George Kittle and the 49ers defeated the Seahawks on the road late Thursday night. (AP Photo/Lindsay Wasson)
There shouldn’t have been much worry about the San Francisco 49ers, who started the season 2-3. They are still one of the best teams in soccer. The 49ers aren’t quite perfect yet, and injuries have a lot to do with that, but don’t believe San Francisco has lost much.
On Thursday night, the 49ers dominated the first half against the Seattle Seahawks, letting the Seahawks get back into the game a bit in the second half, but ultimately slammed the door shut on their NFC West rivals. They defeated again by one point. 36-24.
George Kittle scored two points and Deebo Samuel Sr. scored a long touchdown to lead to the victory.
In an ideal world, San Francisco would not let Seattle back into the game and would go undefeated and become the talk of the NFL. It wasn’t the ideal start, but the 49ers are still in pretty good shape.
49ers take an early lead.
One of the reasons the Seahawks made the somewhat surprising decision to end the Pete Carroll era was because they had been overrun by the 49ers over the past few seasons. There was more to the decision than that, but the franchise’s lack of competitiveness against its NFC West rivals has weighed on it. Over the past two seasons, they have lost five games to the 49ers, including the playoffs, none of which were competitive.
New Seahawks head coach Mike McDonald had many of the same issues Thursday night.
The game started well for the Seahawks. They penetrated deep into 49ers territory. But then he missed a throw from Geno Smith that was picked up by safety Malik Mustafa. That was the first sign of distress.
The 49ers retreated at their own 3-yard line after the interception, but drove 90 yards. The 49ers made a field goal at the end of the drive — red zone execution may have been the only thing that went wrong for San Francisco’s offense or defense Thursday — but the drive looked all too familiar. It was something. As usual, the 49ers were pushing the Seahawks.
It was like that both in the first half and in the second half. Kittle’s first touchdown gave the 49ers a 23-3 lead. But this 49ers team had already lost by two fourth-quarter leads this season and needed to make things interesting again.
Seahawks get back on track
The 49ers offense was moving the ball easily, except in the red zone. The defense was all over the field and attacked everything blue very hard. It was San Francisco’s special teams that got the Seahawks back in the game.
After the 49ers took a seemingly irreversible 23-3 lead, Laviska Shenault Jr. ran a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. This was the second kickoff return for a touchdown in the NFL this season. Kenneth Walker III then scored, giving the Seahawks a 23-17 lead. Niners running back Jordan Mason injured his shoulder in the first half and played only the first play of the second half, which affected an offense that had been without Christian McCaffrey all season. San Francisco seemed to be in a bit of trouble.
Smith threw an interception that essentially decided the outcome. DK Metcalf brutally underthrew it, and Renaldo Green picked it up, putting the 49ers in position to take the game away.
Kittle scored again and the 49ers led 29-17. The Seahawks returned it for a touchdown and led 29-24 with less than two minutes left. Kickoff with all three timeouts remaining. However, Isaac Guerend, who was filling in for McCaffrey and filling in for Mason, broke through with a 76-yard run. Kyle Juszczyk scored with 1:17 left to break up the game.
There are some concerns for the 49ers, and three losses early in the season doesn’t bode well for their hopes of earning the NFC’s No. 1 seed. But Thursday night was more proof that they still own the Seahawks and the NFC West, even if there’s still room for improvement.
Live45 Update
Thursday, October 10, 2024 11:55 PM EDT
Former MVP shows love to 49ers after game
Thursday, October 10, 2024 11:46 PM EDT
How the Niners won the game
Thursday, October 10, 2024 11:36 PM EDT
final statistics
Total yards:
49ers 483, Seahawks 358
Passing yards:
49ers 255, Seahawks 306
Rush yards:
49ers 228, Seahawks 52
san francisco
Brock Purdy 18/28, 255 yards, 3TDs
Isaac Gerendo 10 carries, 99 yards
Deebo Samuel 3 catches, 102 yards, 1 TD
seattle
Geno Smith 30 of 52 games, 312 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT
Kenneth Walker 14 rushes, 32 yards
Tyler Lockett 4 catches, 65 yards, 1 TD
Noah Fant 6 catches, 63 yards
Thursday, October 10, 2024 11:28 PM EDT
Final: 49ers 36, Seahawks 24
The 49ers took over the game after Seattle converted on fourth down with an incomplete pass.
Brock Purdy hits a knee and San Francisco wins 36-24.
Thursday, October 10, 2024 11:27 PM EDT
Geno Smith fired
Seattle got a first down on a 12-yard pass from Geno Smith to Noah Fant on fourth-and-10.
However, two plays later, Smith was sacked by Sam Okuainonu for a loss of 6 yards. First sack of the entire game.
