SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Even because the Seattle Seahawks dominated them from the opening kickoff, the San Francisco 49ers ‘ desires of stealing the NFC’s high seed had been nonetheless alive with just a little greater than 10 minutes remaining in Saturday’s sport.
After struggling to search out any offensive rhythm within the first 49-plus minutes, the Niners reached Seattle’s 6-yard line with 10:27 to go along with an opportunity to attain their first landing and trim the Seahawks’ result in three.
Quarterback Brock Purdy took the shotgun snap and fired into the best flat for working again Christian McCaffrey. However Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe tipped the cross, forcing McCaffrey to show his shoulders again to the within as he tried in useless to haul it in.
The ball and San Francisco’s hopes of successful the NFC West bounced off McCaffrey’s fingers and into the arms of Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas for an interception that successfully ended the possibility of a comeback as Seattle escaped with a 13-3 victory.
When it was over, a dejected McCaffrey shouldered the blame for the missed alternative.
“It is a play that I’ve to make,” McCaffrey mentioned. “Completely should make. [I] anticipate nothing much less however to make that play. It is utterly on me.”
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It was one among a handful of missed probabilities for the Niners to assert the NFC’s high seed, a first-round bye and home-field benefit all through the postseason.
On an evening when the Niners mustered 173 yards of offense, their lowest complete in a regular-season sport since coach Kyle Shanahan took over in 2017, they nonetheless had an opportunity to drag off the victory due to just a little particular groups luck and a bend-but-don’t-break protection.
There was a fourth-and-2 cross that Purdy was unable to get to tight finish George Kittle that might have gone for a giant play if Purdy had a second longer to throw. Within the third quarter, Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold and working again Zach Charbonnet failed to attach on a handoff, with the ball rolling free and Niners defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos lacking a chief alternative to recuperate it deep in Seattle territory.
Gross-Matos mentioned the ball “simply bounced” as he tried to recuperate it with Charbonnet falling on it. Two performs later, Seattle transformed a third-and-17 on a run to the surface for a achieve of 19 yards.
The consequence was a maddening loss that left the 49ers at 12-5 and dealing with a much more troublesome path to any kind of postseason success. Relying on different outcomes, the Niners will seemingly should play three highway video games to achieve Tremendous Bowl LX, which is slated for Levi’s Stadium.
“We’re prepared for it,” Shanahan mentioned. “It might have been good to have each house video games and get a bye. However it’s what it’s. This workforce been by means of quite a bit this yr. Now, we have got to do it the exhausting approach and embrace the s— out of doing it the exhausting approach.”
Absent the bye week, the 49ers can have a bit much less time to relaxation and heal up earlier than their playoff journey begins. Purdy was shaken up late in Saturday’s sport with what Shanahan described as a stinger in his left shoulder. Shanahan mentioned Purdy would have been capable of reenter the sport had San Francisco acquired the ball again, with Purdy including that he was OK.
“I really feel good,” Purdy mentioned. “Simply acquired hit and the left shoulder kind of lit up.”
The Niners may also be monitoring accidents at linebacker; starters Tatum Bethune (groin) and Dee Winters (ankle) departed the sport and can want additional imaging earlier than their standing for subsequent week is decided.
San Francisco may also hope for left deal with Trent Williams (hamstring) and receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) to return after each missed Saturday’s sport. Shanahan mentioned they’d have been nearer to taking part in had the sport been on Sunday however mentioned it was “too dangerous” to play them on Saturday evening.
Now, the 49ers will spend Sunday scoreboard watching as they await phrase on their first playoff opponent and vacation spot.
If the Los Angeles Rams defeat the Arizona Cardinals, the 49ers would be the No. 6 seed and journey to Philadelphia or Chicago. They may face the Eagles except the Bears lose to Detroit and Philadelphia, which is planning to relaxation starters on Sunday, beats Washington.
If the Cardinals defeat or tie the Rams, the Niners would be the No. 5 seed and play the winner of the NFC South division, both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or the Carolina Panthers. An Atlanta win in opposition to New Orleans means the Niners will face Carolina, and if New Orleans wins or ties, their opponent can be Tampa Bay.
Niners tight finish George Kittle made clear what consequence he is hoping for after Saturday’s loss. Requested about his desire for an opponent, Kittle mentioned he hopes Cardinals security Budda Baker has three interception returns for touchdowns and tight finish Trey McBride chips in 200 receiving yards and three scores.
“Would I a lot quite be on a bye and get to play at Levi’s Stadium? Yeah,” Kittle mentioned. “However that is simply not our actuality … I hate dropping to the Seahawks however hey, we get to play soccer subsequent week … Go Cardinals.”
