49ers vs. Seahawks: Key plays and analysis from the first half

The banged-up San Francisco 49ers on Sunday were unable to replicate their magic from last season.

Instead, coach Kyle Shanahan’s team was dominated by the host Seattle Seahawks, 37-27, and the score wasn’t a good indicator of the lopsided game.

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo left in the second half after taking a third sack, continuing his struggles on a high ankle sprain he initially injured Week 2. The 49ers scored points on just one of eight possessions with Garoppolo at center while backup Nick Mullens entered the game and led three touchdown drives after the game was already in hand. The Seahawks were up 30-7 early in the fourth quarter.

Worse yet, star tight end George Kittle exited the game with a foot injury, which is bad news ahead of the upcoming Thursday night game against the Green Bay Packers.

Here’s our running breakdown of Sunday’s performance that dropped the defending NFC Champions to 4-4.

First quarter

The 49ers forced a three-and-out on Seattle’s first series that included a stop for a loss by cornerback Jason Verrett on a bubble screen and a sack from slot cornerback K’Waun Williams in his first action since a knee injury Oct. 4.

San Francisco drove into Seahawks’ territory but had the drive stalled when Kyle Shanahan tried to get too cute with a zone-read run by running Jerick McKinnon and receiver Brandon Aiyuk with quarterback Garoppolo lined up wide. Former 49ers defensive end Damontre Moore made the stop in the backfield, but the 49ers pinned Seattle at the 1-yard line thanks to a 39-yard punt from Mitch Wishnowsky downed by Ahkello Witherspoon.

San Francisco took over from midfield following a punt from deep inside Seahawks’ territory, but running back JaMycal Hasty fumbled. It was initially ruled Seahawks’ ball but defensive back Ryan Neal was out of bounds up review.

Seattle got the ball back on the next play, anyway, because Garoppolo was intercepted by former 49ers defensive back D.J. Reed on a pass to George Kittle, who was tackled at his own 14-yard line.

The Seahawks scored the game’s first points on the final play of the gram, when D.K. Metcalf took a crossing route 46 yards for a touchdown as lineback Dre Greenlaw took a bad angle to bring him down. The Seattle had good downfield blocking that allowed Metcalf to squirt through the right sideline for his sixth touchdown of the season. Kicker Jason Myers missed the extra point, making it 6-0.

Second quarter

The 49ers on the following possession decided to go for it on fourth-and-1 from the Seahawks’ 27-yard line and got it by way of Hasty’s four-yard run. Garoppolo then found Kendrick Bourne on a third-down conversion that set up a goal-to-go situation.

Hasty scored from inside the 1-yard line on third down, taking a big hit from linebacker Bobby Wagner, but managed to stretch out for the touchdown. The extra point gave the 49ers a 7-6 lead.

It was Hasty’s first rushing touchdown of his career, and San Francisco’s 13th rushing score of the season after coming into the weekend with the league lead. It capped an important, eight-minute, 75-yard drive following Garoppolo’s interception that the Seahawks turned into points.

Russell Wilson helped the Seahawks march right back down the field with a couple more passes to Metcalf, who caught his first five targets for 100 yards. Seattle had a touchdown from running back DeeJay Dallas nullified when it was determined he stepped out of bounds before crossing the goal line at the 1-yard line.

It allowed Metcalf to score his second touchdown, this one coming on a slant against cornerback Emmanuel Moseley, who was called for holding on the play. Myers made the extra point this time, giving Seattle a 13-7 lead.

The two teams then traded punts with the 49ers sitting on the ball from deep in their territory to close out the first half.

Garoppolo through two quarters: 10 of 15, 78 yards, no touchdowns, an interception and a 51.5 passer rating. Russell Wilson completed 13 of 18 passes for 155 yards, two scores and a 135.2 rating.

Third quarter

The 49ers opened the third quarter with a three and out that ended with a third-down sack led by Reed and Wagoner, who was credited with the sack, giving him two on the afternoon. Worse yet, the 49ers ruled out running back Tevin Coleman with a knee injury after a knee ailment kept him on injured reserve since Week 2.

The Seahawks responded with a touchdown drive to make it a two-score game when Dallas went uncovered in the right flat from 2 yards out. It appeared linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, filling in for starter Kwon Alexander, was fooled on the play into trying to get to Wilson rather than cover Dallas in the flat.

That made it a 20-7 game.

Making things worse, Dante Pettis, in his first action in a month, fumbled after getting thumped on the following kickoff, giving the ball right back to Seattle. Pettis was hurt on the play and walked off the field.

The Seahawks pushed the lead to 27-7 on Wilson’s fourth touchdown pass of the game. This one went to David Moore after Wilson slid around the pocket and avoided 49ers pressure before finding Moore at the goal line. The pass gave Wilson 26 touchdown passes on the season.

More bad news came on the last play of the third quarter when linebacker Fred Warner, who hasn’t missed a game in his three seasons, left the game after motioning to his left shoulder area, though he re-entered the game.

Fourth quarter

The fourth quarter opened with the broadcast showing Garoppolo walking back to the locker room, indicating his day was done.

Moseley broke up a deep pass to Metcalf in the end zone and the Seahawks kicked a 48-yard field goal to make it 30-7.

Backup quarterback Nick Mullens entered the game and put together a touchdown drive to make it 30-14. He completed 7-of-10 on the series, including a fourth-down conversion to Brandon Aiyuk and a long pass to George Kittle that led to him leaving the game with an ankle injury.

Mullens put together a second-straight touchdown drive with a long pass to Aiyuk and 16-yard score to Kittle’s replacement, tight end Ross Dwelley. The 49ers thought they had the 2-point conversion when McKinnon caught a short pass from Mullens and dove into the end zone. But McKinnon was ruled down short of the goal line after the play was reviewed.

San Francisco tried an onside kick and failed, giving the ball back to the home team over four minutes remaining.

Safety Jimmie Ward was flagged for a personal foul while hitting Wilson as he was sliding, though Wilson hesitated to go down and slid late. Seahawks players took exception and minor scuffle broke out, but no punches were thrown and there were no initial flags.

The Seahawks added another touchdown, coming on a Dallas run, pushing their lead to 37-20.

Mullens put together another scoring drive, ending with Aiyuk’s second touchdown catch of the year, making it 37-27.

Mullens on three straight scoring drives against Seattle’s prevent defense: 18 of 25 for 238 yards.

The 49ers will have a quick turnaround when they host the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night.

This story was originally published November 1, 2020 at 2:50 PM.