Seahawks Unravel vs. 49ers: 5 Takeaways from Wild Card Loss

For half-hour, the Seattle Seahawks took each punch the San Francisco 49ers threw at them and fought again to enter halftime of Saturday’s Wild Card rematch with a one-point lead. However all the things fell aside for the underdogs after the break as the house group rattled off 25 unanswered factors in a dominant end to safe a 41-23 victory.

Ending his first season as a starter on a good notice, Geno Smith tossed for 253 yards and linked for 2 touchdowns with star receiver DK Metcalf, who completed with 136 yards on 10 receptions, whereas Ken Walker III rushed for 63 yards out of the backfield. Defensively, Ryan Neal led the group with 10 tackles whereas San Francisco rattled off 505 yards of whole offense.

Listed below are 5 fast takeaways from Seattle’s season-ending loss at Levis Stadium:

1. A devastating crimson zone miscue sullied an impressive effort by Smith in his postseason debut.

After struggling in two common season encounters with the 49ers, Smith got here out crimson scorching towards the No. 1 scoring protection, finishing 9 of his first 10 passes for 104 yards. Whereas it wasn’t the gaudiest stat line he has produced in a half this season and he received stuffed on a designed QB choice run on third down within the first quarter, he silenced the house crowd with a superbly thrown go ball to Metcalf halfway via the second quarter, placing the Seahawks out in entrance 14-13 to erase a 10-0 gap. On the finish of the half, the veteran quarterback scrambled and slid with the clock expiring, absorbing an inexpensive shot from defensive again Jimmie Ward that resulted in a 15-yard pointless roughness penalty and arrange a protracted Jason Myers discipline objective to present Seattle a one-point lead on the break.

Following a landing drive from the 49ers to open the second half, Smith appeared poised to push his group again out in entrance, driving the Seahawks inside opposing 30-yard line. However a brief completion was worn out by a questionable unlawful man downfield penalty towards guard Damien Lewis and after a misfire to Metcalf in the long run zone on 2nd and 14, Charles Omenihu received to him and knocked the ball out of his palms, leading to a killer fumble that took a minimum of three factors off the board. The turnover took the wind out of Seattle’s sails and from there, San Francisco rattled off 14 fast factors to place the sport away. Regardless of finishing over 70 p.c of his passes, the fumble coupled with a fourth quarter interception took some shine off an in any other case high quality begin.

2. “Playoff DK” balls out, holding the Seahawks within the sport with a historic efficiency.

Within the closing two weeks of the season, though the Seahawks closed out with a pair of victories, Metcalf was largely non-existent towards the Jets and Rams. However when the intense lights of the postseason come on, he at all times brings his A-game and did not disappoint with the season on the road on Saturday. Beating cornerback Charvarius Ward, who received the higher of him in two common season matchups, he took the highest off the protection on a vertical route for his third profession playoff landing reception of fifty or extra yards, tying Randy Moss for the second most in NFL historical past. Within the first half alone, he posted 4 receptions for 73 yards.

Whereas Seattle disintegrated within the closing two quarters with self-inflicted wounds on each side of the ball, Metcalf continued to make affect performs. Moments earlier than Smith’s fateful fumble, he caught a 25-yard reception to push the Seahawks previous midfield to eclipse 100 receiving yards for the sport. By the tip of regulation, although he did not fairly break his personal private playoff report from a historic outing towards the Eagles in 2019, he tied teammate Tyler Lockett for the fifth-best whole in franchise historical past whereas tacking on a second landing catch from Smith in rubbish time.

3. Boatloads of missed tackles and explosives towards a well-oiled YAC machine yields anticipated poor defensive outcomes.

On the scoreboard, the Seahawks did what they wanted to do within the first half, holding the 49ers to discipline targets on two out of three journeys into the crimson zone to assist them go into the break with a one-point benefit. However there have been indicators that the great occasions would not final on protection, as quarterback Brock Purdy and heavily-favored San Francisco averaged almost 8.5 yards per play within the first half and due to horrific tackling by Seattle in any respect three ranges, they generated six explosive cross and run performs. This included a 68-yard run by Christian McCaffrey, who discovered a California-sized gap working off left sort out to speed up via.

The 49ers picked up the place they left off to open the third quarter as Purdy connected with George Kittle on a 23-yard reception and Deebo Samuel broke via a number of tackles on a 21-yard achieve on third and seven to drive deep into Seahawks territory. The rookie quarterback powered into the tip zone on a QB sneak moments later to place the house group again in entrance and so they by no means appeared again, persevering with to stack explosive after explosive towards a protection offering minimal resistance. This included a 74-yard landing catch by Samuel by which a number of defenders, together with rookie Tariq Woolen, did not get off blocks and even lay a finger on him as he sprinted down the sideline for six. At that time, the rout was on and Seattle had no probability to recuperate in a second half beatdown.

4. The shortcoming to complete on cross rushes allowed an improvising Purdy to place a dagger into the Seahawks late.

For a quick spell, after solely sacking 49ers quarterbacks twice in two common season conferences, the Seahawks appeared to have Purdy a bit rattled within the first half. He uncorked a number of inaccurate throws, almost getting picked by linebackers Cody Barton and Tanner Muse on separate events with poorly positioned passes. He additionally took a pivotal second down sack from Bruce Irvin within the second quarter that led to a Robbie Gould discipline objective. On the half, his completion proportion hovered underneath 50 p.c, signifying a win for the protection.

However after that time, Purdy settled down working Kyle Shanahan’s offense and when Seattle did have possibilities to get after him within the pocket, he eluded stress and created as a scrambler like classic Russell Wilson towards a hapless protection with no solutions. Lower than a minute into the fourth quarter, he evaded Irvin when the veteran appeared to have him lifeless to proper for a sack within the crimson zone, bailing again to his proper to discover a extensive open Elijah Mitchell for a seven-yard landing to push the result in 14. Later within the quarter, he almost pulled off one other inconceivable landing, working backwards and forwards behind the road of scrimmage earlier than needling an ideal throw to Brandon Aiyuk within the nook of the tip zone, just for the receiver to drop it. Far too snug all day, the Seahawks solely managed to get three quarterback hits on him and paid dearly for the dearth of cross rush.

5. Particular groups stays a vibrant spot in defeat.

Contemporary off being named First-Crew All-Professional by the NFLPA earlier this week, Myers capped off one of the best season of his profession with a bang, tying a Levis Stadium report by splitting the uprights from 56 yards out to present the Seahawks a halftime lead. Making the kick all of the extra outstanding, Santa Clara received hammered with rain on Friday night time and Saturday morning in addition to throughout the sport, making situations unideal for lengthy kicks. For the 12 months, he linked on 35 out of 38 discipline targets and went an ideal seven for seven on makes an attempt past 50 yards.

As well as, Godwin Igwebuike saved rolling as a kick returner, returning six kicks for 150 yards and almost taking one again to midfield within the first half. Each the speedy returner and Myers, who can be free brokers in March, needs to be priorities to re-sign for Seattle’s apparent space of energy within the third section of the sport.

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