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The 49ers dominate early and prevent the Seahawks' comeback with Geno Smith's decisive INT in the 36:24 victory

The 49ers dominate early and prevent the Seahawks' comeback with Geno Smith's decisive INT in the 36:24 victory
Posted on | Posted on angela

George Kittle (85) of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

George Kittle and the 49ers beat the Seahawks late on Thursday night with a road win. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

After a 2-3 start to the season, there shouldn't have been much concern about the San Francisco 49ers. They are still one of the best teams in football. It's not quite perfect for the 49ers, and injuries have a lot to do with it, but I don't think San Francisco has lost much.

The 49ers had a dominant first half against the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night, briefly letting the Seahawks back into the game in the second half, but ultimately slamming the door and beating their NFC West rival again, this time by a score of 0, 5 36-24.

George Kittle scored twice and Deebo Samuel Sr. scored a long touchdown to lead to the victory.

In an ideal world, San Francisco wouldn't have let Seattle back into the game, undefeated and the talk of the NFL. This start hasn't been ideal, but the 49ers are still pretty good.

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 last few seasons. There was more that went into the decision, but the complete uncompetitiveness against its NFC West rival weighed on the franchise. They have lost five games, including playoffs, to the 49ers over the last two seasons and none of them have been competitive.

New Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald had many of the same issues Thursday night.

The game started well for the Seahawks. They pushed deep into 49ers territory. But then Geno Smith badly missed a throw that was blocked by safety Malik Mustapha. That was the first sign of distress.

The 49ers were forced back at their own 3-yard line after that interception, but they drove 90 yards. The 49ers settled for a field goal at the end of the drive — execution in the red zone was perhaps the only thing San Francisco's offense or defense didn't do well on Thursday — but the drive was all too familiar. The 49ers pushed the Seahawks around as usual.

The first half and the beginning of the second half went like this. Kittle's first touchdown gave the 49ers a 23-3 lead. But this 49ers team, which has already blown two fourth-quarter leads in losses this season, needed to make things interesting again.

The 49ers offense moved the ball easily except in the red zone. The defense was all over the field and hit everything in blue very hard. It was San Francisco's special teams that got the Seahawks back into the game.

After the 49ers took a seemingly insurmountable 23-3 lead, Laviska Shenault Jr. took a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. It was the second kickoff return for a touchdown in the NFL this season. Then Kenneth Walker III scored and the Seahawks trailed 23-17. Niners running back Jordan Mason suffered a shoulder injury in the first half and played only the first play of the second half, impacting an offense that had been without Christian McCaffrey all season. San Francisco seemed to be in trouble.

Smith threw an interception that essentially decided the outcome. The ball was thrown miserably to DK Metcalf, Renardo Green made it and the 49ers were able to decide the game.

Kittle scored again and the 49ers led 29-17. The Seahawks got a touchdown back and trailed 29-24 with under two minutes left. They got going with all three timeouts remaining. But Isaac Guerendo, filling in for Mason, who was filling in for McCaffrey, broke off a 76-yard run. Kyle Juszczyk scored the winning goal with 1:17 left.

There have been some concerns about the 49ers, and three losses to start the season aren't exactly good for their hopes of earning the No. 1 seed in the NFC. But Thursday night was further proof that the Seahawks and the NFC West are still theirs, even if there is still room for improvement.

Live45 updates

  • The former MVP shows the 49ers some love after the game

  • Here's how the Niners put the game on hold

  • Final statistics

    Total Yards:

    49ers 483, Seahawks 358

    Overtaking places:

    49ers 255, Seahawks 306

    Rushing yards:

    49ers 228, Seahawks 52

    San Francisco

    Brock Purdy 18 of 28, 255 yards, 3 TD

    Isaac Guerendo 10 carries, 99 yards

    Deebo Samuel 3 catches, 102 yards, 1 TD

    Seattle

    Geno Smith 30 of 52, 312 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT

    Kenneth Walker 14 carries, 32 yards

    Tyler Lockett 4 catches, 65 yards, 1 touchdown

    Noah Fant 6 catches, 63 yards

  • FINAL: 49ers 36, Seahawks 24

    The 49ers take the lead after Seattle turns over the downs with an incomplete pass on 4th down.

    Brock Purdy kneels to end San Francisco's 36-24 victory.

