, who grew up in Everett, Wash. "I'm embarrassed about the whole game."

Matt Hasselbeck threw for 254 yards with two touchdowns, Shaun Alexander scored three TDs and Seattle's defense was magnificent.

Seattle (3-0), which has allowed only 13 points in its first three games, simply shut down the 49ers (0-3). Second-year quarterback Ken Dorsey was 19-of-32 for 153 yards with two interceptions and San Francisco had only 48 yards rushing.

"We try to make plays every time," Hamlin said. "Everyone is getting to the ball and good things happen when you go to the ball."

When the 49ers finally threatened midway through the fourth quarter, Hamlin made an interception in the end zone after Dorsey threw into double coverage.

"This is a tough league and you have difficult times," Dorsey said. "I need to learn from it and move on."

Later in the fourth, San Francisco drove to the Seattle 32. Okeafor sacked Dorsey to force another fumble and Moore scrambled to cover the loose ball, sealing the shutout.

"It doesn't matter who gets the game ball," Moore said. "It was a day where you feel you're left out if you're not the guy making plays. All the D-tackles had big plays, so I had to go and make one, too."

The Seattle offense looked better after sputtering last week at Tampa Bay. Hasselbeck, who was 21-of-30, threw a 3-yard TD pass to Alexander in the first quarter and added a 1-yard TD pass in the third to Itula Mili.

Alexander didn't have a huge day rushing, gaining 52 yards on 19 carries. But as usual, he was hard to keep out of the end zone, scoring on two 1-yard runs along with his TD pass from Hasselbeck.

"You definitely feel better, putting that many points up," guard Chris Gray said. "Really, to put up that many points against any team in the NFL is quite an achievement."

After wins on two long trips to New Orleans and Tampa Bay, the Seahawks kept rolling at home. They went 8-0 last season in Seattle and have won 10 straight at home going back to 2002.

Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren, an assistant on San Francisco's standout teams of the 1980s, noted that Seattle defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes, line coach Dwaine Board and linebackers coach John Marshall worked together on San Francisco's last Super Bowl championship squad in 1994.

"The 49ers are a proud organization," Holmgren said. "Getting a shutout is hard to do."

The defense set the tone, with a first-quarter interception by Lucas setting up a field goal. Then came a hat trick by Woodard -- a sack, a forced fumble and recovery on one play -- leading to 10 easy points.

"I've never even had a sack before," Woodard said. "If you're going to have one, that's the way to get it started."

Four plays later, the Seahawks led 17-0 after Hasselbeck hit Alexander for the 3-yard TD pass. Seattle had a big early lead, despite holding the ball for only 5:34 of the first 15 minutes.

The closest the 49ers came to scoring was a 46-yard field goal attempt by former Seahawks kicker Todd Peterson in the second quarter. It was short, and the ball bounced harmlessly off the crossbar.

Game notes
Former Seahawks QB Dave Krieg was inducted into the team's Ring of Honor during a halftime ceremony. ... San Francisco WR Brandon Lloyd (groin) and DT Andre Carter (back) were inactive. ... Seattle FB Mack Strong didn't return after spraining his right knee in the first quarter. ... Seahawks backup LB Tracy White sustained a concussion on first-quarter kickoff coverage. ... The crowd of 66,709 was a record for a home game at three-year-old Qwest Field.