Niners Nation
Things are starting to look a bit bleak.
The San Francisco 49ers’ 20-17 loss seems to be repeating the things we’ve said about this team over and over again. Namely, they can’t finish, they can’t stay healthy, and outside heroics against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they can’t beat anyone with a winning record.
Not exactly a playoff team, let alone a Super Bowl team.
The Seahawks game shouldn’t have even gotten to the point it did. Many will point to the defense and how the 49ers were essentially watching Geno Smith run past them for the game-winning touchdown. Yeah, that’s not the greatest defensive play-calling, but when you have an offense as loaded as the 49ers, even without George Kittle or Brandon Aiyuk, how many times can you shoot yourselves in the foot? The defense did their job on that fourth-down stand, but the offense couldn’t put the game away when they returned to the field despite terrific field position.
The loss stings, but what stings more is that it puts the 49ers in last place. Things are going to get tougher. The team heads on the road for games against the Green Bay Packers this week and the Buffalo Bills next. Given how little room for error the team had, and the previous division losses, that may be a blow they don’t recover from.
So, that game. At least the special teams didn’t have a total disaster.
Even though the 49ers defense lost pass-rusher Nick Bosa to injury at the absolute worst time in the game (because, 49ers), the Seahawks offense lost center Connor Williams to retirement. The edge went to the Seahawks’ offense because that was enough to let Geno Smith have just enough time to find his receivers on several plays and then run by the unit as he strutted into the end zone. While the defense had moments to show they may have turned the page, that final batch of play calls isn’t a good look for 49ers defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen. Then again, it probably shouldn’t have gotten to that point.
All of this led to the ending in the movie we’ve seen too many times: The 49ers letting an opponent hang around way too long when they should have had this over by halftime. Many said the Seahawks were in a must-win game like the 49ers, but did you see anything special from them? Unless it’s taking advantage of soft coverage, bad penalties, and inept 49ers offensive production, not really.
The Seahawks took advantage of the 49ers’ mistakes, which are too many to count. On offense alone, Left guard Aaron Banks had arguably his worst game as a pro due to penalties, and Brock Purdy threw an interception that cost three crucial points. These are things missing George Kittle doesn’t result in.
And the Seahawks offense? The 49ers defense held them in check. Until Nick Bosa gets injured, which does way more damage than one may realize. While the defense...
