Hawks hold on, win ugly

SAN FRANCISCO – When Ken Dorsey's final pass took an unlucky bounce, the Seattle Seahawks avoided yet another collapse — and escaped San Francisco with the NFC's best record.

Shaun Alexander rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns, and the Seahawks stopped the 49ers' 2-point conversion attempt with 28 seconds left in their sixth straight victory, 27-25 over San Francisco on Sunday.

Matt Hasselbeck was 19-of-31 for 233 yards and one TD as the league's most prolific offense dominated the first three quarters, racking up 357 total yards. But Seattle (8-2) stalled in the fourth quarter, managing just 16 yards and no first downs — and awakening memories of the franchise's lengthy history of embarrassing midseason losses.

With coordinator Ray Rhodes back home in Seattle after his second stroke-like episode this season, the Seahawks defense nearly blew a victory that put them alone atop the conference after Carolina's loss to Chicago.

The 49ers (2-8), whose offense has been terrible all season, nearly rallied from a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter with backups making most of the big plays. After snapping a streak of 47 consecutive possessions without a touchdown earlier in the game, San Francisco made a last-ditch, 13-play scoring drive stretching nearly 6 minutes.

Dorsey, who passed for 249 yards in his second start of the season, was 6-of-8 for 77 yards in the series, and Jason McAddley went 29 yards on his first reception of the season. Third-string running back Maurice Hicks finished it with a 1-yard dive, stretching over the goal line.

But on the 2-point conversion attempt, Dorsey bounced a tough throw to Johnnie Morton in the back of the end zone. Marquand Manuel recovered the onside kick, and the Seahawks kneeled on their fifth straight victory over San Francisco.

The relieved Seahawks celebrated on their sideline after Dorsey's final throw. They matched the best start in franchise history, also accomplished in 1999 and 1984 — the last time the Seahawks won a playoff game.

Brandon Lloyd had seven catches for 119 yards for the 49ers (2-8), who lost for the eighth time in nine games despite their offense's most encouraging performance since the season opener.

San Francisco kept it close throughout, pulling within 27-19 early in the fourth on Lloyd's 22-yard touchdown catch — the Niners' first TD at home in 16 quarters.

Joe Nedney added four more field goals, giving him 14 in the last four games.

Dorsey was solid and even exciting, going 18-of-29 without an interception after the 49ers' fourth starting quarterback change in six games. Dorsey replaced Cody Pickett, who completed just one pass in last week's loss at Chicago.

The Seahawks made three strong scoring drives in the first half, with Alexander getting his 18th rushing touchdown of the season early in the second quarter. Hasselbeck added a 12-yard TD pass to D.J. Hackett later in the period.

Hicks, the 49ers' third-stringer and kick returner, rushed for 83 yards in his first playing time this season in place of Kevan Barlow and rookie Frank Gore, who both got hurt.