The San Francisco 49ers experienced a stunning setback against the Seattle Seahawks, falling 13-3 in a crucial matchup that determined the NFC West champion. This game, held at Levi”s Stadium, showcased a stark contrast to the 49ers” previous high-octane performances, as their offense faltered significantly.
With a mere 48-yard field goal from Eddy Piñeiro marking their only score, the 49ers struggled to establish any rhythm. Tight end George Kittle expressed the frustration of the team, 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.” Despite the disappointing outcome, Kittle acknowledged Piñeiro”s contribution, adding, “Shout out to Eddy, though. Thank you for making it.”
At 12-5, the 49ers will head into the playoffs next week, facing an unspecified opponent on the road for the wild-card round. However, unless they can secure a higher seed in the playoffs, their season at Levi”s Stadium has come to a close.
The absence of key players, including left tackle Trent Williams due to a hamstring injury and wide receiver Ricky Pearsall Jr. with a knee issue, posed challenges for the 49ers. Nonetheless, the team had navigated injuries throughout the season and could not afford to make excuses for their performance against a formidable Seahawks defense.
Despite Seattle missing two field goal attempts, the 49ers had opportunities to respond in the second half. However, defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos failed to capitalize on a fumbled handoff, and running back Christian McCaffrey let a swing pass slip through his fingers, leading to an interception by Drake Thomas, which effectively sealed the game.
McCaffrey”s performance was disappointing, as he managed just 23 yards on eight carries, highlighting the Seahawks” dominance in stopping the run. The 49ers collectively rushed for only 53 yards. Head coach Kyle Shanahan reflected on the game, stating, “We expected to do better than we did. We had a couple of opportunities I thought we missed. And you can”t miss those versus a team like that.”
Quarterback Brock Purdy”s struggles were evident as he completed 19 of 27 passes for only 127 yards, enduring three sacks in the process. This starkly contrasted with his previous performances, where he thrived on connecting with receivers for significant gains. Purdy noted, “I wish I could have been more efficient. They”re going to make you work for your yards and convert on third down. If you want to win games like these, you”ve got to be good on third down.”
The Seahawks” defensive prowess was on full display, as they effectively controlled the game. Defensive tackle Leonard Williams commented on their performance, stating, “I don”t have any doubt in any part of this team. Our defense has been playing lights-out all season.”
Despite the disappointment of losing to a division rival and giving up the No. 1 seed, Kittle remained hopeful, stating, “Yes, I”m very disappointed about it. It”s horrible. The good news is I get to play football next week.”
As the 49ers prepare for their wild-card matchup, they will need to regroup and address the shortcomings that led to this critical loss.
