The San Francisco 49ers faced a tough defeat against the Seattle Seahawks, falling 13-3 at Levi”s Stadium, which allowed the Seahawks to clinch the NFC West title and the top playoff seed. This marked a significant downturn for a 49ers offense that had shown exceptional promise since their bye week, ultimately managing just a solitary field goal from Eddy Piñeiro.
During the game, the 49ers looked unrecognizable, struggling to make any significant offensive plays. Quarterback Brock Purdy found himself under constant pressure, culminating in a sack on the final play of the game. The Seahawks” defense thoroughly dominated, leaving the 49ers offense looking ineffective and disjointed.
Tight end George Kittle reflected on the disappointing performance, stating, “It”s kind of hard to expect to really win the game if we”re not going to score more than a field goal.” The 49ers, who concluded the regular season with a 12-5 record, will now prepare for a wild-card matchup against an opponent yet to be determined.
The absence of key players, including left tackle Trent Williams and wide receiver Ricky Pearsall Jr., certainly impacted the team”s performance. However, the 49ers have managed without various injuries throughout the season, and there is little room for excuses at this stage.
Despite the Seahawks missing two field goals, the 49ers failed to capitalize on the opportunities presented in the second half. Defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos could not recover a fumbled exchange between Sam Darnold and Zach Charbonnet, and a critical drop by Christian McCaffrey, who let a pass slip through his fingers, resulted in an interception by Drake Thomas.
Seattle”s ability to shut down the run game was evident, limiting McCaffrey to a mere 23 yards on eight carries, while the entire 49ers rushing attack managed just 53 yards. Head Coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged the Seahawks” strong performance, noting, “We expected to do better than we did.” The team struggled on third downs, converting only two out of nine attempts.
Purdy completed 19 of 27 passes for 127 yards, but he was sacked three times and faced a relentless defensive front. The Seahawks” defense, known for its physicality, made it difficult for the 49ers to establish any rhythm. Seattle”s defensive tackle Leonard Williams expressed confidence in the team”s capabilities, stating, “Our defense has been playing lights-out all season.”
Right tackle Colton McKivitz admitted the Seahawks outplayed the 49ers, adding, “They were better than us today. We didn”t play to our standard.” The Seahawks mirrored the 49ers” style, effectively dominating the ground game with 39 carries for 180 yards and a touchdown run from Charbonnet on their opening drive.
As the 49ers prepare for the playoffs, Purdy remains optimistic despite the setback, indicating, “We just didn”t.” Kittle, while disappointed about the loss and the loss of the number one seed, holds onto the hope of redemption next week in the wild-card round.
