San Francisco 49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman (53) and defensive tackle Ray McDonald (91) celebrate during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks in San Francisco, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)By JANIE McCAULEY (AP Sports Writer) | The Associated Press – Fri, Oct 19, 2012 12:52 AM EDT
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Two of the NFL's top defenses dueled it out in a low-scoring game just as everybody expected - and San Francisco's offense did just enough to give the 49ers a narrow lead in the NFC West.
For the time being, anyway. This is hardly the kind of firm hold on the division they owned last October.
Alex Smith threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Delanie Walker late in the third quarter and San Francisco held off the Seattle Seahawks 13-6 on Thursday night as the 49ers won their long-awaited division opener.
''We expect these games in the NFC West to be 60 minutes of physical football,'' said 49ers left tackle Joe Staley, who returned to the field four days after suffering a concussion against the Giants.
Frank Gore ran for 131 yards and the 49ers (5-2) hung tough on defense late in a game featuring two teams allowing fewer than 16 points per game.
Smith went 14 of 23 for 140 yards in a second straight subpar performance.
''That was the most physical 30 minutes of football in the second half that I have ever seen our football team play,'' 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said. ''It's a sweet win. It was a real football fight, and our guys won it.''
Walker's score was San Francisco's first touchdown in seven quarters after an embarrassing 26-3 loss to the New York Giants on Sunday in a lopsided rematch of the NFC championship game. The tight end broke his
jaw in two places at Seattle last Dec. 24 and sat out until the title game.
NFC rushing leader Marshawn Lynch finished with 103 yards for Seattle (4-3).
