Harbaugh looks to repay Carroll for spoiled birthday

Oct 18, 2012; San Francisco, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll (left) shakes hands with San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh after the game at Candlestick Park. The 49ers defeated the Seahawks 13-6. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports /

Last season the San Francisco 49ers went into CenturyLink Field in Seattle and laid a giant egg. The Niners were dominated by the Seahawks to the tune of 42-13.

Colin Kaepernick had his worst game as a pro, completing 19 of 36 passes for 244 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

To top it all off, it was Jim Harbaugh’s 49^th birthday.

“I hope he enjoyed his gift,” Seattle defensive back Richard Sherman quipped.

According to a report from CSN Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco, the blowout loss on Sunday Night Football last December 23^rd has been a source of motivation for the 49ers, and they certainly haven’t forgotten.

“Any time you get blown out like that on Sunday Night Football it’s a disgrace and an embarrassment. I think they just got the better of us that day. I think this week, it’s going to be: “Let’s going out and just do us. Let’s have fun and play 49er football,” said San Francisco guard Alex Boone.

When the two teams return to action on Sunday Night Football in a few hours, again at CenturyLink in Seattle, it will be Seahawk’s coach Pete Carroll’s birthday. Not quite full circle – by my estimation that would be if the game was at Candlestick Park for Pete’s birthday – but an intriguing post-game storyline nonetheless.

Can the 49ers and Jim Harbaugh repay the Seahawks for the sour birthday present last season? Or will Pete Carroll indeed have a happy birthday?

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