By Terrance Turner
Jan. 14, 2023
The playoffs are here.
Super Wild Card Weekend began today with an NFC West showdown: the Seattle Seahawks faced the San Francisco 49ers.
Background
These two teams entered the game on different wavelengths. After longtime QB Russell Wilson got traded earlier this year, quarterback Geno Smith took the reins and led the Seahawks to an unlikely playoff berth.
Seventh-round pick Brock Purdy — the last player in the NFL draft — stunned everyone by overcoming his “Mr. Irrelevant” label. Surrounded by top tier talent — tight end George Kittle, running back Deebo Samuel and newly arrived back Christian McCaffrey — Purdy and the 49ers overcame a 3-4 start to win 10 straight games. Today, they overcame a 17-16 halftime deficit to score 25 unanswered points in the second half, blowing out the Seahawks.
1st Half
San Francisco scored first when kicker Robbie Gould made a field goal. Then Christian McCaffrey scored after catching a three-yard pass from Purdy.
The 49ers ended the first quarter with a 10-0 lead.
2nd Quarter
| 2ND QUARTER | SEA | SF | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | TD13:14Kenneth Walker III 7 Yd Run (Jason Myers Kick)14 plays, 78 yards, 6:57 | 7 | 10 |
 | FG7:41Robbie Gould 33 Yd Field Goal10 plays, 60 yards, 5:33 | 7 | 13 |
| TD5:01DK Metcalf 50 Yd pass from Geno Smith (Jason Myers Kick)5 plays, 71 yards, 2:40 | 14 | 13 |
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf caught a 50-yard pass from Geno Smith to score a touchdown and give the Seahawks the lead.
Things got close late in the second quarter, and a defensive penalty gave the Seahawks an edge. As Smith was sliding to a stop, 49ers corner Jimmie Ward dove at him, hitting him near the shoulder. Referees flagged Ward for a penalty, and it proved costly. With just one second left, the kicker made a 56-yard field goal.
Seattle led 17-16 at the half.
2nd Half
The 49ers moved their way through a 13-play drive dotted with highlights. George Kittle picked up 23 yards on the kitchen run. Deebo Samuel ran to the 16-yard line, and defender Jonathan Abram appeared to pick up his leg and then twist it — particularly dirty, given Samuel’s ankle injury earlier this season. Samuel was outraged by the call.
Refs had to break up a scuffle between the teams.
But none of that stopped the Niners from scoring. Christian McCaffrey raced his way near the end zone (and may have broken the plane). But refs ruled him short. It didn’t matter. Brock Purdy went in for the touchdown.
Costly Fumble
The Seahawks got near the red zone on their ensuing drive. Metcalf helped with two more substantial catches. But Geno Smith got swarmed and lost the ball; Charles Omenihu forced the fumble. Nick Bosa recovered the fumbled ball.
San Francisco cashed in. Their points came after a daring play by the QB: Purdy gave chase as defenders pursued him. In trouble, he scrambled away and threw to a wide-open Elijah Mitchell. Touchdown.
The Niners went for two. Purdy connected with Kittle, who made a contested catch in the end zone.
The Seahawks picked up penalties on three straight plays: first for holding, then for a false start, then for an ineligible man downfield on 3rd and 22, Cade Johnson’s catch was well short of a first down. Seattle had to punt.
Out of nowhere, Samuel caught a ball and sprinted down the sideline for a 74-yard touchdown.
The Seahawks’ next drive was over before it even began. Smith got picked off by Chase Lenoir. That essentially sealed the game for the Niners. Smith did locate Metcalf for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter, but that score came far too late.
Postgame
The 49ers won, 41-17. They finished with 505 yards of total offense — generated more offense than they’ve had in a game in three seasons, per FOX Sports. Their 41 points are the most they’ve scored in a playoff game since 2012, according to The Athletic.
Purdy threw for 332 yards — the second most ever for a rookie in the playoffs to Russell Wilson‘s 385 in a loss to Atlanta 10 years ago — and he became the first rookie QB ever to account for four TDs in a playoff game.
“We the best in the world,” one player told his teammates in the locker room. “All we gotta do is be us.”
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