Niners Nation
Talking through the 49ers’ game as it happens.
The San Francisco 49ers first possession without George Kittle resulted in a three-and-out. Pat O’Donnell made his punting debut with Mich Wishnowsky out with a back injury. O’Donnell’s punt went 43 yards with no return.
Geno Smith’s first pass went for 12 yards, as Isaac Yiadom gambled and lost. The Seahawks took a shot down the field on first down, but Dee Winters — the linebacker we’ve been clamoring for in pass coverage — was in a great position to break up Smith’s pass.
On 3rd & 2, Jaxon Smith-Njigba beat Renardo Green for a first down and a 20-yard gain. Sam Okuayinonu caused disruption on second down, putting the Seahawks in an obvious passing situation.
Nick Bosa beat Abe Lucas, and Leonard Floyd helped Bosa clean up with a combined sack. Jason Myer’s 52-yard field goal was good to give the Seahawks a 3-0 early lead.
The Niners had more success on one play, thanks to Brock Purdy scrambling than they did the entire first drive. Jauan Jennings followed that up with a 22-yard reception. Jennings’s third catch came on third down to once again move the chains for San Francisco.
Jordan Mason had a pair of carries for 13 yards before Jennings had his fourth reception. And just like that, the Niners were in the red zone.
The turf monster got Purdy on 1st & goal from the five. Seattle was not as fortunate on second down. Purdy scrambled for ten yards, and Jake Moody’s extra point was good to make the score 7-3, Niners.
Seattle double-teamed Christian McCaffrey on third down, but that left Purdy open. Seattle punted after gaining only 17 yards, but Purdy’s pass on the ensuing drive was tipped in the air, resulting in an interception, giving Seattle a short field.
The 49ers are unbeaten this season when they don’t turn the ball over. But they have rarely played a clean game in all three phases, and the first mistake comes Seattle punted after gaining only 17 yards, but Purdy’s pass on the ensuing drive was tipped in the air, resulting in an interception, giving Seattle a short field.
Jordan Elliott made a run stop on first down for a gain of zero. On third down, Geno Smith was sacked by Yetur Gross-Matos. Seattle settled for a 57-yard field goal to trim the lead to 7-6.
We can fill out the free space on the bingo card, as Purdy got another defender to fall for it en route to running for a first down. On 3rd & 1, Deebo Samuel picked up the first down on a jet sweep — or so we thought. Jauan Jennings was flagged for a holding penalty. I wouldn’t fault him for that. Jennings had no idea where Deebo was. On 3rd & 11, Jennings made up for it, beating Devon Witherspoon for a first down.
The 49ers took over half the quarter on the drive and hadn’t made it to...
