The 49ers had seen that film before this season, but this time they rewrote the ending.
After blowing double-digit leads in the second half to the Rams and Cardinals, the 49ers held on to go up by double digits. San Francisco, which led 23-3 before the Seahawks scored 14 straight points, ended up winning 36-24.
Both teams are tied at 3-3 at the top of the NFC West, but the Seahawks have lost three straight games.
It looked like a must-win for the 49ers after they entered with an 0-2 record and an 0-3 conference record and with games against the Chiefs and Cowboys next on the schedule.
It came down to turnovers, as the 49ers scored 13 three-pointers. The 49ers were supposed to get a fourth, but the officials missed a muffed penalty by Seattle’s Dee Williams, and replays didn’t correct that. Replay from Amazon Prime clearly showed the ball hitting Williams’ finger, with Jalen Graham recovering for the 49ers at the Seattle 18.
Instead, the Seahawks had a chance to come back like the Rams and Cardinals did to the 49ers.
But 49ers rookie cornerback Renardo Green intercepted Geno Smith with 7:46 remaining, stepping in front of DK Metcalf. Green’s 20-yard return set the 49ers up at the Seattle 15.
Three plays later, 49ers tight end George Kittle caught his second touchdown of the night for a 29-17 lead with 6:20 remaining. The first covered 10 yards and the second 9.
Seattle nearly got back into it with 4:39 left in the game when Metcalf caught a 52-yard touchdown pass from Smith. However, Kenneth Walker was called for an illegal turnover, nullifying the result. The Seahawks finally scored on a possession but burned a lot of time. Tyler Lockett caught a 9-yard touchdown run with 1:44 remaining to cut the 49ers’ lead to 29-24.
But 49ers rookie running back Isaac Guerendo ran for 76 yards on the next play from scrimmage to essentially kill all Seahawks comeback hopes. Guerendo slid in at the Seattle 5 and linebacker Kyle Goscheck scored from the 6 with 1:17 left.
Smith also threw an interception on the Seahawks’ first drive of the game, as Malik Mustafa picked him off at the 49ers 2-yard line after Seattle reached the San Francisco 25.
Laviska Shenault Jr. lost. A fumble on a kickoff return in the first half but then went 97 yards for a touchdown on a kickoff return in the second half. It was the second dynamic return for a touchdown in the NFL this season.
The 49ers outrebounded the Seahawks 483 to 358, with Brock Purdy going 18 of 28 for 255 yards and three touchdowns. Deebo Samuel caught three for 102 yards, including a 76-yard touchdown. Kittle took five for 58.
Guerendo, who entered with 12 carries for 41 yards, ran for 99 yards on 10 carries after Mason injured his left shoulder late in the first half. The 49ers were already missing Christian McCaffrey, who did not play this season with bilateral Achilles tendonitis. Mason, who returned briefly in the second half, had nine carries for 73 yards.
Smith was 30-for-52 for 312 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Lockett had four catches for 65 yards and a touchdown, and Metcalf added three receptions for 48 yards.
The 49ers, who were already missing kicker Jake Moody, lost kicker Matthew Wright with 1:11 left in the game when he made a kickoff interference recovery. Wright made field goals of 25, 41 and 35 as the 49ers went 3-for-5 in the red zone.
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