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49ers dominate early, turn aside Seahawks’ comeback with key INT of Geno Smith in 36-24 win

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49ers dominate early, turn aside Seahawks’ comeback with key INT of Geno Smith in 36-24 win

George Kittle and the 49ers put the Seahawks away late in a road victory on Thursday night. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

There shouldn’t have been much concern about the San Francisco 49ers after a 2-3 start to the season. They are still one of the best teams in football. It’s not entirely perfect for the 49ers yet, and injuries have a lot to do with that, but don’t believe that San Francisco has lost much.

The 49ers had a dominant first half against the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night, let the Seahawks back in the game for a bit in the second half but ultimately slammed the door shut and beat their NFC West rival yet again, this time by a score of 36-24.

George Kittle scored twice and Deebo Samuel Sr. scored a long touchdown to lead the win.

In an ideal world San Francisco wouldn’t have let Seattle back in the game, it would be undefeated and be the talk of the NFL. This start hasn’t been ideal but the 49ers are still pretty good.

One of the reasons the Seahawks made the somewhat surprising decision to end the Pete Carroll era was they were getting run over by the 49ers the past couple seasons. More went into the decision than that, but being completely uncompetitive against their NFC West rival hung over the franchise. They lost five games, including playoffs, to the 49ers the past two seasons and none of them were competitive.

New Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald had many of the same problems Thursday night.

The game started OK for the Seahawks. They drove deep into 49ers territory. But then Geno Smith missed badly on a throw that was picked off by safety Malik Mustapha. That was the first sign of distress.

The 49ers were backed up at their own 3-yard line after that interception, but they drove 90 yards. The 49ers settled for a field goal at the end of the drive — execution in the red zone was maybe the only thing San Francisco’s offense or defense didn’t do well Thursday — but the drive was all too familiar. The 49ers were pushing the Seahawks around, as usual.

The first half and the start of the second half went that way. Kittle’s first touchdown gave the 49ers a 23-3 lead. But this 49ers team, which has already blown two fourth-quarter leads this season for losses, had to make things interesting again.

The 49ers’ offense was moving the ball easily, except in the red zone. The defense was all over the field and hitting everything in blue very hard. It was San Francisco’s special teams that let the Seahawks back in the game.

After the 49ers took what looked like an insurmountable 23-3 lead, Laviska Shenault Jr. took a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. It was the second kickoff return for a touchdown in the NFL this season. Then Kenneth Walker III scored and the Seahawks trailed 23-17. Niners running back Jordan Mason suffered a shoulder injury in the first half and played just the first play of the second half, and that affected an offense that has been without Christian McCaffrey all season. San Francisco seemed to be in a bit of trouble.

Smith threw an interception that practically decided the outcome. It was woefully underthrown to DK Metcalf, Renardo Green picked it off and the 49ers were in position to put away the game.

Kittle scored again and the 49ers led 29-17. The Seahawks got a touchdown back and trailed 29-24 with less than two minutes left. They kicked off, having all three timeouts left. But Isaac Guerendo, filling in for Mason, who was filling in for McCaffrey, broke a 76-yard run. Kyle Juszczyk scored with 1:17 left to put the game away.

There was some worry about the 49ers, and having three losses early in the season isn’t great for their hopes of getting a No. 1 seed in the NFC. But Thursday night was more proof that they still own the Seahawks and the NFC West, even if there’s still some room for improvement.

Live42 updates

  • FINAL: 49ers 36, Seahawks 24

    The 49ers take over after Seattle turns it over on downs with an incomplete pass on 4th down.

    Brock Purdy takes a knee to finish off a 36-24 win for San Francisco.

  • Geno Smith sacked

    Seattle gets a first down on 4th-and-10 with a Geno Smith 12-yard pass to Noah Fant.

    But two plays later, Smith is sacked by Sam Okuayinonu for a six-yard loss. First sack of the entire game.

  • Touchdown, 49ers

    Kyle Juszczyk runs up the middle for a six-yard touchdown run that puts it away for San Francisco. After the extra point, the 49ers have a 36-24 lead with 1:17 remaining.

  • First down and much, much more

    The Seahawks do not get the stop they need. Isaac Guerendo breaks off a 76-yard run off right tackle for the 49ers and slides to go down at the Seattle 5-yard line to run out the clock.

