SEAHAWKS-49ers FINAL SCORE

🚨SPOILERS AHEAD🚨

If the first two months of Mike Macdonald’s Seahawks career was just his warmup, then holding the 49ers to 17 points and 277 yards is a sign that fans have been waiting for that the team is on the right track with their new head coach’s defense. There will be caveats as to how the Seahawks ended their losing streak to the 49ers with a 20-17 win on Sunday…

Ernest Jones talked about Seattle’s defensive improvement after the game:

“I look to my left, I see T. Knight, I look behind me I see Spoon, those safeties, I look in front and I see those dawgs. We can go out there and play with anybody.”

But just the fact that Seattle put its foot down (or more aptly, DK Metcalf’s back toe) and assured that San Francisco doesn’t get to take a 7-game winning streak into the offseason is worth celebration regardless of how much it impacted their playoff odds (not much). Bonus: The Seahawks are now ahead of the 49ers in the standings.

The win changes the perspective a little bit in terms of looking at the standings, but it doesn’t change anything about Week 12: If the Seahawks lose to the Cardinals next week, any advantage gained today will be lost and then some.

By the Numbers

The Seahawks ended a 13-game streak in which they allowed at least 21 points to the 49ers. Seattle hasn’t held the 49ers to 17 points or less since 2018 and in their first meeting this season, San Francisco had 36 points and 483 yards.

Perspective on Macdonald’s second chance against the 49ers:

• 277 total yards allowed is Seattle’s best game since holding the Dolphins to 205 yards in Week 3

• The Seahawks had allowed at least 365 yards in each of their last six games

• 277 yards is a season-worst for the 49ers and they were 2nd in total yards going into the week

• Brock Purdy: 21-of-28, 159 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

• Deebo Samuel: 4 catches, 22 yards

• Seattle was only penalized four times, compared to nine flags for the 49ers, which is tantamount to cheating

The game was pretty evenly matched today at quarterback, running back, and number one receiver (Jaxon Smith-Njigba for the Seahawks, Jauan Jennings for the 49ers), so the end result came down to who had the ball last and whether or not that team would finish the job.

Geno Smith didn’t do anything out of the ordinary for Geno Smith, and his best decision of the day was to tell Geno Smith, “Don’t pass, Geno Smith. Run, Geno Smith.” And that’s what Geno Smith did on a 13-yard score to take the lead with :12 seconds left.

Things that were more apparant on Sunday:

• The Seahawks can’t buy a yard in critical situations because of their offensive line. Running the ball straight ahead with a QB or RB on 3rd or 4th-and-short is not a bad idea, it’s just not a good idea for the Seahawks

• JSN (10 catches, 110 yards) is not just the future, he’s happening right now

• It’s an even year: Jason Myers was 2-of-2 with a kick from 57

• Michael Dickson is helping the Seahawks gain hidden yards

• Johnathan Hankins has more interceptions than Devon Witherspoon, but to be fair Witherspoon batted him the interception; if a spoon does a lateral is it called a ladleral?

• The Seahawks are still very bad at tackling

• Except Ernest Jones, who is good

Hot - Offense in the 2-minute drill

A team effort got the Seahawks from their own 20 (costly hidden yards against the 49ers for the touchback) to the end zone in 2:24, including Geno Smith, Ryan Grubb, Jaxon Smith-Njigba (4 catches, 38 yards on the game-winning drive), DK, and a good-enough job by the offensive line.

If it seems unfair to not single out one player, is it fair to leave out the fact that Nick Bosa — THE VERY SAME ACHILLES HEEL IN THIS SERIES — didn’t play on the final drive? Or that the 49ers played without George Kittle, the tight end with seven touchdowns in his last five games against Seattle?

What’s important?

If nothing else, that the 49ers playoff hopes were significantly harmed by this result.

Medium - Ground Game

Kenneth Walker had 54 yards and 3.9 yards per carry, Zach Charbonnet had four carries for three yards and was stuffed on fourth-and-inches. Which can’t really be blamed on Charbonnet because there is not much evidence that the offensive line can push forward or that Charbonnet is the type of back who should be used in those situations.

Walker and Geno did both rush for a touchdown and Walker, as usual, ran as good as could be expected.

Mild - Byron Murphy II (this is unfair)

The “unfair” part is highlighted because it is unfair. The reason Murphy (2 tackle assists) is mentioned as Mild this week is not that he had a bad game, it’s that the Seahawks are over halfway through the season and fans have not yet seen the traits or skills from Murphy that would make him an early draft pick.

This is not to say that there is anything to worry about, but just consider these rookie seasons:

• Byron Murphy, 16th overall, not much noticeable impact

• Jared Verse, 19th overall, 4.5 sacks, among league leaders in pressures

The comparison is not “Which player is better?” or “Which player would you rather have on the team?” The comparison is: Well, I don’t know what kind of a rookie season Murphy is having, but I know it’s not that.

Murphy is the player that Seahawks fans will have their eyes on as the season progresses, especially if Seattle’s defense continues to improve as it has been these last two games.

Seaside Joe 2086