SEATTLE — This was a measuring-stick game early in the Seahawks’ new Mike Macdonald Era.
The 49ers took that stick, showed Seattle how far down it is from them. Then, they beat the Seahawks with it.
As usual.
Geno Smith has started five times against San Francisco in his three seasons as Seattle’s quarterback. That includes his first career playoff start, at the end of the only Pro Bowl season of his 12-year career.
And he still can’t beat the 49ers. No Seahawk can.
Seattle lost on Thursday night 36-24 to the 49ers, the NFC West kings they must beat to get where they seek to go.
It was the Seahawks’ sixth consecutive loss to San Francisco.
After it, Smith was as ticked off as he was picked off.
Smith (30 for 52, 312 yards) was asked about his two interceptions, one that killed a Seattle touchdown drive to the goal line and the other that gifted San Francisco a TD.
Then he was asked: What is it about the 49ers that you guys have so much trouble with in the last (six) games?
“We lost just one game today. How many games we lost today? One?” Smith said.
It only felt like more.
“Yeah,” Smith said, “so we lost one today.”
They’ve lost three in a row over the last 11 days.
The Monday-Sunday-Thursday gauntlet of games looked daunting when the schedule came out this spring. But rookie coach Mike Macdonald and his team didn’t realize it would be this bad.
Geno Smith’s interceptions
With all the defense screwed up — allowing 228 yards rushing to San Francisco’s third- and fourth-string running backs, allowing Purdy to escape what should have been multiple sacks as the 49ers rolled up 483 total yards — Smith’s two interceptions doomed any chance Seattle had of rallying to win.
They were his fifth and sixth interceptions in six games.
On his first pick Thursday, he got hit by Nick Bosa, who overpowered Seahawks third-string right tackle Stone Forsythe. Smith’s affected throw sailed far over Tyler Lockett for a Niners interception at their 1-yard line to end Seattle’s first possession of the game. Instead of the Seahawks taking an early leads, its defense then allowed the 49ers to drive 90 yards in 13 plays to a first-score field goal.
Smith’s second interception came in the fourth quarter with Seattle rallying from down 23-3 to within 23-17. Lumen Field was rocking, and the Seahawks owned the game’s momentum. Smith threw a crossing route as planned to DK Metcalf. Metcalf saw San Francisco cornerback Renardo Green read and jump that crossing route. So Metcalf improvised and ran deep, behind Green. Smith didn’t sense or read the improvisation. He didn’t throw longer. Green intercepted the shorter pass over the middle in front of Metcalf.
The 49ers turned that turnover into Purdy’s touchdown pass to George Kittle for a 29-17 lead with 6 1/2 minutes left.
Smith was terse when asked about the interception, too.
“It was an interception, man. We all saw it,” the QB said. “Bad play by me.”
An underthrown ball to Metcalf in the first half?
“Watch the film, man. Watch the film,” Smith said. “You’ll see it.”
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