  • Seahawks do not attempt an onside kick

    The Seahawks don’t try an onside kick, hoping their defense can get the ball back with 1:39 remaining and all three timeouts.

  • Touchdown, Seahawks

    Tyler Lockett doesn’t drop this pass. Geno Smith hits him for a nine-yard score on a comeback route in the middle of the end zone.

    After the extra point, it’s 29-24 with 1:44 remaining.

  • 2-minute warning in Seattle

    Tyler Lockett nearly caught a nine-yard pass in the back of the end zone for a touchdown, but could not hold on.

    It’s 2nd-and-goal from the nine-yard line for the Seahawks with 1:59 remaining.

  • Seahawks TD negated by penalty

    An illegal shift penalty on Kenneth Walker wipes out a 52-yard touchdown pass from Geno Smith to DK Metcalf.

  • Touchdown, 49ers

    After two Patrick Taylor Jr. rushes, Brock Purdy hits George Kittle over the middle for a nine-yard touchdown pass.

    That’s Kittle’s second touchdown of the night.

    San Francisco fails on a 2-point conversion attempt and has a 29–17 lead with 6:20 remaining.

  • Geno Smith interception

    Geno Smith is picked off by Renardo Green at the Seahawks’ 35-yard line.

    After a 20-yard return, San Francisco takes over on the Seattle 15.

  • NFL says it didn’t have proper camera angle on replay review

    Prime Video rules analyst Terry McAulay said that the league did not have the enhanced video angle for Dee Williams’ apparent turnover that the telecast showed.

    McAulay’s quote:

    “I spoke with Walt Anderson in the command center in New York. What they’re telling me, they didnt get our enhanced video that we showed the ball touching the finger. What they had was the raw feed from our cameras and it was not clear and obvious to them that it touched the finger.”

  • 49ers have 1 timeout with 9:38 remaining

    San Francisco calls timeout on 3rd-and-9 from the Seattle 40-yard line. That leaves the 49ers with only one timeout after they lost one on a replay challenge.

  • Seahawks can’t capitalize

    Despite getting an apparent break on a replay review, the Seahawks have to punt after a 5-play, 12-yard drive. Seattle couldn’t get another first down after Zach Charbonnet’s nine-yard run on 2nd-and-7 to the Seahawks’ 30-yard line.

  • Questionable replay review

    Seattle apparently committed a turnover when punt returner Dee Williams touched the ball before the 49ers downed it. Initially, the call on the field looked like it was San Francisco hitting the Seattle returner before he could catch the ball. But officials agreed the tackler was pushed into the receiver.

    The 49ers called for a review of the play, arguing that Seattle touched the ball. Replay seemed to confirm that, but the call was upheld.

  • 3rd quarter: 49ers 23, Seahawks 17

    What looked like a 49ers rout in the making is now a ballgame as we go to the fourth quarter.

    San Francisco has the ball on their 26-yard line on 4th-and-3 after Brock Purdy threw a 7-yard pass to Jauan Jennings. They’ll begin the fourth quarter with a punt.

  • Touchdown, Seahawks

    The Seahawks are right back in this. Kenneth Walker finishes off a 13-play, 94-yard drive with a one-yard TD run. With the extra point, the 49ers’ lead is cut to 23-17.

    The scoring drive was highlighted by Geno Smith hitting Tyler Lockett for a 37-yard gain.

  • Holding penalty kills 49ers’ next drive

    After getting a first down to open their next possession, the 49ers’ drive stalls out, due largely to a holding penalty on Jake Brendal.

    On 3rd-and-18, Brock Purdy completed a 15-yard pass to Deebo Samuel. But on 4th-and-3, San Francisco had to punt from the 50 on 4th-and 3

  • Touchdown, Seahawks

    Seattle comes right back with Laviska Shenault Jr. returning the kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown.

    Now it’s looking like a ballgame: 49ers 23, Seahawks 10

  • Touchdown, 49ers

    The 49ers finish off their first possession of the second half with a touchdown and 23-3 lead.

    Brock Purdy hit George Kittle for a 10-yard TD pass to finish off a nine-play, 70-yard drive.

  • UPDATE: Jordan Mason is out

    Check that on Jordan Mason. Apparently, he was attempting to see if he could play with that apparent collarbone injury.

    Patrick Taylor Jr. is getting the carries for the 49ers now.

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