SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Geno Smith made a decisive 13-yard touchdown run with only 12 seconds left, leading the Seattle Seahawks to a 20-17 win over the San Francisco 49ers, thereby ending their six-game losing skid against this division rival on Sunday.
Smith was efficient, completing 87.5% of his passes for 65 yards, guiding the Seahawks (5-5) to a critical scoring drive after they began at their own 20-yard line with 2:38 left on the clock. He capitalized on a struggling 49ers (5-5) defense that was missing key player Nick Bosa due to injury.
This victory propelled Seattle into a three-way tie for second place in the NFC West alongside San Francisco and the Rams, all trailing just one game behind Arizona. The 49ers have faced challenges in their division games, suffering losses in three contests after leading in the fourth quarter, including earlier defeats against the Rams and Cardinals.
The turning point came when the 49ers took a 17-13 advantage, thanks to a 30-yard touchdown throw from Brock Purdy to Jauan Jennings with 9:33 left on the clock. In a pivotal moment, San Francisco managed to stop Seattle on consecutive plays from their 37-yard line, when the Seahawks needed just one yard for a first down, but the 49ers failed to secure the win as they could not drain the clock effectively, giving Smith and Seattle a chance.
Smith concluded the game with impressive stats, going 25 for 32 and accruing 221 passing yards, alongside a touchdown run and one interception. Jaxon Smith-Njigba stood out with 10 receptions for 110 yards, and Kenneth Walker III contributed with a 1-yard touchdown. Meanwhile, Purdy had a solid performance as well, completing 21 of 28 passes for 159 yards, including one touchdown pass, one rushing touchdown, and an interception. Jennings posted 10 receptions for 91 yards, while Christian McCaffrey totaled 106 yards from scrimmage for the 49ers.
The first half was challenging for both teams’ offenses; the 49ers managed a single score from Purdy’s 10-yard run, while the Seahawks had to rely on Jason Myers, who kicked two long field goals after Smith was sacked during critical drives.
Injury updates for the Seahawks included wide receiver Laviska Shenault (oblique) who exited the game during the first quarter, and cornerback Dee Williams (ankle) who also left with an injury. For the 49ers, Bosa suffered a setback with a hip pointer injury during the third quarter, tight end George Kittle did not play due to a hamstring issue, and linebacker Tatum Bethune (knee) and wide receiver Jacob Cowing (concussion) both left the game in the first half.
Looking ahead, the Seahawks will host the Arizona Cardinals next Sunday, while the 49ers are set to visit the Green Bay Packers on the same day.