The Seattle Seahawks are two residence wins from returning to Levi’s Stadium for Super Bowl LX. It could be becoming as a result of on that subject Saturday night time the Seahawks regarded like a Super Bowl-worthy crew, at the least on protection.
The 49ers’ offense averaged 42.3 factors and 455.3 yards per recreation in December, serving to San Francisco power an enormous recreation Saturday in which the winner could be NFC West champs and clinch the NFC’s No. 1 seed, and the loser could be a wild-card crew. The Seahawks clamped down on the 49ers’ red-hot offense in some of the spectacular defensive performances of the season, main a 13-3 win that gave Seattle the primary seed in the NFC and the division title.
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The 49ers had 173 yards. That is the fewest in any regular-season recreation below Kyle Shanahan, who grew to become the 49ers’ head coach in 2017. The earlier low was 191 in a 2024 recreation in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams, by way of NFL researcher Tony Holzman-Escareno.
Brock Purdy didn’t surpass 100 passing yards till the primary couple of minutes of the fourth quarter and threw a important interception in the pink zone in the fourth quarter. When he was hit on a fourth-down incompletion that successfully ended the sport in the ultimate two minutes, he stayed down in some ache. Purdy was below strain a lot of the night time from a fierce Seahawks protection.
The win means the Seahawks get a bye week and will host a divisional-round recreation and doubtlessly an NFC championship recreation.
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Facing Seattle protection’s on the street in a playoff recreation looks as if a troublesome task for anybody. The 49ers had been the NFL’s hottest offense, and they received nearly nothing in opposition to the Seahawks in an enormous regular-season matchup. Now the 49ers must go on the street subsequent week whereas the Seahawks relaxation up.
Seattle’s dominance began early vs. San Francisco
The 49ers’ offense was one of many speaking factors of the NFL by way of December. Nobody might gradual it down. Perhaps Seattle’s protection ought to have gotten just a little extra consideration.
The 49ers couldn’t get a lot going early on Saturday. Through the primary quarter, San Francisco had 15 yards and no first downs. Seattle was controlling the sport however having a tough time constructing an enormous lead. The Seahawks had an inexplicable sequence on fourth-and-goal on their first drive, passing from the 1-yard line and taking an 11-yard sack, then working two straight occasions earlier than going for it on fourth down and throwing incomplete. Seattle did hit a 27-yard landing run from Zach Charbonnet but additionally had a missed subject aim. They had outgained the 49ers 150-15 by the point of that missed subject aim and had only a 7-0 lead.
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The 49ers and Seahawks traded subject objectives after that. Seattle was swarming San Francisco on protection and transferring the ball properly with 196 yards at halftime. For the 49ers to path simply 10-3 after the primary half appeared like a reasonably large win for them, given how they’d been dominated on either side of the ball. But Seattle’s protection made positive it wasn’t an issue.
Seahawks’ protection by no means actually let up
The Seahawks weren’t blowing anybody away on offense however had one key drive that helped them get a two-score lead. Kenneth Walker III picked up 19 yards on a pitchout on third-and-17, an enormous play to maintain the drive going. The Seahawks settled for a subject aim, however the 11-play, 55-yard drive resulted in a 13-3 lead early in the fourth quarter.
After that the 49ers made one enormous mistake contained in the pink zone that value them dearly. Purdy’s cross to Christian McCaffrey was tipped barely on the line, inflicting it to be behind McCaffrey a bit. It bounced off McCaffrey’s fingers and linebacker Drake Thomas made a superb play to react to the ball in the air and snagged an interception on the 3-yard line. The Seahawks had all of the solutions for the 49ers offense.
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Seattle performed a turnover-free recreation on offense, which was a priority coming in due to Sam Darnold’s historical past of throwing key interceptions in huge video games. They had been in a position to dictate the circulate of the sport by speeding it with spectacular effectivity in opposition to a subpar 49ers protection.
The 49ers will probably be both the No. 5 or No. 6 seed. If the Rams win on Sunday, they’ll be the No. 5 seed and San Francisco will slide all the way down to No. 6. That appears unfair given how good the 49ers have been this season by way of a spate of accidents. It was simply unfortunate that the 49ers occurred to play in the identical division as the very best crew in the NFL this common season.
Follow together with Yahoo Sports for stay updates, highlights and extra because the Seahawks and 49ers conflict in a quest to win the No. 1 seed in the NFC in Week 18.
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Andy Backstrom
The Seattle Seahawks have gained the NFC West and earned the highest seed in the convention, which comes with a first-round bye and home-field benefit in the playoffs.
They outgained the San Francisco 49ers 361-173.
Seattle had 23 first downs, whereas San Francisco mustered solely 9.
Brock Purdy was below duress all night time, and the 49ers’ run recreation was bottled up. The Seahawks missed some alternatives for factors — they turned it over on downs on a drive the place they’d first-and-goal from the 1-yard line, and they missed two subject aim makes an attempt — however they moved the ball up and down the sector.
Seattle’s in the driving force’s seat heading into the postseason.
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Andy Backstrom
The 49ers’ last-ditch effort to chip away on the Seahawks’ lead ended prematurely. San Francisco turned it over on downs by itself 24-yard line.
Purdy was hit from his blind aspect as he was throwing to tight finish George Kittle.
