Concerns about the San Francisco 49ers following their 2-3 start to the season were likely overstated. Despite some challenges, particularly with injuries, the 49ers remain one of the top teams in the NFL. They showcased their resilience on Thursday night against the Seattle Seahawks, delivering a dominant performance in the first half and ultimately securing a 36-24 victory over their NFC West rivals.
George Kittle was a standout player, scoring twice, while Deebo Samuel Sr. added a long touchdown, contributing to the team’s success.
In a perfect scenario, the 49ers would have avoided letting Seattle back into the game and would be sitting undefeated, dominating headlines across the league. While their start hasn’t been flawless, their overall performance indicates they are still a formidable force.
49ers Jump to Early Lead
The Seahawks’ decision to part ways with head coach Pete Carroll was partly influenced by their struggles against the 49ers in recent seasons, as they had lost five consecutive games to their divisional rivals, all by substantial margins. New Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald faced many of the same challenges on Thursday night.
Initially, the Seahawks appeared to be on the right track, advancing deep into 49ers territory. However, Geno Smith’s errant throw was intercepted by safety Malik Mustapha, marking the beginning of Seattle’s troubles.
Though the 49ers found themselves backed up at their own 3-yard line following the interception, they managed an impressive 90-yard drive that culminated in a field goal. Despite their struggles in the red zone, the 49ers demonstrated their physical dominance over the Seahawks.
Kittle’s first touchdown extended San Francisco’s lead to 23-3, but the team was aware of their history of fourth-quarter collapses this season and needed to maintain focus.
Seahawks Fight Back
While the 49ers were moving the ball efficiently, they struggled to capitalize in the red zone. Their special teams, however, allowed the Seahawks to claw back into the game. After San Francisco had seemingly established a commanding 23-3 lead, Laviska Shenault Jr. returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown, marking the second kickoff return for a touchdown in the NFL this season. Following that, Kenneth Walker III added another touchdown, narrowing the gap to 23-17. The absence of running back Christian McCaffrey and the injury to Jordan Mason compounded San Francisco’s issues.
The pivotal moment came when Smith threw an underthrown pass intended for DK Metcalf, which was intercepted by Renardo Green, giving the 49ers a chance to seize control. Kittle scored again, pushing the lead to 29-17. Although the Seahawks answered back with a touchdown to bring the score to 29-24 with less than two minutes remaining, the 49ers were able to secure their win. After receiving the kickoff with all three timeouts remaining, Isaac Guerendo, stepping in for Mason, broke a 76-yard run, and Kyle Juszczyk scored with 1:17 left to seal the game.
Despite the early losses, Thursday night’s performance reinforced that the 49ers still dominate the Seahawks and hold a strong position in the NFC West, with plenty of room for improvement ahead.
