SANTA CLARA — When you have a chance to slay the boogeyman, you cannot hesitate.
The 49ers’ boogeyman is Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.
And on Monday night — in their biggest challenge of the season to date — the 49ers had countless chances to beat him and their arch-rivals from the Pacific Northwest. Countless chances to take the upper hand in a rivalry that has been lopsided for half a decade. Countless chances to announce to the NFL that they are, in fact, an elite squad this season, a team to be reckoned with come playoff time.