Here’s how the Seattle Seahawks grade out in their 12-9 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday afternoon at CenturyLink Field:
OFFENSE
For more than three quarters of the game Seattle’s offense was stuck in the mud much like it was in the previous week’s debacle against the Green Bay Packers. The Seahawks were unable to move the ball on the ground, dropped several passes, and even quarterback Russell Wilson was affected for a while as his throws started going errant. However, Seattle redeemed itself in the fourth quarter with a vintage Russell Wilson drive as he used his legs and improvisational ability to lead the Seahawks to the game-winning touchdown. Seattle also received good work from rookie running back Chris Carson in the process of running out the clock.
Grade: C-
DEFENSE
For the second straight week the Seahawks leaned heavily on their defense to try to win the game, and this time the defense did enough. For the most part Seattle shut the 49ers down, holding San Francisco to 248 yards, and the 49ers offered no threat in the air as San Francisco quarterback Brian Hoyer was limited to 99 yards passing. However, Seattle allowed San Francisco running back Carlos Hyde two big runs, each of which set up a first-half field goal, and the 49ers finished with 159 yards on the ground on just 19 carries, which is a concerning 8.4 per carry.
Grade: B+
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Seahawks avoided any disasters on special teams — though when Blair Walsh boinked the extra point off the upright, San Francisco needed just a field goal to tie it up late. Punter Jon Ryan received a lot of work and was his usual dependable self, forcing an offensively-challenged San Francisco offense to find ways to sustain drives. Seattle didn’t get much going in the return game, and though the 49ers didn’t break any big returns they did manage a few decent ones.
Grade: C
COACHING
For the most part Seattle’s issues Sunday had less to do with coaching and more to do with execution. The Seahawks kept faith with the running game, even though it struggled through the first half, and were rewarded by Carson down the stretch. Seattle unleashed Wilson in the no-huddle offense in the fourth quarter after going behind 9-6, and was rewarded with the game-winning touchdown. And there wasn’t much the coaches could do on the sidelines when receivers were dropping passes in the red zone.
Grade: B-
OVERALL
This was a game that won’t win any beauty pageants. Questions still abound about Seattle’s offense, which has found the end zone just once in eight quarters so far this season. And there will be those who say that beating a San Francisco team that went 2-14 last season by just three points at home is nothing to celebrate. However, a win is a win, no matter how ugly it may have been, and this one gets Seattle on the board for the 2017 season.
Grade: C+
– Nick Patterson, Herald writer
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