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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, October 27, 2008

New coach, old result

Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

San Francisco head coach Mike Singletary apologizes to 49ers fans after the loss to the Seahawks.

PAUL SAKUMA | Associated Press

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SAN FRANCISCO — Mike Singletary ended his head coaching debut by apologizing to 49ers fans above the locker room tunnel. Tight end Vernon Davis got sent to the showers like a petulant teenager, J.T. O'Sullivan was benched after his 11th fumble of the season, and the San Francisco defense let a 242-pound fullback catch two long touchdown passes.

And to think, the Seattle Seahawks actually wondered if they were the biggest mess in the NFC West.

Leonard Weaver rambled for scores of 62 and 43 yards on short passes from Seneca Wallace, while Josh Wilson returned an interception 75 yards for another TD yesterday in the Seahawks' 34-13 victory over Singletary's feuding, bumbling Niners.

Sure, the Seahawks (2-5) are off to a dismal start in coach Mike Holmgren's final season, but Weaver and Wilson led a series of big plays to end their three-game losing streak. Holmgren thought much of Seattle's success was simply a matter of staying cool while the 49ers melted down in their first game under Singletary.

"We had a different attitude going into the week," said Wallace, who passed for 222 yards in his third career victory as a starter. "Mike started that when he came out and said we're just going to play football and let it all hang out. You could see the difference in us today."

The 49ers (2-6) lost their fifth straight game in a chaotic debut for Singletary, who took over after Mike Nolan was fired last Monday.

The Hall of Fame linebacker couldn't fix a porous defense just yet, but he immediately put his stamp on the club by pulling O'Sullivan after three turnovers. Singletary then made an even more dramatic statement when he ordered Davis off the field and into the locker room after the hotheaded tight end got a personal foul for slapping a Seattle player's helmet late in the third quarter — and then pretended not to know why Singletary was mad.

"I will not tolerate players that think it's about them when it's about the team," Singletary said. "We cannot make decisions that cost the team, and then come off the sideline and it's nonchalant. No. ... I'd rather play with 10 people and just get penalized all the way until we have to do something else rather than play with 11 when I know that right now that person is not sold out to be a part of this team."

Singletary yelled at the former No. 6 overall pick in full view of his teammates, commanding Davis to sit on the bench and then ordering him to the locker room at the next timeout.

"I don't think I did anything wrong," Davis said. "If the coach thinks I did something wrong, I have to listen to him. He's the boss. ... I didn't know what was going on."

COWBOYS 13, BUCCANEERS 9

IRVING, Texas — Brad Johnson made up for several missed chances at touchdowns by throwing one to newcomer Roy Williams at the end of a drive sustained by four defensive penalties. The Dallas defense made it hold up. The Cowboys (5-3) gained only 173 yards, but with coach Wade Phillips taking a "more active" role in his defense, they put the clamps on Jeff Garcia and the Bucs (5-3). Tampa Bay got two first-quarter field goals and another in the third quarter, but that was it.

Johnson, starting for the second straight week because Tony Romo has a broken pinkie on his throwing hand, was 19 of 33 for 122 yards. He didn't have a turnover and neither did the Cowboys, a first this season.

PANTHERS 27, CARDINALS 23

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Kurt Warner put up the better numbers, but Jake Delhomme engineered the comeback that kept Carolina unbeaten at home and atop the NFC South. Delhomme threw for 248 yards and two touchdowns, including a go-ahead 65-yard strike to Steve Smith.

The Panthers (6-2, 5-0 at home) rallied from a 17-3 third-quarter deficit despite Warner's big day. He threw for 381 yards — by far the most given up by Carolina this season — and two touchdowns to Anquan Boldin. But the Cardinals (4-3) continued their road woes in part thanks to a botched fake field goal and a missed extra point.

EAGLES 27, FALCONS 14

PHILADELPHIA — Brian Westbrook returned to his All-Pro form and rushed for 167 yards and two touchdowns as part of a dynamic all-around effort. Westbrook missed two of the past three games with broken ribs and had been bothered by an ankle injury.

Westbrook scored on a 16-yard run early in the third quarter that gave the Eagles (4-3) 17 points in an 8 1/4-minute span.

Rookie Matt Ryan was 23 for 44 for 277 yards with two interceptions for the Falcons (4-3). He threw two TDs to Roddy White.

REDSKINS 25, LIONS 17

DETROIT — Santana Moss had a go-ahead touchdown reception in the third quarter and returned a punt for another score in the fourth to lead Washington over Detroit (0-7).

Jason Campbell threw for 328 yards and a touchdown, connecting with Moss nine times for 140 yards for the Redskins (6-2).

Clinton Portis joined O.J. Simpson in the NFL record book with his fifth straight game with at least 120 yards rushing. He had 126 yards.