The Seattle Seahawks-San Francisco 49ers rivalry is back, and it’s back with a vengeance. And once again the Seahawks found themselves on the winning side at the tail end of a classic.
Jason Myers made a 42-yard field goal as time expired in overtime, and the Seahawks knocked off the NFL’s last unbeaten team with a crazy 27-24 victory Monday night at Levi’s Stadium.
Monday’s game was billed as the NFL’s game of the season to date, with the 8-0 49ers looking to assert their position as the best team in the NFC, and the 7-2 Seahawks trying to stay in the NFC West race.
What ensued was a knock-down, drag-out affair that featured wild momentum swings and could have seen either team win — or the game finish as a tie. Both defenses created turnovers — four by Seattle, three by San Francisco — put pressure on the opposing quarterback and scored defensive touchdowns.
But in the end it was Seattle’s MVP candidate, Russell Wilson, who came up with the decisive plays.
It all appeared grim for Seattle when Wilson, in the red zone on the first possession of overtime, was intercepted by Dre Greenlaw, who returned it 47 yards into Seattle territory. However, the Seattle defense held the 49ers to a 47-yard field goal try, and kicker Chase McLaughlin, signed this week because Robbie Gould hurt his quadriceps in practice, shanked the attempt wide right.
After the teams traded punts, Seattle got the ball back at its own 36 with 1:25 remaining and no timeouts. But on third-and-3 Wilson found a scrambling lane and raced 18 yards to the San Francisco 43. An 8-yard completion to DK Metcalf and a 7-yard run by Chris Carson took the ball to the 24, and the Seahawks let the clock run down. Myers was iced once, then he put his kick just inside the right upright to win it for Seattle.
At the end of regulation, Wilson engineered an 11-play, 47-yard drive that set up Myers’ 46-yard field goal that gave Seattle a 24-21 lead. But the 49ers responded by moving 45 yards in less than two minutes, and McLaughlin hit a 47-yarder with 1 second remaining to force overtime.
San Francisco dominated early to take a 10-0 lead, but Jadeveon Clowney’s touchdown after Jarran Reed’s strip sack of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was a big turning point as it got Seattle back in it at 10-7.
Seattle then went on to control the third quarter, taking a 21-10 lead, but then it was San Francisco’s turn to get the game-changing defensive play, with DeForest Buckner scoring after Wilson was strip-sacked to get the 49ers within 21-18.
Extra points
Monday’s game saw Seahawks debuts for a pair of recent additions. Former All-Pro receiver Josh Gordon, picked up off waivers from New England last week, saw limited time and caught two passes for 27 yards. Safety Quandre Diggs, acquired via trade with Detroit two weeks ago, recovered from a hamstring injury to start and had an interception. … San Francisco played without Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle, the team’s leading receiver, who was inactive because of knee and ankle injuries. The 49ers then lost top wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders in the first half because of a rib injury. … Seahawks tight end Luke Willson (hamstring) and receiver Tyler Lockett (lower left leg) did not finish the game because of injuries.
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