Backup left deal with Austen Pleasants, changing Trent Williams, let linebacker Derick Hall by way of, and Hall slammed Purdy, who was on the bottom for just a few moments earlier than in the end getting up and jogging off the sector.
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Andy Backstrom
Jason Myers has now missed two subject objectives tonight, this one doinking from solely 26 yards out. The wind may very well be an element. He additionally had a kickoff sail out of bounds.
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Andy Backstrom
Third-and-long conversions have been the secret for the Seahawks. They pulled off one other one late in the fourth quarter.
Sam Darnold purchased a while, prolonged the play and positioned broad receiver Cooper Kupp downfield, as the 2 veterans attached for a 24-yard connection.
Darnold has accomplished 20-of-26 passes for 198 yards.
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Andy Backstrom
It’s been a curler coaster night time for Bethune, who has been in and out of San Francisco’s lineup. He additionally recorded a sack earlier.
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Andy Backstrom
Just when it regarded just like the 49ers had been going to make it one-score recreation once more, the Seahawks got here up with a takeaway in the pink zone.
On a cross that Seattle’s Boye Mafe appeared to barely alter, San Francisco working again Christian McCaffrey didn’t make a tough catch.
The ball ended up behind him, and he bobbled it. Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas was there to gather the deflection for an interception.
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Andy Backstrom
Rolling proper, Brock Purdy dialed up a 20-yard cross to tight finish George Kittle. Then he picked up a primary down together with his legs on the subsequent play.
With one other first down, courtesy of a 10-yard Purdy completion to wideout Demarcus Robinson, San Francisco is contained in the Seattle 30-yard line for the primary time tonight.
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Andy Backstrom
The Seahawks are up two scores once more, due to a 31-yard Jason Myers subject aim. Myers is now 2-of-3 on the night time.
His kick would not have been attainable with out working again Kenneth Walker III scurrying for 19 yards on third-and-17 at the start of the drive.
Seattle has 17 first downs however simply 13 factors.
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Andy Backstrom
San Francisco is severely depleted in the second degree. Dee Winters already went out earlier tonight, and Tatum Bethune was sidelined for just a few performs on the present Seahawks collection.
Bethune did return, nevertheless. With Bethune out, potential defensive choices had been bleak:
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Andy Backstrom
Seahawks working again Kenneth Walker III took a toss to the precise and then weaved again towards the left earlier than swinging his hips as he was delivered to the bottom to elongate a 19-yard acquire on third-and-17.
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Andy Backstrom
The Seahawks’ beginning blind-side protector has returned to the lineup.
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Andy Backstrom
So a lot for any potential momentum — following cornerback Deommodore Lenoir’s head-turning deal with for loss that pressured a Seahawks punt, the 49ers went three-and-out.
Brock Purdy accomplished a third-down cross to broad receiver Demarcus Robinson, nevertheless, Seattle cornerback Devon Witherspoon was proper there for the deal with to cease him wanting the primary down marker.
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Andy Backstrom
San Francisco wanted a cease, and cornerback Deommodore Lenoir delivered one. He introduced down Seattle working again Zach Charbonnet in the open subject for a lack of 5 yards on third-and-2.
That TFL pressured the Seahawks to punt.
Here’s a more in-depth look (and defensive coordinator Robert Saleh’s response):
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Andy Backstrom
Seattle is now all the way down to its third choice at left deal with. Josh Jones was hit from behind by working again Kenneth Walker III on a third-quarter run.
In comes rookie Amari Knight, who has recorded solely two offensive snaps this season. Knight went undrafted out of UCF.
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Andy Backstrom
San Francisco moved the chains with a 13-yard cross to broad receiver Demarcus Robinson and a four-yard cross to tight finish George Kittle.
But then, simply because the 49ers had been approaching midfield, Brock Purdy was sacked by Seahawks nostril deal with Jarran Reed for a lack of six yards.
Purdy’s subsequent third-and-13 cross fell incomplete, and the Niners punted once more.
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Andy Backstrom
SEAHAWKS
Darnold: 10/13, 98 yards
Charbonnet: 9 rush, 60 yards, TD
Walker III: 9 rush, 50 yards; 2 rec, 21 yards
Smith-Njigba: 4 rec, 52 yards49ERS
Purdy: 10/13, 47 yards
McCaffrey: 3 rush, 7 yards; 3 rec, 18 yards
Jennings: 3 rec, 19 yards
Green: 7 tackles, 1 PD -
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Andy Backstrom
San Francisco is lucky it is solely down seven factors to Seattle on the break. The Seahawks are outgaining the 49ers 196-69 by way of two quarters of play.
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Andy Backstrom
49ers linebacker Dee Winters received stepped on by Seahawks left deal with Josh Jones, in response to the printed. He is now questionable to return with an ankle damage.
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Andy Backstrom
It regarded like Kyle Shanahan was going to depart the 49ers’ offense on the sector for a fourth-and-3. But after a Seattle timeout, San Francisco opted for 3 factors.
Eddy Piñeiro trotted out and drilled a 48-yard subject aim to make it a one-score recreation.
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Andy Backstrom
The 49ers got here into the night time firing on all cylinders offensively. That hasn’t been the case tonight.
But as the primary half nears its finish, San Francisco is lastly discovering a little bit of a groove. Brock Purdy accomplished a 13-yard cross to broad receiver Jauan Jennings on third-and-11 and then, quickly after, pulled off this bounce cross to tight finish George Kittle for a 5-yard acquire.