Jim Moore: Sure, the Seahawks looked terrible Sunday, but did you see Russell Wilson?

So what did you expect, another emotional victory over the 49ers like the one over the Broncos? A 2-0 start for this rebuilding team? Geno Smith to look like he did in the first half against Denver?

The Seahawks gave us none of the above, losing to San Francisco 27-7 Sunday afternoon, raising concern and prompting questions, a typical fallout after a 20-point loss.

I’ve got a few questions of my own. Do you think the Seahawks would have beaten the 49ers with Russell Wilson at quarterback? If you answered “probably,” you’re no doubt thinking about the past since the Seahawks had won six of their previous seven games in Santa Clara.

But did you see Wilson in the home opener with his new team? He completed 6 of his first 20 passes and was booed before the Broncos pulled out a 16-9 win over the Texans. Smith fared better than Wilson did.

And forget about that reach of a hypothetical at this point. The worst thing that happened to the Seahawks had nothing to do with a botched trick play or a mistake that caused a fumble on a punt return or an ineffective ground attack or penalties or anything else.

When Trey Lance broke his ankle in the first quarter, that signaled game, set, match for the 49ers. Usually when a starting quarterback leaves the game, the backup comes in and increases the odds of an opponent winning.

But as you know in San Francisco, even if Lance becomes a great player in the future, Jimmy Garoppolo is the better quarterback now. You feel bad for Lance, but if you’re a 49ers’ fan, his season-ending injury gives San Francisco a greater chance at winning the NFC West and doing some serious damage in the playoffs.

Sure, the 49ers might have rushed for more than 200 yards if Lance hadn’t gotten hurt, but they ran for 189 yards as it was, and Garoppolo provided the perfect complement with 154 passing yards and a touchdown.

It’s too early to judge if the Seahawks are going to be good or bad or even worse, something in between. If they finish with an 8-9 or 9-8 record, it hurts their draft position and strengthens Pete Carroll’s belief that Smith might still be equipped enough to lead the Seahawks back to the Super Bowl.

I know that’s preposterous, but if you’re the head coach, that’s what he’s likely to think.

I have a history of being way off with predictions. The latest case in point was writing off the Mariners’ season in May after they were swept by the Red Sox. And again in June when they fell to 29-39 after losing four of five to the Angels.

But if I had to make a guess with the Seahawks, it sure seems like we’ll see more games like the one in San Francisco this season than the one on an emotional Monday night against Denver.

In fact, I think in a couple months we’ll look back and say: “Can you believe that this team beat Denver in September?”

As much as you can see the weapons and potential, there are too many young players and so-so players to expect much from the Seahawks.

For the future, it’s great that they’ve got two starting tackles who are rookies along with a right cornerback in Tariq Woolen, who blocked a punt and was responsible for the Seahawks’ only touchdown against the Niners.

But there are growing pains in the present, lowlighted by a running game that was supposed to be the team’s foundation but has been feeble instead, averaging 3.4 yards per carry and 56 yards thus far.

I also wonder if there will be good vibes only from DK Metcalf all year. Here he is, owner of a huge new contract that indicates he’s one of the top receivers in the league, but Metcalf is averaging 35.5 yards a game.

Then again, maybe this whole storyline changes this Sunday. The Seahawks are favored by one point over the Falcons. And the following week they travel to Detroit, where they’re certainly capable of beating the Lions.

If I’m being honest, I’m in no man’s land, not knowing what to root for. Sometimes I want Carroll to win with his old school approach, and other times I hope that it doesn’t work out so the Seahawks can get a better draft pick and select a franchise quarterback.

I also go back and forth with Smith: happy for a journeyman who is getting his shot to start again but admitting that I wouldn’t mind a few subpar games from him too.

Again, that would help the draft position and also beckon the possibility of seeing Drew Lock as his replacement. With Smith you know what you have; with Lock, you don’t. If he’s terrific, the team will be too. If he’s awful, that’s OK, every loss improves your draft status while gaining the knowledge that Lock can’t possibly be a franchise QB.

Crazy thing is, the NFC West appears to be wide open. Every team is 1-1, and none of the four looks like an eventual, sure-fire champ. The Rams nearly blew a big lead to the Falcons Sunday, and the Cardinals rallied from a 16-point deficit to beat the Raiders in overtime.

We know they’re not necessarily better than their NFC West rivals, but the Seahawks don’t seem to be that much worse either. Maybe a 10-7 record or 9-8 might be enough to win the division this year. And as noted, it’s possible to think that the Hawks could be 3-1 in two weeks.

Regardless of how it turns out, the Seahawks will at least be interesting and intriguing all season long.

Jim Moore has covered Washington’s sports scene from every angle for multiple news outlets. You can find him on Twitter @cougsgo, and on 950 KJR-AM, where he co-hosts a sports talk show from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on weekdays.