49ers stop Seahawks inside the one, claim NFC’s top seed to playoffs
SEATTLE – At the Beast Mode apparel store around the corner from CenturyLink Field, giddy patrons overflowed onto First Avenue South to shop for the newest gear to celebrate the return of Marshawn Lynch, their favorite bulldozing running back.
Lynch is a marketing genius. Fans clamored to buy the “Unfinished Business” and “Back In Action” T-shirts at his boutique shop. Boys passed out Skittles, his favorite candy, as fans walked by. Some of the children, in true Lynch entrepreneurial fashion, sold the candy they were supposed to be giving away. If the abundance of No. 24 jerseys and chants of “Beast Mode!” and “Seahawks!” didn’t do justice to the hysteria Lynch had created as an emergency injury replacement, then you certainly felt the vibe walking past his store.
Amid the excitement, a San Francisco fan exclaimed, “You’re going to get the George Kittle experience this time!”
He was referring to the 49ers’ star tight end, who had missed the November game in Santa Clara, California, that the Seahawks won in overtime. The fan was right. It was a different game this time with Kittle in the lineup and owning the first half. It was a different game this time with San Francisco dominating the first 2 1/2 quarters. It was a different game with the Seahawks being the team severely limited because of injuries.
Still, in a showdown for the NFC West title, Seattle and San Francisco provided another thrilling finish, even though the game threatened to turn into a 49ers blowout early. At the end, the 49ers won the game, 26-21, and the division, earning the No. 1 seed in the NFC by a margin of a few inches.
That’s how close Seattle tight end Jacob Hollister came to crossing the goal line and completing a furious Seahawks comeback on fourth and goal from the 5 with 12 seconds left. That came two plays after Seattle took a delay-of-game penalty on second and goal from the 1. It was a wild conclusion, but a fitting one for an NFC that seemingly any of the six playoff teams can win.
Jimmy Garoppolo completed 18 of 22 passes for 285 yards and then held his breath as Russell Wilson overcame a poor start and nearly pulled off a miracle. But the healthier and more balanced team survived.
The Seahawks couldn’t capitalize early on the emotional lift of Lynch’s Seattle comeback. All week, the city had been abuzz over the most unlikely scenario: Lynch, the rugged running back who helped Seattle win a championship and make two Super Bowl appearances, was back in the blue, silver and light green uniform for the first time since 2015. The enthusiasm almost overshadowed the fact that the Seahawks signed him and Robert Turbin, another old friend, out of semi-retirement because injuries had decimated their backfield. When the game started, the shorthanded Seahawks could not hide their limitations despite the energy and atmosphere that Lynch provided.
The 49ers dominated the first half in a manner that Seattle seldom experiences in prime-time showdowns. During Pete Carroll’s 10 seasons as the head coach, the Seahawks had a 29-6-1 record in prime-time games entering this one, including a 19-2 mark at home. Normally, they live for these moments, and with the NFC West title at stake, this regular season finale had been anticipated for several weeks. But it was San Francisco’s turn to own the stage.
With Garoppolo dealing and Kittle appearing impossible to defend, the 49ers took command and led 13-0 at halftime. The deficit felt bigger than that. San Francisco outgained Seattle 139-24 in the first quarter and took a quick 10-0 lead. At one point in the second quarter, the 49ers held a 220-30 advantage in yardage. They dominated up front on defense and did just about whatever they wanted on the offensive end.
Garoppolo completed his first nine passes. Kittle had five receptions and 74 yards by halftime. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel scored the only touchdown of the first half, taking a reverse, sprinting 30 yards and finishing his journey to the end zone with a spin move on Seahawks cornerback Tre Flowers.
The 49ers stifled the Seattle running game and left Wilson to dance around and try to avoid their formidable defensive front. Wilson threw for 55 yards in the first half. Seattle looked more ordinary than it had all season, and while you could point to significant injuries at running back, tight end, left tackle, center and wide receiver, it was still strange to see a Wilson-led team struggle for so long in such an important game.
In the first half, Lynch managed seven yards on five carries. On Seattle’s best drive in the first 30 minutes, the offense turned to Lynch on a fourth-and-one play with 45 seconds left before halftime. San Francisco defensive end Nick Bosa stuffed him for no gain. The Seahawks had squandered their only legitimate scoring chance of the half.
The Seattle offense operated much better after halftime. Wilson threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Lockett to trim the deficit to 13-7 in the third quarter. With 9:55 remaining in the fourth quarter, Lynch scored a one-yard touchdown to inch Seattle closer, at 19-14. But Seattle couldn’t stop Garoppolo and Coach Kyle Shanahan’s clever and diverse offensive attack.
The 49ers answered Seattle’s first two scores with backbreaking drives of their own, both concluding with Raheem Mostert touchdown runs.
Wilson found DK Metcalf for a 14-yard touchdown with 3:36 left, setting up the Seahawks’ final near miss after San Francisco went three-and-out.
With the NFC West crown on the line, the 49ers played a complete game and looked to be what their record has suggested all season: the most dangerous team in the entire NFC.
As wacky as the NFC has been, they’ll need every bit of their newly earned home-field advantage to make a Super Bowl run.