Field Gulls
The Seattle Seahawks (14-3) are NFC West champions for the first time since 2020!
While Seattle didn’t put up nearly as many points as it should’ve given the offensive performance, the Seahawks defense stifled a red-hot San Francisco 49ers (12-5) offense. Zach Charbonnet’s 27-yard touchdown was the only TD of the game and it was the only one needed. The Seahawks prevailed 13-3 in a game nowhere as indicative of how lopsided this game was.
Seattle rushed for 179 yards on the night, continuing the recent run game success. Seattle’s offense did not turn the ball over, while the Seahawks defense had just 173 yards of total offense. Sam Darnold was 20/26 for 198 yards, while Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet each had over 100 yards of offense. Jaxon Smith-Njigba was Seattle’s leading receiver with 84 yards on six catches.
A true masterclass on the road by Mike Macdonald’s group! The NFC road to Santa Clara and Super Bowl 60 goes through Lumen Field!
The Seahawks lost the coin toss and started on offense first. They took up half the quarter with a nice mix of run and pass, including a 20-yard screen from Sam Darnold to Zach Charbonnet. A Deommodore Lenoir pass interference in the end zone on Jaxon Smith-Njigba set the Seahawks up with first-and-goal at the 1. Klint Kubiak called a play action with Zach Charbonnet wide open for a touchdown, except Sam Darnold didn’t see him and took a sack. Seattle got to the 4-yard line for 4th and goal, opting to go for it and not kick a field goal, and Darnold threw incomplete to Cooper Kupp. A long drive for no points. Pain.
Seattle forced a three-and-out on San Francisco’s first possession, and a special teams penalty meant the Seahawks got the ball back at San Francisco’s 35. On 3rd and 2, Zach Charbonnet cut back and went to the outside of A.J. Barner’s block and took it to the house! 7-0 Seahawks.
Another three-and-out for the Seahawks defense! Christian McCaffrey with a short gain, Derick Hall with a short-loss sack, and Jauan Jennings stuffed a couple of yards shy of the marker. Kyle Shanahan opted to punt instead of go for it at his own 43. Seattle again marched into 49ers territory, only to come away with no points to start the second quarter. A blown up screen for Ken Walker on 3rd and 14 led to a 47-yard field goal attempt for Jason Myers, whose wide right kick was his first miss since Week 11.
San Francisco was set up with good field position off the miss but wasted it. One first down by Christian McCaffrey set the 49ers put in Seahawks territory, but 4th and 1 saw Purdy pressured on play action and he heaved one to Kyle Juszczyk incomplete. It would’ve been short of the marker anyway and Riq Woolen nearly picked it. Turnover on downs, nevertheless!
Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught an 18-yard pass into...
