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!
Seahawks-49ers 1st half recap
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 49ers territory on the first play of Seattle’s next drive, and again the Seahawks moved inside San Francisco’s 30. A deep shot to JSN for a touchdown was broken up in the end zone, and Jason Myers was tasked with making a 45-yarder, which he did. 10-0 Seahawks.
A kickoff out of bounds set up the 49ers at their own 40. Purdy was able to find Jauan Jennings on a scramble drill for a first down on 3rd and 10. A jump pass while pressured by DeMarcus Lawrence landed in George Kittle’s arms for another first down. On 3rd and short, Purdy was sacked by Uchenna Nwosu, and Kyle Shanahan opted for a field goal before halftime. Eddy Pineiro had no issues from 48. 10-3 Seahawks at halftime.
Seahawks-49ers 2nd half recap
A mishandled kickoff by Brian Robinson Jr backed the 49ers up at their own 12. Purdy was able to convert a 3rd and 4 pass to Demarcus Robinson with Josh Jobe in coverage. San Francisco was able to grind out yards until Jarran Reed sacked Purdy and put the 49ers behind the sticks. Purdy was leveled by Nick Emmanwori and threw incomplete on 3rd and long, prompting a punt, which Rashid Shaheed returned for 20 yards to his own 37.
Seattle again reached the fringes of field goal range, only to go backward on 3rd and 2 with Charbonnet losing five yards on an open-field tackle by Deommodore Lenoir. Josh Jones hurt his ankle one play prior and was replaced by rookie Amari Kight out at left tackle.
The 49ers once again were forced to punt after an inaccurate Purdy throw led to Demarcus Robinson coming back to the ball on 3rd and 2, with Devon Witherspoon tackling him for only a yard.
For the millionth time in a row, the Seahawks advanced across midfield. That almost didn’t happen when Darnold was tripped by Jalen Sundell on a handoff to Zach Charbonnet. San Francisco could not fall on the ball, but Charbonnet did. On 3rd and 17, a toss to Kenneth Walker gained 19 yards for a first down!
Another week where the Seahawks call a run on 3rd and long and it works out! Jaxon Smith-Njigba made a great adjustment on an off-target Darnold throw for 19 more yards into field goal range. Rashid Shaheed was interfered with by Renardo Green on 3rd down, setting up Seattle in the red zone.
With the score still 10-3 at the start of the fourth quarter, Darnold was pressured on 3rd down and checked it down to Eric Saubert, who was nowhere near the line to gain. Jason Myers easily converted a 31-yard field goal. 13-3 Seahawks with 14:15 to go.
At last, the 49ers finally got something really going against the Seahawks defense. Brock Purdy made a few good throws and scrambled for 11 yards. In next to no time, the Niners were inside Seattle’s 10 and threatening to make it 13-10… but the Seahawks defense wasn’t about to let that happen! Boye Mafe got the slightest of tips on a throw to McCaffrey out in the flat. CMC couldn’t hold on, and Drake Thomas found a football in his lap for a huge interception!
Backed up at their own 3, the Seahawks knocked out the 49ers once and for all. An astonishing drive of effective running and timely plays by Sam Darnold meant draining eight minutes off the clock and traveling 89 yards.
However, Seattle opted to kick on 4th and 1 instead of go for the clock-kneeling or touchdown dagger. Jason Myers from 26 yards out DOINKED it. Are you kidding me? Oh well, still only two minutes and a long ways to go for the 49ers to even kick a field goal. Didn’t matter, because the 49ers didn’t get a first down and turned it over on downs. NFC WEST CHAMPS, 13-3 Seahawks final!
Full Box Score
Next week’s opponent
A bye week, so we’ll see you in the NFC Divisional Round!
