“The San Francisco 49ers returned to Levi’s Stadium on Sunday after spending the last two weeks on the road. In Week 14, the 49ers hosted the Seattle Seahawks for their second meeting in a span of two weeks. San Francisco’s first encounter with Seattle occurred on Thanksgiving night and resulted in a 31-13 takedown of their longtime NFC West rival. This second bout with the Seahawks had a different look, featuring Seattle’s backup quarterback Drew Lock under center, and the game remained a closely contested affair through three quarters.
“I thought there were some things that were a little sloppy, just a little inconsistent throughout the day, but the guys made a ton of plays, got enough points, and the two turnovers the defense caused were huge,” said head coach Kyle Shanahan. “It wasn’t perfect football by any means, but the only goal is to get a win, and we found a way to do it.”
Here are six takeaways from Sunday afternoon’s game:”
Cornerback Charvarius Ward Sustains Early Injury in Sunday’s Game
“The first significant defensive play of the day ended with a groin injury for the veteran cornerback. During Seattle’s initial offensive series, Ward came close to intercepting a pass intended for Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. However, in the process of breaking up the pass, Ward suffered a groin injury that led to his exit from the game. Although designated as questionable to return in the first half, he never reentered the game. Ward’s pass breakup marked his 20th of the season, maintaining his position as the league-leader in passes defended.”
49ers Come Up Big on the Opening Drive
It took the 49ers exactly 57 seconds to find their way to the end zone on Sunday afternoon. Their hot start on offense was all thanks to a 72-yard rush from running back Christian McCaffrey on the first play of the game. McCaffrey sliced through the left side with some key blocks from wide receiver Deebo Samuel and fullback Kyle Juszczyk near the line of scrimmage, and he made it inside the Seattle five-yard line with an open-field block from wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Running back Jordan Mason took the next handoff and ran it in for the three-yard score.
“You never know (the play is going to break) until it does,” McCaffrey said. “You kind of just read it one gap at a time, trust the guys in front of you. That was amazing blocking. I have to score there.
“That was a great job by those guys up front all day. BA blocked downfield, 75 yards down the field again, which is becoming routine for him, so I appreciated that. That was a great job by all those guys up front.”
Deebo Samuel Extends Impressive Streak with Stellar Performance
“Deebo Samuel’s Scoring Spree Continues with Three Touchdowns Against the Seahawks”
“The 49ers’ versatile wide receiver, coming off a three-touchdown performance against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 13, maintained his scoring streak against the Seahawks. Trailing 10-7 early in the second quarter and facing a challenging third-and-long situation, quarterback Brock Purdy targeted Samuel on a deep crosser. Samuel caught the pass around Seattle’s 15-yard line and sprinted untouched into the end zone, giving the 49ers a 14-10 lead with 8:18 left in the half.
Samuel’s momentum carried into the second half. On a crucial third-and-five in the late third quarter, Purdy, under pressure, rolled right and found Samuel in the middle of the field for a 13-yard gain, placing the offense on the Seahawks’ one-yard line. Capitalizing on the opportunity, Samuel took the handoff on the next play, scoring from the left side and extending the 49ers’ lead to 21-10.
“Since coming back from injury, I can see the level of play just getting better week in and week out,” Samuel said. “I’m just taking it a day at a time to be the best me I can possibly be for the team.”
Defense Gets Stingy in the Second Half
“After surrendering ten points in the first half, San Francisco’s defense came out swinging in the third quarter. The unit initiated the period with a quick three-and-out, facilitated by a significant pass breakup from cornerback Deommodore Lenoir on second-and-10 and a third-down stop by linebacker Fred Warner and cornerback Isaiah Oliver. On the following defensive series, defensive lineman Clelin Ferrell secured a sack of Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock and tackled running back Zach Charbonnet for a loss of four yards, contributing to the Seahawks’ punt.
Closing out the impactful plays of the quarter, Chase Young brought down Lock on a two-point conversion attempt. The secondary continued its impact in the fourth quarter, with rookie Ji’Ayir Brown intercepting Lock at Seattle’s 25-yard line. The 49ers’ defensive line added three more sacks in the fourth quarter, 1.5 of which belonged to the reigning AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Nick Bosa. Linebacker Nick Bosa also made a significant play, securing his second interception for San Francisco with just over three minutes left to play.”
George Kittle Finds the End Zone: A Trip to Pay Dirt
“After Deebo Samuel’s third-quarter touchdown provided a much-needed boost to the 49ers offense, George Kittle sought to contribute to the touchdown parade. On the next possession, quarterback Brock Purdy, enjoying ample time, launched a pass to the left side targeting the veteran tight end. Kittle, displaying his athleticism, sped past three defenders en route to the end zone. This touchdown not only added to Kittle’s impressive highlight reel but also granted San Francisco a two-score cushion in Sunday’s intense divisional rivalry game.”
“Brandon Aiyuk Achieves Career Milestone: A Highlight in the Making”
“Brandon Aiyuk Hits 1,000-Yard Milestone: Consistent Excellence in Back-to-Back Seasons”
In Sunday’s matchup, the fourth-year wide receiver entered the game just 73 yards away from reaching the coveted 1,000-yard receiving mark. Aiyuk not only surpassed that milestone against the Seahawks but did so emphatically, hauling in six passes for a total of 126 yards. With this achievement, he becomes the first 49ers receiver since Anquan Boldin in the 2013 and 2014 seasons to record back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan commended Aiyuk’s growth both on and off the field, emphasizing his maturity and leadership within the team. Shanahan noted Aiyuk’s consistent performance and how he remains focused and impactful, regardless of when he gets the ball during the game.
“Every year he gets so much better, on the football field and also off the football field, which leads to the football field in terms of how mature he is,” Shanahan said. “He’s one of our leaders in there. I think BA has come a long way.”
“He gets so amped up for the game, and sometimes he won’t get the ball for a little bit, and then, he gets it late. Sometimes it happens early, but with BA this year, it really doesn’t matter with him. He’s the same way down in and down out, and it carries over down in the run game and the pass game. With the type of football player that he is and how talented he is, you always feel that it’s only a matter of time that he’s going to get his 1,000 (receiving yards). He deserves it, and he’s been great for us this year.”