Niners Nation
The game couldn’t have started worse for the San Francisco 49ers. Rookie Jordan James ran himself out of the play on the opening kickoff. Chase Lucas compounded that with a missed tackle. Eddy Pineiro’s slide tackle came up empty, and Rashid Shaheed ran the opening kickoff back for a touchdown to give the Seattle Seahawks a quick 7-0 lead.
Brock Purdy created a first down with his legs. Christian McCaffrey ran for nine yards. But the 49ers were outmatched up front to the point where they came up empty on multiple downs to force a 4th & 1. Instead of a sneak, Kyle Shanahan called a speed option with Kyle Juszczyk and McCaffrey to no avail and a turnover on downs.
Seattle’s first-half offense picked up where it left off in Week 18. But after picking up a couple of first downs, Dee Winters made a much-needed tackle for a loss on third down to force a field goal. That made it 10-0.
Purdy found Jake Tonges for a first down to begin the second drive, but Ernest Jones forced a fumble, and the Niners turned it over. Seattle took over in their territory.
Malik Mustapha sacked Darnold for a loss of 10 yards, but that was erased within one play after Darnold found Cooper Kupp for a 21-yard gain. Rookie Marques Sigle was a step early in coverage, leading to a pass interference call.
Between those two plays, Shanahan chewed out Renardo Green for not getting enough depth in Cover 2. That led to Darrell Luter going into the game. Luter gave up a touchdown in the low red zone to Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Those 17 points were the most the team allowed in the opening quarter in franchise history.
Purdy made a magical play on 3rd & 5. He felt pressure, left the pocket, and threw across the field for a first down on 3rd & 5. Purdy missed Jauan Jennings wide open on the ensuing first down. He then missed Demarcus Robinson on second and long. That meant 3rd & 10 against a defense that you do not want to be in 3rd & 10 against.
McCaffrey was short of the first down, and Eddy Pineiro was good from 40 to bring the Niners within two touchdowns at 17-3.
Even better, Seattle went three-and-out after Upton Stout forced an incompletion on 3rd & 2. Purdy was always going to be the aggressor. He found Tonges and McCaffrey for first down passes. The 49ers were in Seattle’s territory after six plays.
On third down, Pearsall made a diving attempt, but could not finish the catch on the ground. Eddy Pineiro nailed a 56-yarder to bring San Francisco within 11 and make it 17-6. The drive was going well until a botched trick play only gained one yard.
It looked as though the 49ers’ defense would get off the field on third and short, but veteran defensive tackle Jordan Elliot was flagged for a defensive holding call to give the...
