Game Time Nation (206)

David Akers kicked his way into the NFL record book and sent the San Francisco 49ers to just the type of win they wanted as they start looking toward the playoffs…Akers made four field goals to give him 42 this season, most in league history, and San Francisco eliminated Seattle from postseason contention by holding off the Seahawks 19-17 on Saturday.

The NFC West champions remained in position for the No. 2 playoff seed and a first-round bye thanks to Akers and an impressive second-half effort on defense.

”I thought it was, like I said, a real good preview for what the playoffs are going to be like,” 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said. ”Overcoming adversity. Nobody flinched. We had some real difficult situations, you know, some real pressure-to-perform situations, and our guys performed.”

Akers took his place in NFL annals, but it was Larry Grant, Alex Smith and Michael Crabtree who made the big plays that improved San Francisco to 12-3 in Harbaugh’s first season in charge.

With the Seahawks fighting to stay alive in the playoff race, San Francisco had to rally multiple times. The 49ers overcame a 17-16 deficit after Marshawn Lynch scored on a 4-yard TD run with 6:41 left and was showered with candy.

The 49ers were in such a good mood that San Francisco coaches ran through the press box in the closing seconds shouting ”Merry Christmas everybody,” as Smith took a knee to drain the final seconds….

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San Francisco’s defense could be even more formidable with the possible return of four-time Pro Bowl linebacker Patrick Willis, who has missed the last two games with an injured right hamstring. He’s second on the team with 93 tackles and leads with four forced fumbles.

As well as their defense is playing, the 49ers’ streak of not allowing a rushing touchdown as well as a 36-game stretch of not yielding a 100-yard rusher, could be challenged by Seattle’s Marshawn Lynch.

Lynch has rushed for 1,011 yards and 11 touchdowns this season, including five scores in the last three games. He’s the first Seattle running back to go over 1,000 yards since Shaun Alexander in 2005.

“Marshawn is running that ball – like I told guys, he’s running like he just got out of jail or something,” 49ers cornerback Carlos Rogers said. “He’s running that ball hard. It’s going to be a challenge, and just going into their place is a challenge with the way they’re playing.”

The 49ers have contained Lynch in three meetings. He has no touchdowns in those games and rushed for just 33 yards on 13 carries in a 33-17 season-opening loss at San Francisco on Sept. 11.

Lynch and the Seahawks (7-7) have plenty of motivation this weekend with a playoff spot still a possibility. However, they need Atlanta and Detroit to lose out and some other games to go their way.

After losing six of eight to open the season, Seattle continued its turnaround with a 38-14 win at Chicago last Sunday. Lynch had two touchdowns despite being held to 42 yards on 20 carries. He ran for 124.7 yards per game in the previous three contests, averaging 5.4 yards per carry.

While the Bears were focusing on Lynch, Tarvaris Jackson completed 19 of 31 passes for 227 yards and one touchdown. He’s gone three games without an interception after throwing 12 in the first 10 games.

With Jackson playing better and Lynch running the ball well, Seattle is looking to win four straight for the first time since a five-game winning streak in 2007. While its defense may not be impressive as San Francisco’s, it’s making some noise recently as well.

The Seahawks have given up 41 points in the last three games, getting four interceptions in two of those games. They’ve been particularly effective at making halftime adjustments, allowing 17 total second-half points the last three games.