New low for Niners

SEATTLE -- It might be a while before the 49ers are invited back to the "Monday Night Football" stage.

The 49ers put on a thoroughly forgettable and slumber-inducing performance in front of a national-television audience, falling 24-0 to the Seattle Seahawks at Qwest Field. It was the 49ers' seventh consecutive loss.

Coach Mike Nolan was on the sideline just one day after his father, Dick Nolan, died after long battles with Alzheimer's disease and prostate cancer. Dick Nolan coached the 49ers from 1968 to '75. He was 75.

"Everybody was fired up," 49ers tight end Vernon Davis said. "I wanted to win this game for the sake of winning, but it would've been nice to win this one for coach Nolan.

"The team's offensive performance was not exactly a shining moment for quarterback Alex Smith or offensive coordinator Jim Hostler. Smith again was inaccurate with his passes, and Hostler failed to get the team's best receiver involved in the game plan.

When asked about his continued problems with his accuracy, Smith said, "Absolutely, no question, I could've played better. I wasn't good enough."

Smith played his third game after returning from a separated throwing shoulder he sustained on Sept. 30. For the first time, he admitted that his shoulder is still bothering him.

"I feel good," Smith said. "The shoulder is getting better. (But) I still don't feel like I felt before it (the injury)." Smith completed just 12 of 28 passing attempts for 114 yards. He was also sacked three times for 20 yards. His passer rating was a lowly 54.8.

The 49ers managed just 173 yards of total offense. They converted just one of 12 third downs and were 0-for-3 on fourth downs.

Davis was clearly frustrated with his role in the offense. Davis was the target of just two passes the entire game. The first time a pass came his way was in the fourth quarter. He caught one ball for 4 yards.

"We didn't attack the way we should've," Davis said. "I was on the back side protecting a lot. They didn't put me down the field, for some reason."

Davis said he approached Nolan on the sideline to inform him that he had been blocking for most of the game. He said he just wanted to let him know that he felt like he could help if he were more involved in the offense.

Former 49ers quarterback and ESPN analyst Steve Young called it one of the worst offensive performances he has seen in his life. And that might be kind.

"I believe we're the same football team we were seven weeks ago," Nolan said.

The loss ends all hopes of the 49ers (2-7) being a part of the NFC West title hunt.

If the 49ers had won, they would've been just one game out of first place with seven games remaining. Now, they are three games behind the division-leaders. The Seahawks (5-4) also own the tie-breaker advantage over the 49ers due to their two wins in head-to-head meetings this season.

The 49ers managed just six first downs in the game for the second time this season. Prior to this season, it had been since 1963 that the 49ers recorded just six first downs in a game. The Seahawks, by the way, had 27 first downs.

The club came dangerously close to becoming the first NFL team to fail to record a first down in the first half since Christmas Day of 2005, when the New York Jets were shut out in the first half of a 31-21 loss to the New England Patriots.

On the final play of the first half, Smith threw a "Hail Mary" pass that Arnaz Battle caught for a 45-yard gain to the Seahawks' 11-yard line. Battle was pushed out of bounds, and the play was of no practical help because time expired.

However, the play prevented the 49ers from having negative passing yards in the first half. Even with that 45-yard play, the 49ers had only 42 yards net passing.

The 49ers had some opportunities in the second half to avoid their second shutout in Seattle since 2004.

With the 49ers trailing 17-0, cornerback Nate Clements intercepted a Matt Hasselbeck pass in the third quarter and returned it 12 yards to the Seahawks' 23. The 49ers got to the 2-yard line, where they were faced with a fourth-and-1. On fourth down, Seattle linebackers Kevin Bentley and Lofa Tatupu stuffed Gore on a run play up the middle.

Nolan said he tried to send a message to his team with his decision to go for it on fourth down.

"I have confidence in the line that they can get a half-yard," Nolan said of what he hoped to show his team.

The problems for Smith began immediately. On the 49ers' first offensive play, Smith tried to hit Darrell Jackson deep down the field. Jackson had several steps on Seahawks cornerback Marcus Trufant.

However, Smith's pass was underthrown, allowing Trufant to catch up to Battle and knock the ball out of Jackson's hands.

"I wasn't sure if he would release inside or outside," Smith said. "Obviously, I would've liked to have gotten it out there for him."

When asked if he thought it was going to be a touchdown, Jackson answered, "Easily. You all saw that."

You can reach Staff Writer

Matt Maiocco at 521-5492 or matt.maiocco@pressdemocrat.com.