Groz’s 2005 Rewind: Seahawks blow 49ers out for perfect division record

With quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and head coach Mike Holmgren inducted into the Seahawks Ring of Honor in back-to-back weeks this year, we look back at their finest hour, the 2005 Super Bowl season.

Things were going as well as they had ever gone for the Seattle Seahawks. An eight-game winning streak put them on top of the NFC, and fresh off a 42-0 win in Philadelphia they now had the feckless 2-10 San Francisco 49ers to play at home to try and wrap up a perfect record in the division.

Was there a letdown after the big win on Monday night? Hardly, as the team played perhaps its best overall game of the season, crushing the Niners 41-3.

Seahawks 41, 49ers 3: Video highlights | Box score

Matt Hasselbeck was brilliant, throwing four touchdown passes in just three quarters, and Shaun Alexander had another 100-yard game to boot. But it was the defense that had a monster day.

Up against the first overall draft pick, quarterback Alex Smith, the Seahawks’ defense allowed only eight first downs and a paltry 113 total yards, a team record.

With a 6-0 finish against NFC West teams and more good news with losses by Carolina and Chicago, the Seahawks had a two-game lead with three to play for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

They had won nine in a row and may have been forgiven for looking past the 4-9 Titans to a matchup with Peyton Manning and the once beaten Colts in two weeks, because they sure played like it. But we’ll get to that next week.

Groz’s 2005 Seahawks Rewind

• Week 13: A statement shutout of an NFC power
• Week 12: The 12s come alive in win over Giants
• Week 11: Reaching new heights by surviving 49ers
• Week 10: Surging Seattle leaves Rams in dust
• Week 9: Alexander helps Seattle solve post-bye woes
• Week 7: An unthinkable comeback vs Dallas
• Week 6: Offense finds its strength — running left
• Week 5: Breakthrough vs Rams starts Super Bowl run
• Week 4: A comeback falls short as season reaches crossroads
• Week 3: Offense solves itself vs NFC West rival
• Week 2: Defense saves the day against Falcons
• Week 1: A surprising start to Seattle’s Super Bowl season
• 2005 Seahawks Rewind introduction

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