  • Geno Smith was fired

    Seattle scores a first down on 4th-and-10 with a 12-yard pass from Geno Smith to Noah Fant.

    But two plays later, Smith is sacked by Sam Okuayinonu for a six-yard loss. First sack of the entire game.

  • touchdown, 49ers

    Kyle Juszczyk runs up the middle for a six-yard touchdown run that secures the victory for San Francisco. After the extra point, the 49ers are ahead 36-24 with 1:17 to go.

  • First down and much more

    The Seahawks don't get the stop they need. Isaac Guerendo breaks off a 76-yard run off right tackle for the 49ers and slides to the ground at the Seattle 5-yard line to run out the clock.

  • Seahawks do not attempt an onside kick

    The Seahawks don't attempt an onside kick and hope their defense can get the ball back with 1:39 left and all three timeouts.

  • Touchdown, Seahawks

    Tyler Lockett doesn't drop this pass. Geno Smith hits him on a comeback route in the middle of the end zone for a nine-yard score.

    After the extra point, the score is 29-24 with 1:44 left.

  • 2 minute warning in Seattle

    Tyler Lockett nearly intercepted a nine-yard pass in the back of the end zone for a touchdown, but couldn't catch it.

    With 1:59 left, the Seahawks have a 2nd-and-goal from the nine-yard line.

  • The Seahawks' TD was negated by a penalty

    An illegal shift penalty on Kenneth Walker negated a 52-yard touchdown pass from Geno Smith to DK Metcalf.

  • touchdown, 49ers

    After two rushes by Patrick Taylor Jr., Brock Purdy hit George Kittle over the middle for a nine-yard touchdown pass.

    This is Kittle's second touchdown of the night.

    San Francisco fails a 2-point conversion attempt and leads 29-17 with 6:20 left.

  • Interception by Geno Smith

    Geno Smith is picked off by Renardo Green at the Seahawks 35-yard line.

    After a 20-yard return, San Francisco takes over the Seattle 15.

  • The NFL says the camera angle was incorrect during the replay review

    Prime Video rules analyst Terry McAulay said the league did not have the enhanced video angle of Dee Williams' apparent turnover that was shown on the broadcast.

    McAulay's quote:

    “I spoke to Walt Anderson at the command center in New York. What they told me was that they didn't get our enhanced video where we showed the ball hitting the finger. What they had was the raw image from our cameras and that was not clear to them that it touched the finger.”

  • The 49ers have 1 timeout with 9:38 remaining

    San Francisco calls a timeout on 3rd-and-9 at the Seattle 40-yard line. That leaves the 49ers with just one timeout after losing one in a replay.

  • Seahawks fail to capitalize

    Although the Seahawks apparently caught a break on a replay, they are forced to punt after a five-play, 12-yard drive. Seattle was unable to gain another first down after Zach Charbonnet's nine-yard run on 2nd-and-7 to the Seahawks' 30-yard line.

  • Questionable repeat review

    Seattle appeared to commit a turnover when punt returner Dee Williams touched the ball before the 49ers threw it down. At first it looked on the field as if San Francisco would hit the Seattle returner before he could catch the ball. But officials agreed the tackler was pushed into the receiver.

    The 49ers called for a review of the play, arguing that Seattle touched the ball. The replay seemed to confirm this, but the call was honored.

  • 3rd quarter: 49ers 23, Seahawks 17

    What seemed like an impending 49ers loss is now a ballgame early in the fourth quarter.

    San Francisco has the ball on the 26-yard line on 4th-and-3 after Brock Purdy throws a 7-yard pass to Jauan Jennings. They start the fourth quarter with a punt.

  • Touchdown, Seahawks

    The Seahawks are back. Kenneth Walker ends a 13-play, 94-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown. With the extra point, the 49ers' lead shrinks to 23-17.

    The scoring was highlighted by Geno Smith hitting Tyler Lockett for a 37-yard gain.

  • Holding the penalty kills the 49ers' next drive

    After the 49ers opened their next possession with a first down, the drive stalled, largely due to a holding penalty on Jake Brendal.

    On 3rd-and-18, Brock Purdy completed a 15-yard pass to Deebo Samuel. But on 4th-and-3, San Francisco had to punt from the 50 on 4th-and-3

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