Kawakami: ‘They never wavered’ — a tougher 49ers team survives in Seattle (paywall)
“In fact, the 49ers’ locker room was so jovial afterwards that I got back-slapped several times by jubilant coaches and executives who were clearly busting at the seams with happiness, relief, and everything else you can imagine.
They got through this one when there were a lot of reasons for them not to. And now, for the first time since at least early last season and possibly longer, the 49ers can rumble into the next
week feeling like they’re gearing up for full engine power.“
How little-known 49ers, led by TE Jake Tonges, snatched victory from the Seahawks (paywall)
“Purdy’s pass wasn’t a live-another-down toss out of bounds. It was risky, at least a little reckless, and it seemed headed straight into the hands of 6-foot-4 cornerback Riq Woolen for what would have been Purdy’s third interception.
That’s when Tonges, who had one passing target and zero receptions in the regular season since entering the NFL in 2022, went from substitute to star. After slipping and gathering himself in the end zone, he drove back to the ball and snatched it from Woolen’s grasp for what became the decisive score in the 49ers’ 17-13 win.“
49ers grades in perfectly imperfect win over Seahawks to open 2025 NFL season
“This was the kind of game that the 49ers of 2024 would have lost.
So, yes, this is a new season.
The 49ers still have plenty of issues heading into Week 2, including injuries to Kittle and Jauan Jennings (shoulder). But to come out of this game with a victory was exactly what this team needed after a season in which they finished 6-11 and in last place in the NFC West.”
What we learned as Brock Purdy, 49ers earn nail-biting opening win over Seahawks
“We can understand why the 49ers went with Moody for as long as possible. After all, he was a third-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft.
But enough is enough.
General manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan had a lot of motivation to see Moody succeed. They wanted to give Moody every chance to show he was a capable kicker. Instead, he showed them again and again that he is incapable of making anything look easy.“
Nick Bosa, rebuilt 49ers defense save the day in season-opening win
“It helped that the 49ers were familiar with the Seahawks offense, as they run a different variation of Shanahan’s offense, what with Seattle offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak being a former 49ers assistant and the brother of Niners offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak.
“(Saleh) was making adjustments, and I kind of had a feel for how he was going to call the game,” Warner said. “It wasn’t perfect, but you love to learn off of a win.”
After years of waiting, 49ers’ Jake Tonges finally finds himself in the spotlight (paywall)
“I can’t say how many games I’ve prepared for mentally and really haven’t even gotten in the game on offense, mostly playing special teams and stuff,” Tonges said. “But that’s just years of trying to take every practice serious.”
Has the 49ers’ patience with Jake Moody run out after two more failed kicks? (paywall)
“The celebratory postgame scene didn’t include Moody. At least not for long. Moody has usually subjected himself to grilling after rugged games, but he exited early Sunday after a game in which he likely knew he’d be a player of media interest. In Moody’s absence, what some of his teammates said in the locker room suggested the locker-room vibes wouldn’t be great if Lynch and Shanahan don’t make a change.
One player who didn’t want his name used expressed exasperation with Moody’s inconsistency. And two team captains, fullback Kyle Juszczyk and linebacker Fred Warner, fell short of offering a vote of confidence.
Juszczyk paused for five seconds when asked about the level of confidence in his kicker.
“At the end of the day, we know he’s talented,” Juszczyk said. “He’s got the leg. He’s got it in him. We’re just hopeful that he pulls through in those pressure moments.”
Given Moody’s talent, does his 27-yard miss raise questions about where he might be mentally? There were only five misses of 27 yards or less in the NFL in 2024.
“Yeah, we want them all to go in,” Juszczyk said. “Whether it’s a shorter one, or a longer one. All I can say: I hope they go in next time.”
Said Warner when asked about his belief in Moody: “I don’t know if I have anything to comment on that, to be honest. We understand that we all have a job to do. Everybody’s got to do their job. That’s it.”
How is Moody doing his job?
“I’m sure he wants that kick back in the beginning,” Warner said. “And on that block, we’ve got to make sure we’re on that protection. He made his (extra points). We’ve just got to be on it going forward.”
