SEATTLE -- The quarterback gig belongs to Blaine Gabbert now, with Colin Kaepernick on injured reserve, though no one associated with the San Francisco 49ers is about to anoint Gabbert as the guy beyond the Jan. 3 season finale.

And that’s the smart thing to do, even as Niners general manager Trent Baalke was noncommittal about Kaepernick, his looming left-shoulder surgery and $11.9 million of his contract for 2016 becoming guaranteed on April 1.

But with the way Gabbert played in stretches Sunday in the most notorious venue in the NFL, against the vaunted Legion of Boom, he may have given the front office and coaching staff (should they survive) something to think about.

Yes, even in a 29-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field.

“I thought that Blaine and the poise he showed today was really good,” Niners coach Jim Tomsula said. “He used his feet. He used his arm. He got himself out of some things. He kept his eyes down the field and made some plays.

“I’m not into moral victories, but that was encouraging.”

And food for thought.

Because while Gabbert and the Niners' offense sleepwalked through most of the first half, it came to life with a 2-minute drill before halftime. Gabbert took the Niners 92 yards in nine plays and 91 seconds, his 19-yard hookup with tight end Vance McDonald the first touchdown pass the 49ers had thrown against the Seahawks since Week 14 of the 2013 season.

Blaine Gabbert completed 65 percent of his throws and posted a passer rating of 98.2. "I'm not into moral victories," 49ers coach Jim Tomsula said, "but that was encouraging." Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

The score brought the Niners to within 20-7 at halftime, and then, after the defense managed a three-and-out on Seattle’s first series of the second half, Gabbert again led the Niners downfield, to the Seahawks’ 9-yard line, before settling for a field goal.

Gabbert was making his short throws and taking the occasional shot downfield, such as his 36-yarder to McDonald and his 33-yarder to tight end Garrett Celek and his 28-yarder to Anquan Boldin.

“Seattle, we know, looking at the stats, has been unsuccessful guarding the tight end,” said McDonald, whose touchdown was the first of his career, part of a career-high four catches for 65 yards. “A lot of teams have gone in and their tight end have left the game with multiple touchdowns, multiple yards. We took advantage of that tonight, I thought, but I don’t know why not earlier.”

In the third quarter alone, Gabbert completed 7 of 10 passes for 115 yards and had a passer rating of 108.3.

“Guys were just making plays,” Gabbert said. “The offensive line was doing a great job of giving me time to get rid of the ball, and our guys were having some big plays after the catch. They made some tough catches all day. But at the end of the day, we just didn’t do enough to win.”

Gabbert finished with a passer rating of 98.2 after throwing for 264 yards and the touchdown and completing 22 of 34 attempts. He was sacked twice but did not throw an interception. He also had 22 yards rushing on four carries.

“Blaine’s our guy,” left tackle Joe Staley said. “I thought he did a good job of moving the offense. This is a hard place to pass the ball, and I thought he did a great job of moving the chains and making plays when he had to.”

It was something Kaepernick had not provided in many games -- a confident and composed quarterback showing pocket presence and awareness.

Is Gabbert the answer going forward? Who knows, but he was not the problem on this day, not when the Niners' run defense was as invisible as the inactive Marshawn Lynch. Undrafted rookie Thomas Rawls rumbled for 209 yards on the ground, the most a 49ers opponent has run for against them in franchise history. The Seahawks rushed for 255 yards as a team, the most the Niners have given up since the New York Giants went for 256 yards on Sept. 24, 1978.

And at least Gabbert does not have to worry now about Kaepernick being reinserted down the stretch.

“My mindset stays the same,” Gabbert said. “It’s one week at a time, one day at a time, one practice at a time, because that way you can focus on the details. You can’t look ahead. You can’t get ahead of yourself.

“It’s really just step by step in the NFL.”

So long as those steps are moving forward and in the right direction.