Colin Kaepernick, 49ers overcome rival Seahawks, 19-17

Lindsay H. Jones | USA TODAY Sports

SAN FRANCISCO – Frank Gore could feel Earl Thomas coming.

The 49ers running back squared his shoulders, like he was prepared for the Seattle Seahawks stud safety to come crashing down, but with one cut to his right, Gore burst free. Thomas was left to chase Gore 51 yards down the home sideline in a stunning play that set up the Niners' game-winning field goal.

As Phil Dawson's 22-yard kick sailed through the uprights to seal San Francisco' 19-17 win Sunday at Candlestick Park, the statement was made: the 49ers are very much alive and still thriving in this NFC West rivalry.

"It was a playoff game for us," 49ers safety Donte Whitner said. "They might have a better record than us, we squandered away a couple football games early in the season, but when playoff time comes, you have to look out for the 49ers."

San Francisco's win might not ultimately change the division standings, not with Seattle still holding a two-game lead with three games remaining, but the Niners can now believe a playoff rematch with the Seahawks, even at the dreaded CenturyLink Field, might not be so scary.

The 49ers have now won three consecutive games, and Gore said he wouldn't be surprised if they aren't done with the Seahawks yet.

"If we keep doing our thing, and they keep doing their thing, then no question," Gore said. "I think if we keep moving forward and doing that as an offense, and you see how our defense played and our special teams, we've got a chance to get the trophy."

It was the first win in three starts against Seattle for San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who rebounded from a third-quarter interception to lead the game-winning drive. Kaepernick got plenty of help in finally defeating his boogeyman – that scary Seattle defense that had held San Francisco to just one touchdown over the past two meetings, and just a field goal when they played in Seattle in September.

Gore rushed for 110 yards – though much of it was a grind. He averaged 3.6 yards a carry other than his big, game-changing run, his longest of the season. Dawson, meanwhile, kicked four field goals on a blustery December day in the Bay Area. He hit all sorts of kicks – from his short game-winner to a booming 52-yarder in the second quarter to held the Niners regain an early lead.

But this game was a reminder that despite the attention heaped upon these team's two young quarterbacks, Kaepernick and the Seahawks' second-year star Russell Wilson, who has played his way into the discussion of MVP candidates, defense remains at the heart of this rivalry.

Each team recorded a pair of sacks and an interception, and neither quarterback threw for more than 200 yards.

The big offensive plays were rare – from Wilson's second quarter 39-yard touchdown pass to tight end Luke Willson for Seattle, to Kaepernick's 8-yard touchdown pass to Vernon Davis in the final seconds of the first half, to Gore's big run.

"It was a struggle today," Niners receiver Michael Crabtree said. "It felt like a heavy weight fight."

Crabtree said nearly every play had some action after the whistle, an exaggerated level of chippiness that has become the standard in this bitter rivalry.

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"Enjoy it? That's not the word I would use," Harbaugh said. "It feels like you go to the dentist chair and [spend] three and a half hours of getting root canal work done. They're tough. These games are only for the tough."

For the first time in more than a year, it was the Niners who were tougher, especially on the time-sucking, game-winning drive against Seattle's No. 2-ranked run defense.

It started with small gains – a three-yard scramble by Kaepernick, two more yards from fullback Bruce Miller before Gore burst through Seattle's defensive front, made his shifty move to evade Thomas and eventually went down in bounds to keep the clock running. By the time Dawson made the game-winning kick, the Niners had milked all but 26 seconds off the clock.

Seattle's bid to lead a frantic final drive failed when Eric Wright intercepted Wilson's final deep throw.

Wilson is now 0-2 here, and his Seahawks will have to wait another week to clinch the NFC West and assure themselves of a first-round bye in the playoffs. The loss was just the second in seven road games for Seattle this season.

"Everything is still in front of us," Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. "We've got three huge games coming up. I didn't feel like the season was going to end today, and it's not."