The 49ers’ Playoff Hopes Dim as They Fall to the Seahawks

The San Francisco 49ers’ chances of securing the top seed in the NFC playoffs have all but vanished after a tough loss to the Seattle Seahawks in their regular season finale. The game ended with a final score of 13-3, and the 49ers struggled to find their offensive rhythm against a formidable Seattle defense. Despite averaging 42 points per game over the previous three weeks, the offense was unable to capitalize on opportunities, leading to a disappointing performance.

The Seahawks (14-3) managed to keep the 49ers in check, even as the team was missing several key players, including star left tackle Trent Williams and top receiver Ricky Pearsall. On the defensive side, San Francisco allowed Seattle to move the ball effectively, but they were able to limit scoring chances. However, the absence of multiple starters proved too much for the 49ers to overcome, and they failed to secure home field advantage or a bye in the Wild Card round.

The 49ers finished the regular season with a solid 12-5 record, but their playoff seeding remains uncertain. Depending on the outcome of the Los Angeles Rams’ game against the Arizona Cardinals, the 49ers could end up as the No. 5 or No. 6 seed in the NFC. A Rams win would drop the 49ers to the sixth seed.

Missed Opportunities Ruin the Evening

One of the most frustrating moments of the game came late in the third quarter when the 49ers were down 10-3. They had a chance to recover a fumble that could have put them in position to tie the game. Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold tripped while trying to hand the ball off to Zach Charbonnet, leaving the ball available for defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos to fall on. However, Gross-Matos couldn’t secure it, and Charbonnet recovered the ball instead. Two plays later, Seattle converted on a third-and-17 and kicked a field goal, which proved to be a crucial moment in the low-scoring game.

Later in the fourth quarter, the 49ers found themselves at the 6-yard line, but Christian McCaffrey dropped a pass that appeared to be slightly tipped by Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe. The pass was intercepted by Drake Thomas, ending any hope of making it a one-score game.

Brock Purdy Cools Down

The Seahawks entered the game with the No. 2 ranked scoring defense in the NFL, and Saturday’s performance was a testament to that. Seattle consistently collapsed the pocket on the 49ers’ quarterback, who had been performing well with 11 touchdown passes and just two interceptions over his last three games. Purdy showed signs of finding his rhythm during a drive before McCaffrey’s dropped pass, completing three passes for 46 yards on that series.

However, Purdy struggled throughout the game, finishing with 123 yards on 18-of-23 passing. He completed 19 of 27 passes for 127 yards and a passer rating of 64.9, his second-lowest of the season. His night ended with a fourth-down incompletion that was a crushing blow, as he was tackled by two Seahawks defenders on the final snap.

Christian McCaffrey Slowed

McCaffrey’s most notable play of the game was a dropped pass that led to an interception near the goal line. Otherwise, his performance was lackluster, as he was unable to gain much momentum. He finished with just 23 yards on eight rushing attempts and six catches for 34 yards receiving.

McCaffrey fell short of achieving his second 1,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving yard season. He needed 110 yards through the air but ended up 76 yards short. His longest run of the game was just 5 yards, and his role in the passing game was limited to being a check-down option for Purdy, which was a major victory for the Seahawks’ defense.

Kittle’s Return a Dud

George Kittle came into the game with eight career touchdowns against Seattle, his most against any opponent outside of the Arizona Cardinals (9). However, like McCaffrey, he was largely kept in check. Kittle finished with 29 yards on five catches after missing last week’s game due to an ankle injury. Without Pearsall and Williams, and with McCaffrey held in check, the 49ers needed a big game from their star tight end. Unfortunately, Kittle wasn’t able to deliver.

Defense Hangs Tough, But Ultimately Not Enough

Despite the challenges, the 49ers’ defense showed resilience. On Seattle’s opening possession, they avoided giving up points despite the Seahawks reaching first-and-goal from the 1-yard line following a pass interference call. However, Seattle quickly scored on their next possession with a 27-yard touchdown run by Zach Charbonnet.

The Seahawks had 88 yards rushing in the first quarter, but they only scored once on their first three possessions, which included a missed field goal. The 49ers were fortunate that the game remained close in the early going. While the defense did a decent job limiting scoring opportunities, they still allowed 361 yards to the Seahawks. Given how Seattle’s defense stifled San Francisco’s offense, the 49ers’ defense needed to be perfect.

More Bad News on the Injury Front

Trent Williams was ruled out just 90 minutes before the game due to a hamstring injury sustained earlier in the win over Chicago. However, the absence of second-year receiver Ricky Pearsall was unexpected. Pearsall had been a limited participant in practice all week due to knee and ankle issues that flared up against the Bears. He stayed in the game and recorded five catches for 85 yards.

The 49ers, already without stars Fred Warner and Nick Bosa, lost another key player on defense when linebacker Dee Winters exited with an ankle injury in the second quarter. This led to increased playing time for Garret Wallow, whom the 49ers claimed off waivers from the Denver Broncos on December 8. Wallow was a former fifth-round draft pick of the Houston Texans in 2021 and has appeared in 45 games with five starts.

Fellow linebacker Tatum Bethune also dealt with a groin injury throughout the game, forcing the 49ers to rely on Eric Kendricks and Garret Wallow for stretches.