A rematch by the Bay and a shot at redemption

Round 2, ready, fight!

Come Sunday, it will have been three months to the day that Seattle put the 31-6 beatdown on rival, San Francisco.

The final score doesn't tell the story of that opening game. The 49ers were marching the ball up and down the field on the Seahawks defense. To make matters worse, Matt Hasselbeck threw an interception on the first drive. Things were looking scarily like last year. But Seattle managed to luck out on a couple occasions in which the 49ers settled for field goals.

After the 49ers' second field goal, Seattle flipped the switch and never looked back, scoring 31 unanswered points. Sound familiar?

Let's go back to this past Sunday's game with Carolina. The Seahawks looked down and out against a team that embodies the "seller dweller" profile. Worse yet, Seattle was confused on how to stop rookie quarterback, Jimmy Clausen. Things appeared grim, until halftime. Coach Carroll spoke and adjustments were made. The result? 31 answered points to finish 31-14.

In the second half, the Seahawks rallied as a team. The runningbacks clicked with their offensive line. The lesser-known receivers stepped up in place of the starters. The defense woke up from their trance and realized they were playing a rookie that has one win under his belt and promptly responded. Lastly, the special teams unit was once again special because of Mr. Leon "Neon" Washington's kick returns.

This is how a borderline playoff team like Seattle must play if they expect to be the last team standing in the NFC West.

Now Seattle must travel to the San Francisco Bay where an underachieving team awaits their chance at redemption. The 49ers' roster is not as scary as it was the first time around. Star runningback, Frank Gore, is out for the season. Former backup and Heisman winner, Troy Smith, is now quarterback.

San Francisco has been a mess all year long. Preseason they were division favorites. Now they and trying to stay above the somehow more pathetic, Arizona Cardinals.

Seattle is hit and miss on the road this year but a quick stop by the Bay doesn't seem as daunting as other road games. The Seahawks are riding a crest of momentum that should carry over this Sunday. It will be a heck of fight between bitter rivals who oddly enough each still have a shot at winning the West.