49ers expect to see Seahawks again

SAN FRANCISCO — They whooped and bellowed, but later Jim Harbaugh’s band of large athletes slumped down and contemplated the bruises and bloody patches, too.

They were in a measure of pain. Some of them limped through the locker room with grimaces underneath their smiles.

But the 49ers players knew this: It was far better to have battled and defeated Seattle 19-17 than to have done all this and lost.

The 49ers (9-4) still won’t catch Seattle (11-2) in the division race, and still have work to do to clinch an NFC wild-card spot.

The 49ers, though, believe they will play the Seahawks again in the playoffs, in Seattle, and they know there will be pain then, too.

On Sunday, the 49ers survived the Seattle Test, and now they can steel themselves for the great and harrowing sprint into the playoffs knowing that the Seahawks are beatable.

“It’s fun to win, you know?” left tackle Joe Staley said quietly. “I’m sure on the other side of the locker rooms, they’re not saying it’s fun.

“It’s fun when you have a physical battle.”

No question, this was four quarters of ferocious, angry football, played at the highest level that the NFL can provide.

The 49ers admitted they were fiercely determined to end a two-game losing streak to Seattle, and Seattle was hungry to blow the 49ers off the NFL map.

The end result: Seattle went ahead with 6:20 left in the game, Frank Gore crashed through the line for a 51-yard run to set up the 49ers’ game-winning field goal, and the Candlestick crowd howled the whole time.

Tension. Walloping hits. Big plays. Bitterly cold weather.

Wasn’t that fun, Donte Whitner?

“It’s a painful thing,” the 49ers safety said, pointing to a splotch of blood on his upper arm.

“Look at this shoulder and these bruises. It’s two physical football teams that really, really want to win a championship, that are fighting for this division, fighting for respect.”

That’s what this Seattle series has turned into for the 49ers; that’s how far the 49ers know they have to go to get through these games.

These games test Colin Kaepernick, and he was so-so on Sunday, completing 15 of 29 passes for 175 yards, a touchdown and a very bad Red Zone interception.

These games test the 49ers’ running game, and Gore’s 110 yards pushed them over the hump.

And these games test the 49ers proud defense, which gave up some big plays in the first half, then gobbled up the Seahawks offense in the second.

The quality and intensity of these games, more than anything, demand that these two teams play for the ultimate stakes in January.

How else could this conclude?

“Yeah, we believe it’ll come down to us and them probably at their place,” Whitner said.

“That’s the type of game you want — you have to go there, where we haven’t won, it’s going to be a loud environment, it’s going to be for the big one.

“We understand that if we go up there and play good football, don’t turn the ball over, we can beat them in their house.”

The 49ers didn’t play perfect football on Sunday, but they forced Seattle into even less-perfect football.

The 49ers didn’t trick or toy with Seattle, they delivered gut-shots, took shots, staggered into clenches to avoid a knockout and made the last rally that mattered.

The natural reaction was relief, joy … and then the realization of just how brutal it all was to endure.

“Enjoy it? Not the word I would use,” Harbaugh said of these bitter games against Seattle. “Feels like you go to the dentist’s chair and three-and-a-half hours of getting root canal work down there.

“They’re tough. These games are only for the tough.”

Harbaugh said there was little need for pre-game motivation before this one then referred to a quote from Justin Smith that Harbaugh related to the team.

What was the quote?

“I don’t know if I want to say it,” Harbaugh said.

Justin, what was it?

“No, I didn’t say nothing,” Smith said in a manner that invited no further follow-up.

Donte?

“I don’t think I’m allowed to say it,” Whitner said. “It’s a lot of vulgar words in there. But just know that it got a lot of guys going.”

So it’ll remain a 49ers state secret because Smith, the toughest 49er, wanted it that way.

Publicly, Smith said the theme was simple.

“We had to win,” Smith said. “We had to win to make sure we get a wild-card spot and we won …

“Just got to make sure we win up there one of these times. Probably see them again pretty soon.”

The 49ers know this, hope this and maybe wince about this, too, and it’s probably exactly the same for the Seahawks.

There is no way around each other. They will meet, there will be pain, and the 49ers on this day could smile through it, understanding more of everything is coming.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle Abraham Lucas fist bumps a camper at the third annual League Advantage Youth Football Camp at Lucas' alma mater, Archbishop Murphy High School, on Saturday, June 28, 2025. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Seahawks’ Abraham Lucas hosts football camp at alma mater

The Archbishop Murphy alum hosts around 125 local kids for a free day of football activities.

Top recruit Kaleo Anderson commits to Virginia Tech

The King’s guard was The Herald’s 2025 Girls Basketball Player of the Year.

Everett AquaSox pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje throw against the Tri-City Dust Devils at Funko Field on May 10, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Shari Sommerfeld / Everett AquaSox)
Jurrangelo Cijntje, Lazaro Montes named to Futures Game

One current Everett AquaSox player and two former ones have… Continue reading

Everett AquaSox infielder Colt Emerson gets a high-five from teammate Lazaro Montes after scoring during the game against the Tri-City Dust Devils on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Vote for the Frog of the Week

Who is the Frog of the Week? Vote for the Everett AquaSox… Continue reading

AquaSox pitcher Evan Truitt throws a pitch during Everett's 19-8 loss to the Eugene Emeralds at Funko Field on Sunday. The 22-year-old right-hander allowed a grand slam in the fourth inning, the third one given up by the AquaSox this week. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Up Hit’s Creek: AquaSox blown out by Eugene in homestand finale

Two position players combine to pitch final 4 innings due to gassed bullpen in 19-8 loss.

AquaSox pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje delivers a pitch during Everett's 9-3 loss to the Eugene Emeralds at Funko Field on Saturday. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
AquaSox scoring woes continue in loss to Eugene

Trouble plating runners and a fourth-inning blow-up on the mound doom Everett in 9-3 loss.

Kevin Harvick (right) speaks at the Mark Galloway 150 Shootout media lunch alongside his son, Keelan, at Evergreen Speedway on Friday. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
NASCAR legend set to return to Evergreen Speedway

Kevin Harvick and his son, Keelan, will face off in the Mark Galloway 150 Shootout on Saturday.

Everett Silvertips’ Carter Bear on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Carter Bear becomes Silvertips’ first NHL first-round pick in 10 years

The Detroit Red Wings select the forward 13th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft on Friday.

Everett AquaSox pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje throws against the Spokane Indians at Funko Field on May 31, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Evan Morud / Everett AquaSox)
AquaSox switch-pitcher’s long path leads to Everett

High-A baseball represents just another step in Jurrangelo Cijntje’s journey.

Lake Stevens’ Teegan Lawson maneuvers over the pole in the 4A boys high jump final on Saturday, May 31, 2025 in Tacoma, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Wesco all-league boys track teams announced

Wesco has announced its all-league teams for boys track. WESCO 4A First… Continue reading

AquaSox pitcher Ashton Izzi throws a pitch during Everett's 8-2 loss to Eugene at Funko Field on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (Evan Morud / Everett AquaSox)
Fifth-inning grand slam sinks Frogs

AquaSox drop fourth straight game after 8-2 loss to Eugene.

Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners hits a single during the first inning against the Washington Nationals at T-Mobile Park on Thursday, May 29, 2025, in Seattle. (Stephen Brashear / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
M’s Cal Raleigh will participate in Home Run Derby

ARLINGTON, Texas – Major League Baseball announced today that Mariners catcher Cal… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.