49ers Epic Battle with Heartbreaking Loss
The undefeated streak is over – Seahawks win in OT thriller
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, left, avoids being sacked by Seattle Seahawks defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (90) during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Nov. 11, 2019. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
2019.11.11 – The San Francisco 49ers (8-1) put up an epic battle but the undefeated streak is over, Jason Myers kicked a 42-yard field goal, and the Seattle Seahawks (8-2) handed San Francisco a heartbreaking first loss of the season with a 27-24 victory on Monday Night Football.
After a wild overtime that featured a rare Wilson interception, a missed field goal by San Francisco’s Chase McLaughlin for the win, and a questionable decision from 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, the Seahawks knocked the Niners from the ranks of the unbeaten and made sure the NFC West would remain tight down the stretch.
“That was the craziest game I’ve ever been a part of,” Wilson said.
The Seahawks blew an opportunity to win the game on the opening possession of overtime when Wilson was intercepted at the 4 by Dre Greenlaw.
Greenlaw returned it 47 yards to the Seattle 49 and the Niners moved the ball 20 yards before McLaughlin missed badly to the left on a 47-yard attempt. McLaughlin had made his first three field goals after being signed earlier in the week when Robbie Gould went down with a quadriceps injury.
“Just rushed it a little bit, hit it a little high and unfortunately missed it,” McLaughlin said.
The teams then traded punts, the Seahawks took over at their 36 with 1:25 remaining after Jimmy Garoppolo threw three straight incompletions as San Francisco burned only 14 seconds off the clock with Seattle out of timeouts.
“Definitely wish we had taken more time off the clock, but was counting on us catching one of those balls,” 49ers Coach Kyle Shanahan said.
2019.11.11 – San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks (Video)
2019.11.11 – San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks (Video)
Shanahan easily could have played for a tie at the end of overtime and protected the 49ers’ safe lead in their division.
Instead, his decision to put the ball in Jimmy Garoppolo’s hands backfired, the Niners forced a three-and-out and took over at their own 20 with 1:50 remaining and Seattle out of timeouts. With San Francisco holding a two-game lead in the loss column over the Seahawks (8-2), Shanahan could have played it safe and made sure to take some time off the clock to ensure at least a tie.
But he called for a pass play on first down that went incomplete to Ross Dwelley. Dante Pettis then dropped a pass over the middle on second down before the Niners took a deep shot to Deebo Samuel on third down that was broken up by Shaquill Griffin.
“The first down, we expected to get a completion, but we got a tipped ball,” Shanahan said. “Second down, we have to be able to throw and catch there between Dante and Jimmy. And then it’s tough on third-and-10. Definitely didn’t want to run it on third-and-10. Wanted to go for the first down. Definitely wish we had taken more time off the clock but was counting on us catching one of those balls.”
This gave the Seahawks plenty of time and set the stage for Wilson to put the Seahawks in position for Myers’ 42-yard kick winning field goal that tightened the NFC West race significantly.
“It’s a little gut check taking this L tonight,” defensive tackle DeForest Buckner said. “But we’re going to bounce back.”
But the main problem this night wasn’t the defense or even the kicker. San Francisco was unable to do much of anything offensively against a defense that has struggled in recent weeks.
The running game was limited to 3.2 yards per carry and the passing game was mostly ineffective, with injured tight end George Kittle sidelined and receiver Emmanuel Sanders leaving in the first quarter with injured ribs.
Garoppolo went 24 of 46 for 248 yards, one touchdown and one interception; he was plagued by several drops from his receivers and bailed out by a few by Seattle defenders as well.
The 49ers QB was also sacked five times as Jadeveon Clowney and the Seahawks’ front dominated San Francisco even with starting tackles Joe Staley and Mike McGlinchey back from injuries.
Garoppolo lost two fumbles on sacks, including one that Clowney returned 10 yards for a score.
“We just had too many self-imposed mistakes, and that’s what hurt us,” Garoppolo said. “When you put yourself behind like that, it’s hard to catch up.”
2019.11.11 – Kyle Shanahan evaluated the 49ers offensive performance (Video)
2019.11.11 – Kyle Shanahan evaluated the 49ers offensive performance (Video)
After the defenses dominated much of the game with each team scoring a defensive touchdown and generating three takeaways apiece in regulation, the quarterbacks traded late drives for field goals that set the stage for overtime.
Wilson drove the Seahawks 47 yards before Chris Carson was stuffed on third-and-1, leading to a 46-yard field goal by Myers with 1:45 to play.
Garoppolo and the Niners took over from there and used short passes to move the ball down to the 29 where McLaughlin kicked a 47-yard field goal with 1 second left to tie it at 24.
MAKING A POINT
The Seahawks shut down San Francisco’s running game, allowing only 3.2 yards per carry and forced Garoppolo into an off night with his receivers contributing with several drops. Garoppolo finished 24 for 48 for 248 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
He was sacked five times and missed injured tight end George Kittle and Emmanuel Sanders, who left in the first quarter with a rib injury.
“We wanted to prove we were the best defense on the field today,” Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner said. “We understood what people were thinking because of the last two weeks. we felt like had something to prove.”
CLOWNEY’S DAY
Jadeveon Clowney had his biggest impact since joining Seattle this season. He returned a fumble 10 yards for the Seahawks’ first touchdown, set up another with a strip sack and had five quarterback hits on the day.
BONE HEAD PLAY
The 49ers got a defensive score of their own in the fourth quarter. K’Waun Williams sacked Wilson, knocking the ball loose to right tackle Germain Ifedi. Ifedi tried to run with the ball but Fred Warner knocked it loose again and DeForest Buckner ran it in 12 yards for the score.
“What was he thinking? He thought he was going to score,” coach Pete Carroll said.
BIG PLAY
The Seahawks were poised to take the lead into halftime when D.K. Metcalf took a short pass from Wilson and ran it inside the 5. But as he was fighting for more yardage, safety Jaquiski Tartt ripped it out of his hands at the 2-yard line for an impressive fumble recovery.
DEBUT PERFORMANCES
Diggs started in his first game for Seattle since being acquired last month in a trade from Detroit.
Receiver Josh Gordon also made his Seahawks debut after being claimed off waivers last week from New England. He caught a 13-yard pass to convert a third down on the late field-goal drive in the fourth quarter and another to convert a third down in overtime.
INJURIES
Seahawks: WR Tyler Lockett left with a bruised leg and might have to stay in the Bay Area overnight. TE Luke Willson left with a hamstring injury.
49ers: Sanders (ribs) left in the first quarter. DT D.J. Jones was sidelined later in the first half with a groin injury. LB Azeez Al-Shaair left with a concussion in the third quarter. RB Matt Breida left in the second half with an ankle injury. DL Ronald Blair left the game with a knee injury.
Related: Garoppolo Celebrates Early Birthday Weekend – 49ers 8-0
UP NEXT
Seahawks: Week off before visiting Philadelphia on Nov. 24.
49ers: Host Arizona on Sunday.
Read more at: San Francisco 49ers Media Services / More AP NFL: www.apnews.com/tag/NFL
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
For more on the San Francisco 49ers, see the blog at www.EMIsportsCentral.com
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