Thursday, October 10, 2024 11:20 PM EDT
touchdown, 49ers
Kyle Juszczyk ran up the middle for a 6-yard touchdown run to give San Francisco the lead. After the extra point, the 49ers led 36-24 with 1:17 left.
Thursday, October 10, 2024 11:17 PM EDT
First things first, and more
The Seahawks aren’t getting the stops they need. The 49ers ran out right tackle Isaac Guerendo’s 76-yard run, sliding for a down near the Seattle 5-yard line and running out the clock.
Thursday, October 10, 2024 11:16 PM EDT
Seahawks do not attempt onside kick
The Seahawks did not attempt an onside kick and are hoping their defense can get the ball back with 1:39 left and all three timeouts left.
Thursday, October 10, 2024 11:14 PM EDT
touchdown, seahawks
Tyler Lockett won’t drop this pass. Geno Smith hit a 9-yard score on a reversal route in the middle of the end zone.
After the extra point, it was 29-24 with 1 minute 44 seconds left.
Thursday, October 10, 2024 11:12 PM EDT
2 minute warning in Seattle
Tyler Lockett almost caught a 9-yard pass in the back of the end zone for a touchdown, but couldn’t hold on.
It was the Seahawks’ second goal from the 9-yard line with 1:59 left.
Thursday, October 10, 2024 11:07 PM EDT
Seahawks TD nullified due to penalty
An illegal shift penalty on Kenneth Walker negated a 52-yard touchdown pass from Geno Smith to DK Metcalf.
Thursday, October 10, 2024 10:59 PM EDT
touchdown, 49ers
After two Patrick Taylor Jr. rushes, Brock Purdy hit George Kittle for a 9-yard touchdown pass over the middle.
This was Kittle’s second touchdown of the night.
San Francisco missed a two-point conversion attempt and led 29-17 with 6:20 left.
Thursday, October 10, 2024 10:57 PM EDT
Geno Smith interception
Geno Smith is picked off by Renaldo Green at the Seahawks’ own 35-yard line.
After a 20-yard return, San Francisco takes over at the Seattle 15.
Thursday, October 10, 2024 10:55 PM EDT
NFL says replay review didn’t have proper camera angles
Prime Video rules analyst Terry McCauley said the league did not have an enhanced video angle for Dee Williams’ apparent turnover as shown on the television broadcast.
Did Terry McCauley say Amazon Prime has better cameras and equipment than NFL referee headquarters?
— Curtis Allen (@curtis93969) October 11, 2024
Mr. Macaulay’s words:
“I spoke to Walt Anderson at the command center in New York, and what they’re telling me is they haven’t received our enhanced video of the ball touching the fingers. What they had was raw footage from our cameras, and it wasn’t clear to them that it had been touched. ”
Thursday, October 10, 2024 10:49 PM EDT
49ers had one timeout with 9 minutes, 38 seconds left.
San Francisco called a timeout on 3rd-and-9 from the Seattle 40-yard line. This leaves the 49ers with just one timeout after losing one on a replay challenge.
Thursday, October 10, 2024 10:42 PM EDT
Seahawks can’t take advantage
Despite getting a clear break on replay review, the Seahawks were forced to punt after a five-play, 12-yard drive. Seattle failed to get another first down after Zach Charbonnet’s 9-yard run to the Seahawks’ 30-yard line on 2nd-and-7.
Thursday, October 10, 2024 10:38 PM EDT
questionable replay review
Seattle appeared to commit a turnover when punt returner Dee Williams touched the ball before the 49ers took it down. Initially, the on-field call appeared to be San Francisco hitting before Seattle’s returner caught the ball. But officials agreed that the tackler was forced into the receiver.
The 49ers claimed Seattle touched the ball and asked for a review of the play. Replays appeared to confirm it, but the decision was deferred.
Thursday, October 10, 2024 10:24 PM EDT
3rd Q: 49ers 23, Seahawks 17
It looked like a rout for the 49ers down the stretch, but as we move into the fourth quarter, it’s a ballgame now.
After Brock Purdy threw a 7-yard pass to Jauan Jennings, San Francisco had the ball on a fourth-and-3 at their own 26-yard line. They will start the fourth quarter with a punt.
Thursday, October 10, 2024 10:19 PM EDT
touchdown, seahawks
The Seahawks are right back in this situation. Kenneth Walker capped off a 13-play, 94-yard drive with a 1-yard TD run. The extra point cut the 49ers’ lead to 23-17.
Geno Smith hit Tyler Lockett for a 37-yard gain to highlight the scoring drive.
Thursday, October 10, 2024 10:12 PM EDT
Holding the penalty eliminates the 49ers’ next drive
After gaining a first down to start the next possession, the 49ers’ momentum stalled, largely due to a holding penalty on Jake Brendal.
On third-and-18, Brock Purdy completed a 15-yard pass to Deebo Samuel. However, San Francisco had to punt from their 50 on 4th-and-3.
