Seattle Seahawks (3-3) – San Francisco 49ers (3-3): 24-36
West Coast duel to open this sixth week of the regular season. Both the Seahawks and 49ers are looking to bounce back four days after embarrassing losses. In the cauldron of Seattle's Lumen Field, it was a two-faced encounter that decided the two teams.
Thanks to a completely dominated first half, San Francisco gained an advantage that Seattle was unable to regain. The Niners still scared themselves in the second period, but took advantage of the Seahawks not being careful with the ball.
San Francisco sharp
The first half is one-sided. On offense, San Francisco did not hide its intentions by activating no less than four tight ends for the match: the Niners will impose their will on the ground. In his usual role, Jordan Mason excels: 9 carries, 73 yards (8.1 yards per carry). Brock Purdy (18/28, 255 yards, 3 touchdowns) is only called upon to pass when necessary, against a Seahawks defense decimated by injuries.
If the Niners, as has been their bad habit since the start of the season, have difficulty finishing as they approach the goal (0/2 in the Red Zone in the first half), the Seahawks are completely harmless . It's quite simple, Seattle's first five possessions ended like this: interception, punt, punt, fumble, punt.
At halftime, San Francisco led by a wide margin 3 to 16, thanks to 3 field goals and a brilliant performance from Deebo Samuel (3 receptions, 102 yards including 1 touchdown of 76 yards). The Californians even hit the nail on the head with the first offensive of the second period, through the indestructible George Kittle (5 receptions, 58 yards, 2 touchdowns). With a 20-point lead (3-23), the game seems to be over. And yet…
Seattle fights back, the Niners sweat
The second half had a taste of déjà vu for both teams. As against the Giants, Seattle begins an improbable comeback. San Francisco concedes another big play on special team on Seattle's first ball: 97 yards to the goal for Laviska Shenault on a kick-off return.
LAVISKA SHENAULT RETURNS THE KICKOFF 97 YARDS.#SFvsSEA on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/XGdV5mVdOP— NFL (@NFL) October 11, 2024
The flies seem to have changed donkeys. Geno Smith (30/52, 312 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions) finally begins to find his trio of targets DK Metcalf (48 yards), Jaxon Smith Njigba (53 yards), Tyler Lockett (65 yards, 1 touchdown). The mediocre running game of the first half gave way to more effective bursts from Kenneth Walker and a Zach Charbonnet who was surprisingly little used despite his efficiency: 5 races, 20 yards.
While San Francisco accumulates physical problems (exits of Jordan Mason, Deebo Samuel and Aaron Banks), Seattle climbs back to six points (17-23) in the last quarter. Geno Smith even has a ball to pass in front, but prefers to send it into the arms of rookie Renardo Green returned to Seattle's 15 yards.
Seattle missed its chance, the fault was too many ball losses (3). Brock Purdy regains momentum and definitively seals the fate of the rivals through George Kittle.
24-36 final score, the Niners join the Seahawks at the top of the division. On a series of three consecutive defeats, Seattle will try to reverse the trend against the Falcons in 10 days. The Niners will have a hard time facing their (double) Super Bowl tormentors: the Kansas City Chiefs.
