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In their final game of the season, the San Francisco 49ers once again showed exactly why they deserved to be preseason favorites, but ultimately, why when the playoffs start next week, they will be back home watching. A team decimated by injuries has missed many of their most important players on each side of the ball for multiple games.
On Sunday, against the 11-4 Seattle Seahawks, the 49ers were without at least five starters on each side of the ball. Still, their defense played inspired and shutdown Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson for three quarters. Head coach Kyle Shanahan had a solid play-calling day, with open receivers throughout, but third-string quarterback C.J. Beathard failed to make the right reads on multiple occasions.
By the fourth quarter, Wilson would not be contained for much longer. Aided by a Beathard fumble, the Seahawks scored three touchdowns in the final quarter and ultimately finished on the better side of the 26-23 score. Football is not the sport for moral victories, but the 49ers played like they were as good as the NFC West champ even without some of their best players.