It's been a mighty tough season to be a 49er fan; what with the bevy of broken expectations, the death of Bill Walsh -- and this week -- the passing of former Head Coach Dick Nolan.

* San Francisco vs. Seattle
Monday, November 12, 2007. 5:30 PM, PST.
Week 10
The Battle Of Unnumbered Tears

Before the 2007 season started, this week's game was to be the proving point, the crucial matchup where the rising 49er franchise fought to prove itself against the NFC West champion Seahawks. It was to be a coming-of-age test.

Yet, here we are on this Monday's game, and this season is already lost. The playoffs are out of reach, and the stench of missed opportunities lingers above the team.

(Yes, the problem is still the same: piteously inept play-calling on offense.)

Mike Nolan's father, Dick Nolan, passed away this week. Mike has said through press statements that he'll be there to lead the 49er team in tonight's game, rain or shine.

The Seahawks are stumbling as well. 4-4 on top of the NFC West, Seattle's team has been limping along with no running game since RB Shaun Alexander's injury (and arguably, since OG Steve Hutchison fled SEA for a huuuuge contract with the Vikings).

The Seahawks can't run, and the Niners can't do anything on offense. This nigh-unwatchable game will come down to which of the two defenses can elicit more mistakes from the other team's floundering offense.

The Seahawks are fighting to prove that they're the best of this weaksauce division, the 49ers at this point are battling to honor the memory of Dick Nolan, chasing the promise of a season already lost.