Seattle was bracing for another Frank Gore rampage. What they got instead was an Alex Smith career passing day, a new spread offense from the 49ers, and a gift victory.

Aaron Curry, Seahawks rookie outside linebacker said, when they eliminate one of the problems for us, it’s a real load off. That was beautiful. Curry was beaming over the fact that Gore, who three months ago romped for 202 years versus Seattle, on Sunday only ran with the ball nine times.

That fact along with a multitude of mistakes by the 49ers helped to keep the Seahawks in the game. As time expired Olindo Mare booted a field goal of 30 yards to give Seattle a 20-17 win over the 49ers.

Patrick Willis, 49ers linebacker said, right now it’s very disheartening.

San Francisco attempted to ice Mare by calling a time out. However on a day that was already cold, the veteran kicker made the second of his go ahead field goals during the fourth quarter and extended his franchise record of making 18 field goals in a row for Seattle (5-7). The victory kept Seattle’s hopes alive for having a winning season, but probably not a spot in the playoffs.

San Francisco (5-7) had more blown chances than they could ever have imagined, especially missing the opportunity to keep the pressure on the Cardinals for the NFC West title. Next Monday night Arizona will visit San Francisco.

Mike Singletary, 49ers coach said, we found ways to screw up in all situations. Teams who want to make it into the playoffs really cant afford doing that.

Alex Smith, who during his first 38 games in the NFL didn’t have any 300 yard passing games, passed for 310 yards inside San Francisco’s new offense. Smith, the 2005 No. 1 pick overall in the draft who in October was reinstalled as the starter for the 49ers, went 27 for 45 passing and threw two touchdown passes.

Vernon Davis caught one of the touchdowns. Davis caught six passes for 111 yards, his career high. The 10th touchdown for Davis this year set the 49ers team season record for touchdowns by a tight end.

The 49ers had multiple blown opportunities. During the first quarter they had incomplete passes from Seattle’s one yard line on third and fourth down. A punt return reverse fumble was botched by Brandon Jones and Arnaz Battle. Gore had another fumble when the mothballed runner was finally dusted off by the 49ers. Jordan Babineaux forced the fumble at the 22 yard line of Seattle. Josh Wilson returned the ball 43 yards, setting up the first field goal of Mare’s in the fourth quarter. A would be touchdown pass from Smith also slipped through the hands of Davis while inside the end zone and bounced off his face mask with the 49ers trailing late, 17-14. Davis said, I didn’t really know who Smith was trying to throw to.

Then Michel Crabtree, the rookie, had the ball graze off his helmet inside the end zone when he wasn’t looking, following a throw that came earlier than Crabtree was expecting when Smith was forced by a blitz. With 2:57 left to play San Francisco had to settle for a field goal of 34 yards from Joe Nedney to tie the game.

The 49ers discovered that their pass heavy approach does have some drawbacks, unless of course you’re a Seahawks player with the job of trying to stop Gore.

In seven previous games versus Seattle Gored had averaged 160 yards. In 2006 he had 212 yards, his career high, versus the Seahawks.

Curry said, anytime you are playing a team that runs for 300 yards, why wouldn’t you do it again, or try to?

Jim Mora, Seahawks coach said about Gore, I’m just happy he didn’t get the ball more often.

The fourth quarter was packed with mistakes, eptimozing the wild, mild West.

With 1:19 left to play Matt Hasselbeck completed four passes in a row, three of them going to T.J. Houshmandzadeh, brought the Seahawks down to the 40 yard line of the 49ers. Then the fourth completion for negative yardage came, a screen pass over to Julius Jones which Willis destroyed for a loss of 5 yards.

Chris Spencer, Seahawks center, was called for a false start pushing the Seahawks into third down and 19 with only 1:03 remaining. Then Hasselbeck throw a perfect pass to a striding Deion Branch at the 12 yard line of the 49ers, but the ball slipped through Branch’s hands.

Hasselbeck, in disbelief, bent over. For the 10th time in the game, Seattle punted the ball.

However the 49ers from their 11 yard line went three downs and out, all on passing plays. Deon Grant, Seahawks safety, dropped the last pass right at midfield.

The ensuring punt was returned by Nate Burleson 21 yards down to the 48 yard line of Seattle with just 21 seconds to play. The rookie Deon Butler, two plays later, raced past Keith Smith, cornerback, and the pass from Hasselbeck hit him right in stride to gain 32 yards.

According to Hasselbeck, Butler wasn’t one of Seattle’s first five options on the alert play. Hasselbeck said, you probably won’t get the ball, but stay alert.

However when a safety was cheated by the 49ers to the opposite side of the football field where there were three receivers and Smith was playing up on Butler, then Hasselbeck knew that his choice was Butler.

Seattle called a timeout one play later. Mare came in and did his job calmly. Jon Ryan, Seattle holder, along with the other Seahawks mobbed Mare on the field.

Seattle’s oldest player shrugged. I get paid for making field goals, the veteran said.