We know. It's tough to win in Seattle.
We know. It's the loudest crowd in the NFL, probably in pro sports.
We know. Yes, the Seattle Seahawks are no joke.
Still, we didn't know the Seahawks could deliver the blueprint to derail Colin Kaepernick.
On Sunday, in the Seahawks' 29-3 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Seattle, Kaepernick, the NFL's latest QB darling, looked both green and ordinary.
Kaep, who ran for 87 yards, completed just 13 of 28 passes for a paltry 127 yards. He also had three interceptions.
Worse, the 49ers had only one real threat to score a touchdown in the game and it ended with Kaepernick throwing an interception in the end zone in the first quarter. The deflected pass was intended for Vernon Davis.
Some will pass it off as just a bad day at the office, or as just a Seattle thing because the Seahawks have beaten Kaepernick twice.
Wrong.
It's called a blueprint to stop Kaepernick. Seattle has done it twice now, make Kaepernick look ordinary, green like the young quarterback his is.
In two games vs. Seattle, Kaepernick has just one touchdown and four interceptions.
Against all the other teams so far in his short career, Kaepernick has 12 touchdowns and just two INTs.
Kaep's three interceptions on Sunday night equaled his total of last season.
"We are not going to win games if I play like that," said Kaepernick, who also was sacked three times and lost a fumble.
The Seahawks, apparently, have it right. Let him run. Yes, we know what a threat he is with his legs. We saw it in the postseason against Green Bay when he ran the Packers off the field.
Hence, the Packers, in the opener, thought you have to contain him as a runner and make him a pocket passer.
Nope.
Kaepernick had a field day, throwing for 412 yards and three TDs and no picks in an impressive victory at home against Green Bay.
After watching Kaepernick's first two games this season, following his incredible run to the Super Bowl last season, most defensive coordinators will have to believe the Seahawks might have it right.
That, in no way, means that the party's over and Kaepernick will be reduced to a middle of the pack QB from here on out.
He's a special player with so much upside as he gains more experience.
It's just that the way he kicked in the door and took no prisoners to start his career made many believe he would be almost impossible to stop because he's a two-headed monster.
Kaep can beat you with his legs and his arm. Most thought it was a matter of picking your poison.
The Seahawks have picked theirs and it works. Let him run.
And, of course, harass Kaep. It forced him to throw some balls he shouldn't have. In all, Seattle forced him into a 20.1 QB rating.
You probably won't see that again. But it was a shocking contrast from Week 1 when he was able to torch the Pack's defense with Anquan Boldin, who had 208 yards on 13 catches.
It made you think Kaep would be unstoppable this season. It's not true. The 49ers aren't winning every game. It won't be the cakewalk to the Super Bowl everyone thought it would be.
Right now, Kaepernick is the best watch in the NFL. You want to see this guy play, what he can do next, how he can take the QB play up another level.
It will also be interesting to see Kaep in the upcoming games. You have to see how he bounces back, being humbled after such a high in the opener.
Kaepernick, without question, is the league's media darling.
In a TV commercial before the game, Kaepernick and Seattle QB Russell Wilson bet that the loser of the game would have to shave off an eyebrow.
On second thought, maybe Kaepernick should shave both off. It was that kind of a performance by the current fan favorite.
After it, it will be interesting to see how he's played from here on out after a blueprint that has worked not once, but twice.
