Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

Seahawks knock 49ers out of contention with 17-7 win

Seahawks-49ers

Elaine Thompson / AP

Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) rushes against the defense of San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aaron Lynch, right, in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 17-7.

The NFC playoffs could be routed through the Pacific Northwest again.

Not a happy prospect for the rest of the conference.

The Seahawks first had to knock their most-heated rival out of contention. Marshawn Lynch rushed for 91 yards and a touchdown, Russell Wilson threw a touchdown pass to rookie Paul Richardson, and Seattle kept up its chase for a division title and No. 1 seed with a 17-7 win over San Francisco on Sunday.

After a sluggish, sloppy first half filled with penalties and missed assignments, Seattle (10-4) awoke in the final 30 minutes behind the running of Lynch and a defense that shut out the 49ers, holding them to 67 yards. Colin Kaepernick was sacked six times and the 49ers didn't run a play past the Seattle 38 in the second half.

Lynch scored on a 4-yard run late in the third quarter and the Seahawks took advantage of a short field on their next drive, capped by Wilson's strike to Richardson.

The loss and Detroit's win eliminated San Francisco (7-7) from making the postseason. It's the first time in Jim Harbaugh's four seasons the 49ers won't be playing in January, and will only heighten questions about Harbaugh's future with the club.

Seattle got the help its needed earlier Sunday when Buffalo beat Green Bay. If the Seahawks win their final two games — at Arizona and home vs. St. Louis — they could end up with the No. 1 seed in the NFC for the second straight season.

Wilson was 12 of 24 for 168 yards and rushed for another 27 yards. Kaepernick was 11 of 19 for 141 yards, but was constantly under pressure playing behind an offensive line missing two starters. Center Marcus Martin and right tackle Anthony Davis were both inactive with injuries.

In a season filled with key injuries, the 49ers lost two more players late in the first half and another in the third quarter. Star running back Frank Gore, who scored on a 10-yard run in the second quarter, left with a concussion. Middle linebacker Chris Borland, the NFC defensive rookie of the month in November, hurt his ankle on the final play of the first half. He attempted to return, but was mostly a spectator and replaced by Nick Moody.

Gore's backup, Carlos Hyde, was bent backward and appeared to injure his right leg late in the third quarter. He never returned.

The absence of Borland was significant. Seattle rushed for 90 yards in the third quarter alone after having just 47 in the first half. Lynch had runs of 13 and 15 yards on his touchdown drive that was capped by strolling the final yard into the end zone.

San Francisco went three-and-out on the next possession, including Hyde's injury on first down. Seattle took possession at the 49ers 44 and Wilson immediately went for 19 yards on a designed keeper.

The drive was kept alive by a third-down roughing-the-passer call against Moody.

Two plays later, Richardson caught the first TD of his career on a 10-yard strike from Wilson and a 10-point Seahawks lead.

The first half was nearly perfect for San Francisco. The 49ers had 178 total yards after having 164 for the entire game in the first meeting. After having just six plays of 10 yards or more in the previous loss to the Seahawks — none longer than 16 yards — San Francisco had nine plays of 10 or more yards in the half.

Less than two minutes into the second quarter, the 49ers already had 79 yards rushing after being held to 64 in the first game.

Seattle had a chance to get points in the closing seconds of the first half, but Wilson was intercepted by Eric Reid. The return was costly for both teams as Borland was injured at the end of the play, while Seattle lost left tackle Russell Okung to a chest injury after getting blocked.

Join the Discussion:

Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.

Full comments policy