In an instant classic that should reignite their rivalry, the Seattle Seahawks escaped with a 27-24 overtime victory over the 49ers on Monday night, handing San Francisco its first loss of the season.
As the clock expired, kicker Jason Myers nailed the game-winner from 42 yards out after his counterpart, Chase McLaughlin of the 49ers, missed a potential game-winner earlier in the extra period. It was the second straight overtime win for the Seahawks, who beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 40-34 in Week 9.
The Seahawks once again got off to a very slow start against San Francisco, quickly going down 10-0 in the first quarter. It almost went very differently, with Shaquill Griffin appearing to pick off Jimmy Garoppolo on the first drive of the game — but a holding penalty on nickel cornerback Jamar Taylor negated the pick and led to a field goal for San Francisco.
Taylor got beaten badly on the following drive, allowing Garoppolo to find Kendrick Bourne for a touchdown to give San Francisco an early 10-0 lead.
The momentum eventually swung back to the Seahawks, however, with Jarran Reed forcing a fumble in the second quarter that was recovered by Jadeveon Clowney, who picked it up and walked into the end zone for his second touchdown of the season.
Seattle nearly scored again right before halftime, but wide receiver DK Metcalf was stripped at the 2-yard line by Jaquiski Tartt, allowing the 49ers to take their 10-7 lead into the break.
The third quarter was mostly uneventful until Garoppolo, while getting hit by linebacker Mychal Kendricks, overthrew Dante Pettis. The ball landed right in the hands of Seattle’s new safety, Quandre Diggs, who returned the interception 44 yards to the 49ers’ 16-yard line.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson found Jacob Hollister in the end zone a few plays later, giving Hollister his third career touchdown — all which have come in the last two games. It was Seattle’s first lead of the game, with 4:37 left in the third quarter.
The Seahawks scored again to end the third on a one-yard touchdown run from Chris Carson. That score was also created by Jadeveon Clowney, who forced a fumble that was recovered by Poona Ford and gave Seattle outstanding field position.
However, San Francisco’s defensive line had tricks up their sleeves as well. Wilson was sacked, and the ball landed in Germain Ifedi’s arms. He promptly fumbled it away, which allowed DeForest Buckner to pick it up and score a touchdown. A two-point conversion brought the score to 21-18 with 12 minutes to play.
After a San Francisco field goal tied things up, Wilson and the Seahawks marched down the field and scored on a field goal from Myers, who redeemed himself after missing a potential game-winner at the end of regulation last week. But the Seahawks missed a pair of interception opportunities on the ensuing drive, allowing San Francisco to nail a field goal of their own and send the game into overtime.
Seattle got the ball first, but after a handful of magnificent plays — including a third-and-16 conversion to Malik Turner after a highly questionable call in which Wilson was ruled to have been sacked — Wilson threw a red zone interception to Dre Greenlaw that put the 49ers in great field position. It was Wilson’s second interception of the season.
Seattle’s defense stepped up, though, and McLaughlin couldn’t convert his second consecutive 47-yard field goal attempt.
After a pair of failed drives for both sides, the Seahawks turned to Myers once again, and the former Pro Bowler nailed the 42-yard attempt to give San Francisco its first loss of the season and lift Seattle to 8-2.
It wasn’t the prettiest game, with both quarterbacks posting passer ratings below 90, along with myriad penalties, turnovers and injuries, but the Seahawks got the job done when it counted and have given themselves an excellent opportunity to still win the NFC West.
They’ll head into a much-deserved bye week next before taking on the Eagles in Philadelphia on Sunday, Nov. 24.
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