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49ers’ mistake-filled game lose to Seahawks
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo looks to pass against the Seattle Seahawks during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
2021.12.05 – The San Francisco 49ers played a mistake-filled game and walked out of Seattle with a 30-23 loss to the Seahawks.
Jimmy Garoppolo believed the play was there… There likely was going to be an open target with all the attention focused on George Kittle. But the pass never got to its intended target, the last of the mistake-filled plays, deflected at the line of scrimmage by Carlos Dunlap when Garoppolo’s throw hit the turf.
San Francisco’s three-game win streak and a chance for the 49ers to separate themselves in the messy NFC playoff picture is simply gone.
The 49ers took possession 98 yards from the end zone with 4:03 remaining after Gerald Everett fumbled. Garoppolo and Kittle led the 49ers deep into Seattle territory, toward the same end where Fred Warner made a game-saving tackle to win the NFC West title for San Francisco in the 2019 regular-season finale.
But there was no celebration this time. Garoppolo’s third-down pass intended for Trent Sherfield was broken up and the fourth-down throw never made it to the end zone.
“We’re all disappointed, very frustrated,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. “We felt we had a lot of self-inflicted stuff.”
It was a mixture of mistakes, turnovers and an inability to get the run game going that led the 49ers losing for the first time since falling to Arizona in Week 9.
2021.12.05 – (SF 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks) NFL Video Highlights
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, center looks to pass against San Francisco 49ers Nick Bosa, left during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
2021.12.05 – (SF 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks) NFL Video Highlights
Russell Wilson played his best game since returning from finger surgery, throwing for 231 yards and two touchdowns, and Seattle (4-8) snapped a three-game losing streak.
For all the late-game mistakes and missed opportunities throughout their disappointing season, the Seattle Seahawks continue to believe there is something worth playing for.
They showed the San Francisco 49ers exactly that Sunday.
“No matter how people bash us and say we’re done and all this we always believe,” Seattle safety Quandre Diggs said.
With the playoffs still a mathematical possibility, the Seahawks are refusing to fall into the mode of playing out the final weeks. This week, it came at the expense of the Niners’ playoff chase.
“I have some amazing teammates, guys who were super supportive this week, just giving me some good energy, too, and vice versa,” Wilson said. “And let’s just go for it. Let’s just have fun while we do it. And we were able to do that tonight.”
2021.12.05 – SF 49ers @ Seahawks (LOMBARDI : 49ers’ failures – Video)
49ers wide receiver Trent Sherfield, right, reaches for an incomplete pass while guarded by Seattle’s Jordyn Brooks (56) and Sidney Jones. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
2021.12.05 – SF 49ers @ Seahawks (LOMBARDI : 49ers’ failures – Video)
2021.12.05 – SF 49ers @ Seahawks (LOMBARDI : 49ers’ failures – Video)
Garoppolo was responsible for a few of those mistakes. He was 20 of 30 for 299 yards and two touchdowns, but also his seventh and eighth interceptions of the season.
San Francisco was able to hold off his first pick, but the second one by Quandre Diggs in the third quarter led to the winning points for Seattle on Russell Wilson’s 12-yard TD pass to Tyler Lockett.
The 49ers also fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half, and, while Seattle didn’t score after its own turnover, it did lead to Garoppolo getting sacked by Dunlap for a safety.
The loss dropped the 49ers (6-6) into a tie with Washington based on record. Right now, that would be good enough for San Francisco to make the playoffs, but there are five teams at either 6-7 or 5-7 behind the 49ers.
Even Seattle at 4-8 isn’t mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, and it swept the season series from the 49ers.
“It’s one of those losses that you can’t let this stick with you for too long,” Garoppolo said. “Watch the film, be hard on ourselves like we always are. I mean, we’re very critical of all little things. But Cincinnati is going to come up real quick.”
The fact San Francisco had a chance on the final drive spoke to the craziness of the game. Seattle scored on a 73-yard run off a fake punt, but also turned the ball over twice near the goal line, both by Everett. His bobble led to an end-zone interception for K’Waun Williams in the third quarter and his fumble as Seattle went in for a clinching score late was forced by Azeez Al-Shaair and recovered by Dontae Johnson.
