Seahawks overcome incredibly slow start, topple 49ers in badly needed 28-21 road win.
The Seattle Seahawks (2-2) took a long to get rolling, but they weathered the early storm to beat the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium once again (2-2).
When the 49ers scored on their first drive and the Seahawks didn’t get a first down for the first 25 minutes of the game, the 28-21 win seemed unlikely,
but Russell Wilson threw for two touchdowns, ran for another, and Alex Collins had a crucial fourth-quarter score that really put the 49ers up against it.
San Francisco handed the ball over twice (once on downs), and they’re dealing with an unusual quarterback situation right now, with Jimmy Garoppolo out with a calf injury.
Trey Lance started the second half and guided two touchdown drives, although he had his share of rookie mistakes.
1st Half
The Seahawks received the ball first and went three-and-out right away.
Jimmy Garoppolo goes 6-6 for 70 yards and a touchdown to Ross Dwelley,
who had good positioning on Sidney Jones and beat the new starting CB for the score. The 49ers win 7-0.
The 49ers got the ball back after another three-and-out, but Garoppolo was intercepted by Quandre Diggs on a spectacular route leap.
He was looking for Kittle but instead came across Diggs, who had Seattle’s first interception of the season.
Despite the excellent field position, Wilson was sacked out of field goal range, and they had to punt again. The 49ers moved into field goal range, but punter Mitch Wishnowsky (who made the PAT) took over field goal duties and failed from 41 yards. With his first NFL sack, Jordyn Brooks placed San Francisco in 3rd and long.
For most of the second quarter,
it was a punt fest as the Seahawks defence finally tightened up and the offence didn’t gain a first down until under 5 minutes before halftime.
huge gain to San Francisco’s 15. Alex Collins broke through the line of scrimmage for a 29-yard gain. Wilson found DK Metcalf on 3rd and 1 for a
He juked out linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair and scored out of the slot as the two-minute warning expired, barely stretching the ball over the goal line. 7-7.
2nd Half
Due to a calf injury, Jimmy Garoppolo did not play in the second half. Trey Lance, a rookie, took over and saw his first two drives end in punts. The Seahawks took the lead on their second second-half drive, as Chris Carson had a couple of good runs, Tyler Lockett had a play-action catch, and Wilson ran for 16 yards and a touchdown. Seahawks win 14-7.
Trenton Cannon dropped the kickoff then scooped it up in the blink of an eye, only to fumble it again as he lunged forward. Jon Rhattigan’s Seahawks comeback to the 49ers’ 14! What a 180-degree turn! Then came Russell’s incredible sack escape and a touchdown pass to Freddie Swain two plays later. Seahawks win 21-7.
Nothing is simple when it comes to Seahawks football. Deebo Samuel scored on a 76-yard wheel route against the worst blown coverage. After a botched start, San Francisco opted for the PAT, which Wishnowsky missed. Seahawks win 21-13.
Seattle was aided by two significant third-down penalties. The first was a Dee Ford offsides that allowed Chris Carson to convert a 3rd and 6 incomplete passes into a 3rd and 1 conversion.
Dre Kirkpatrick’s defensive pass interference on a third-down ball to Lockett pushed the Seahawks into the red zone. Their 10-play, 81-yard drive was finished off by a 14-yard touchdown run by Alex Collins. With 12:06 remaining in the game, the Seahawks are up 28-13.
Lance struggled to find a rhythm and seemed uneasy while tossing the ball. The Seahawks offence was mainly in clock-killing mode, but the defence stood out with a fourth-down stop of Deebo Samuel on a sideline throw. Kerry Hyder Jr. and Jordyn Brooks were instrumental in establishing the lead and forcing a turnover on downs.
With just one timeout remaining and 4:30 left on the clock, the 49ers needed to get the touchdown and score fast. They didn’t score right away, but they did with 1:20 remaining. Samuel scored his second touchdown of the game, and Lance deserves credit for converting numerous fourth downs. Lance scored on the 2PC to bring the score to 28-21 Seahawks. The onside kick was recovered by Freddie Swain, capping off a stunning road victory.
Seahawks injury report
In the second quarter, LB Cody Barton sustained a rib injury. He didn’t show up.
DE In the fourth quarter, Darrell Taylor had cramping. Later in the game, he reappeared.
DE Late in the fourth quarter, Carlos Dunlap was taken off the field. Later in the game, he returned but departed again with an unexplained injury.
Next week’s opponent
The Seahawks have a short week, but they face the Los Angeles Rams (3-1) in a primetime matchup on Thursday, October 7th at 5:20 p.m. PT on FOX/NFL Network/Amazon Prime.
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