The San Francisco 49ers faced a disheartening defeat against the Seattle Seahawks, losing 13-3 at Levi”s Stadium. This game marked a stark contrast to the offensive prowess the 49ers had displayed earlier in the season. Their performance culminated in a single 48-yard field goal from Eddy Piñeiro just before halftime.
In what was billed as a crucial matchup, the 49ers (12-5) were unable to find their rhythm, with quarterback Brock Purdy struggling under pressure. The Seahawks” defense, which consistently stifled the 49ers” attempts to advance, was pivotal in securing the NFC West title and the top seed for the playoffs.
“It”s kind of hard to expect to really win the game if we”re not going to score more than a field goal,” tight end George Kittle remarked after the game. Despite the disappointment, he acknowledged Piñeiro”s contribution, saying, “Shout out to Eddy, though. Thank you for making it.”
The absence of key players, including left tackle Trent Williams and wide receiver Ricky Pearsall Jr., added to the 49ers” challenges. However, both Kittle and head coach Kyle Shanahan emphasized that they had faced adversity all season and could not use injuries as an excuse for their lackluster performance.
Seattle”s missed field goals kept the 49ers in the game, but they could not capitalize on these opportunities. A crucial moment came when defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos failed to recover a fumbled exchange, and later, Christian McCaffrey let a pass slip through his hands, intercepted by Drake Thomas with just over ten minutes remaining in the game.
Despite his recent success, Purdy finished the game with just 127 passing yards, completing 19 of 27 attempts while being sacked three times. Shanahan noted, “We expected to do better than we did… you can”t miss those versus a team like that.” The 49ers converted only 2 of 9 third downs, a far cry from their average of over 60 percent in recent weeks against lesser defenses.
Seattle”s defense was relentless, limiting McCaffrey to 23 yards on eight carries and restricting the entire 49ers rushing attack to a mere 53 yards. The Seahawks dominated time of possession, controlling the ball for nearly 38 minutes compared to the 49ers” 22 minutes.
Defensive tackle Leonard Williams expressed confidence in Seattle”s performance, stating, “I don”t have any doubt in any part of this team. Our defense has been playing lights-out all season.” Right tackle Colton McKivitz acknowledged the Seahawks” superiority on the day, admitting, “They were better than us today.”
As the 49ers gear up for the wild-card round, they will need to address their offensive struggles to advance further in the playoffs. Kittle remained optimistic despite the loss, saying, “The good news is I get to play football next week.”
