By Matt Barrows, Michael-Shawn Dugar and Amos Morale III
It was a busy night for the San Francisco 49ers training staff with multiple players, including starting running back Jordan Mason, exiting the game. However, the 49ers offense — particularly its rushing attack — made sure it was a busy night for the Seattle Seahawks defense in San Francisco’s 36-24 win.
Despite Mason, the team’s leading rusher, exiting in the first half and only returning for one play in the second, the 49ers racked up 228 rushing yards including a 76-yard sprint from backup Isaac Guerendo in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
ISAAC GUERENDO. 76-YARD RUN TO START THE DRIVE.#SFvsSEA on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/Pt3BWP6JEF— NFL (@NFL) October 11, 2024
Behind the efforts of the ground game, the 49ers made big plays in the passing game with quarterback Brock Purdy throwing for 255 yards and three touchdowns — two to tight end George Kittle.
San Francisco held a 23-3 lead in the third quarter but a special teams play — a 97-yard kick return touchdown from Seattle’s Laviska Shenault — sparked a run in the second half for the Seahawks to make it a one-score game in the fourth quarter.
LAVISKA SHENAULT RETURNS THE KICKOFF 97 YARDS.#SFvsSEA on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/XGdV5mVdOP— NFL (@NFL) October 11, 2024
49ers hang on
This game had all the earmarks of the 49ers’ earlier division losses: a slew of injuries, a massive special teams blunder and an opponent that quickly eliminated a double-digit deficit in the second half
This time, however, the defense halted the comeback. Rookie Renardo Green’s fourth-quarter interception while covering DK Metcalf was the play the 49ers didn’t get in losses to the Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals. It set up George Kittle’s second touchdown of the day and put the game out of reach for the Seahawks. — Matt Barrows, 49ers senior writer
Injuries piling up
The 49ers are growing thin at some key positions. Rookie safety Malik Mustapha, who had an interception on the Seahawks’ opening drive, left the game in the second quarter with an ankle injury and didn’t return. Mustapha already was filling in for Talanoa Hufanga who’s on injured reserve with a wrist injury. That left the 49ers with Ji’Ayir Brown and George Odum at safety and with undrafted rookie Jaylen Mahoney backing them up.
Meanwhile, the team lost Mason in the second quarter to a shoulder injury. That left the 49ers with Guerendo and Patrick Taylor Jr. at tailback and with Deebo Samuel Sr. rotating in at the position. Taylor, who hadn’t played an offensive snap until Thursday, got the bulk of the work in the second half, though Guerendo delivered the coup de grace with a 76-yard run at game’s end — complete with a slide at the 5-yard line. — Barrows
Seattle’s ground game sputters
So much for balance. The Seahawks tried to run the ball on Thursday night but didn’t have any success. Ken Walker III and Zach Charbonnet combined for just 52 yards on 19 carries. Walker scored on a 1-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
The lack of an effective ground game put more on quarterback Geno Smith’s plate, and for the first time this year, he didn’t handle it well. He threw an interception inside the 30-yard line on the opening drive, and then in the fourth quarter of a one-score game, Smith threw late and across the middle of the field hoping to hit Metcalf. Instead, the ball was picked off by Green, who returned the ball to the Seattle 15-yard line. The 49ers scored three plays later to take a 29-17 lead.
Seattle made it interesting late, but a two-score deficit was too much to overcome. — Michael-Shawn Dugar, Seahawks staff writer
Seahawks fail to stop 49ers
San Francisco’s running backs and receiver Deebo Samuel combined for 209 yards and a touchdown on 29 attempts, averaging 7.2 yards per carry. Guerendo had more rushing yards on his 76-yard run than Seattle had all night.
The Seahawks knew failing to stop the run would be their undoing, and yet with a chance to keep first place in the NFC West, they couldn’t get off the field. — Dugar
Required reading
(Photo: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)
