The Seahawks were driving in the second half, the 49ers could seemingly do little to stop them, and the stress level was rising last Sunday night.

“He can’t $%#@!#$ play in this game,” I yelled at the TV screen, referring to one of the San Francisco cornerbacks not named Richard Sherman. “Get him off the %$#@@#$ field.”

One glance from my older brother Steve, seated a few feet down on the couch, reminded me I was not in the comfort of my own living room, where pretty much anything goes (and has gone) during a 49ers game.

But not here.

Not in the living room of my nephew Kyle and his family, in western Washington, north of Seattle, in the midst of Seahawks country.

THE STRESS involved in watching a team you’ve rooted for for more than 50 years — long before the quasi-local team was even a dream — should be plenty.

But when your team takes on the quasi-local team, the one much — but not all — of the Northwest roots for, well that stress level gets dialed up a notch. Or two. Or three.

On game day, out for breakfast at a nearby pancake house, many of the workers and patrons were adorned in Seahawks apparel, as you might expect.

They were wearing shirts for Marshawn Lynch, The Great Russell Wilson and K.J. Wright, among others.

Not wanting to rock the boat, I went neutral.

Same for later that day, to kill a few hours — as well as a few pins — at the local bowling alley.

Understandable.

And being the guest, I tried to be on my best behavior.

Back at the house after rolling an 800 series (uh huh), around kickoff time, my nephew strode out into the living room sporting a jersey honoring the aforementioned The Great Russell Wilson.

Where did I fail him?, I thought.

One of the kids appeared to be wearing some Seahawks socks, but I wasn’t about to get close enough to confirm.

The smell, you know.

ANYWAY, IT was relatively quiet in the house during the game.

Kyle’s wife, Tanya, cheered politely when the Seahawks scored.

As for the three boys, well, it was just after Christmas, so they were more focused on their recent haul.

Me, I raised my arms, Joe Montana-style, after a good 49ers play. But otherwise I tried to keep quiet, lest a ##$%$%@! slip out.

In the final moments, I thought the 49ers were toast — much like that cornerback I mentioned earlier. S.F. couldn’t stop the Seahawks, who were at the 1-yard line and almost certain to punch it in for the winning score.

But I’d forgotten about the coach the Seahawks supporters and fans call “Pete.”

In his desperation to make up for a poor coaching decision six seasons ago — throwing a pass on the Patriots’ 1 instead of handing the ball to Lynch — he committed another coaching blunder.

At that point in the game, with Seattle on the move and the 49ers on their heels, the Seahawks didn’t need their emotional gimmick to win the game.

The Great Russell Wilson could have run it in from a yard out.

Travis Homer could have run it in from a yard out.

Homer Simpson could have run it in from a yard out.

But no, “Pete” wanted Lynch to run it in this time. But for some reason, Mr. Skittles wasn’t ready to go into the game, and in the ensuing chaos, Seattle was flagged for delay of game.

Ultimately that proved to be the difference, as the Seahawks came up an inch short of winning the game.

THAT SAID, Seattle is still good enough to win three road playoff games and make it back to the Super Bowl for the first time in six seasons — as long as they still have The Great Russell Wilson.

As long as TGRW is out there, Seattle could bring back Franco Harris and Edgerrin James at running back and still win.

The Seahawks could send out a couple of golden retrievers at wide receiver and still win, as long as TGRW is back there running around, breaking down defenses and finding wide-open retrievers — er, receivers — amid the scrambling.

Nobody but Seattle can contain The Great Russell Wilson.

It’s very likely the Seahawks and 49ers will hook up again for a third time this season, this time Saturday in the divisional round.

If so, get ready for a double or triple dose of stress.

And one thing’s for sure — while it may not be as loud at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Saturday as it was at CenturyLink Field in Seattle last Sunday, it will definitely be louder where I’m watching the game this time.

You can $%^$@@ count on it.

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at mnelke@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter@CdAPressSports.