There was also the safety, a missed field goal and a missed extra point.
“It was one of the wildest games I’ve ever been a part of. Just the first half was absolutely crazy,” Kittle said.
2021.12.05 – 49ers @ Seahawks (NBC: Jimmy’s two interceptions – Video)
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, right, runs ahead of Seattle Seahawks middle linebacker Bobby Wagner (54) and defensive back Ryan Neal (26) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
2021.12.05 – 49ers @ Seahawks (NBC: Jimmy’s two interceptions – Video)
2021.12.05 – 49ers @ Seahawks (NBC: Jimmy’s two interceptions – Video)
PETERSON into a tie with JIM BROWN
Seattle’s newly signed running back Adrian Peterson moved into a tie with Jim Brown for 10th all-time with 126 career touchdowns, scoring on a 1-yard run in the second quarter for Seattle.
Wilson threw a 7-yard touchdown to Dee Eskridge in the second quarter and his 12-yard touchdown to Tyler Lockett late in the third quarter provided the winning points.
Travis Homer also ran 73 yards for a touchdown on a fake punt on the opening possession of the game for Seattle.
“It’s a pretty cool call to go for that,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said.
SHORT-HANDED SAN FRANCISCO
San Francisco was significantly short-handed playing without starting linebackers Warner and Marcell Harris, and do-everything offensive weapon Deebo Samuel.
Kittle picked up for the absence of Samuel with nine catches for 181 yards and touchdowns of 24 and 48 yards. It was the best game for Kittle since having 15 catches for 183 yards early last season against Philadelphia.
But the 49ers’ run game that had averaged 178.3 yards over the past three wins never got started. Elijah Mitchell had 22 carries for 66 yards, and San Francisco finished with 71 yards rushing total.
“Our offense we didn’t really do anything in the second half. And it’s hard to win in Seattle if you don’t do anything the second half,” Kittle said.
On that final drive it took San Francisco five plays to reach the Seattle 30, including completions to Kittle of 29 and 14 yards. Brandon Aiyuk’s 11-yard catch got the 49ers to the Seattle 7, two runs by Mitchell yielded only 4 yards and Garoppolo couldn’t connect on his last two throws.
Garoppolo threw for 299 yards and two TDs, but also had a pair of interceptions, the second grabbed by Diggs and setting up Seattle’s go-ahead touchdown.
“It’s always just such a dogfight between us when we play each other,” Garoppolo said. “We know we’re getting into but we’ve just got to be more ready.”
SCARY START
San Francisco reserve running back Trenton Cannon was taken off the field on a backboard after a scary collision on the opening kickoff against Seattle. Cannon was attempting to make a tackle on DeeJay Dallas when his head hit the leg of a teammate. The 49ers said Cannon had a concussion, was in stable condition at a Seattle area hospital, and would remain overnight for observation.
KITTLE’S DAY
Kittle was just the second tight end in the past five seasons with at least 100 yards receiving and two touchdowns in the first half. Darren Waller also did it last season against the Jets. Kittle had five catches for 121 yards and two TDs in the first half.
INJURIES
The 49ers didn’t have starting wide receiver Deebo Samuel due to a groin injury, starting linebacker Fred Warner (hamstring) and LB Marcell Harris (concussion). CB Emmanuel Moseley suffered an ankle injury in the first quarter and did not return.
Seattle was without starting RB Alex Collins, who had been dealing with an abdominal/core injury for several weeks, and left guard Damien Lewis. Seattle lost safety Jamal Adams to a sprained shoulder injury late in the first half. Adams returned to the sideline in the third quarter in sweats and Carroll said he did not know the extent of the injury. RT Brandon Shell also left in the second half due to a lingering shoulder injury.
UP NEXT
49ers: San Francisco is at Cincinnati next Sunday.
Seahawks: Seattle is at Houston next Sunday.
Related – See below: Mostert’s Epic Dash to Super Bowl!
Related: 49ers past Vikings in wild-card race
Read more at: San Francisco 49ers Media Services / More AP NFL
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
For more on the San Francisco 49ers, see the blog at www.EMIsportsCentral.com
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Mostert’s Epic Dash to Super Bowl!