SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers appeared ready to secure a crucial divisional victory after their defense successfully made consecutive key stops in short yardage, retrieving possession while ahead late in the game. However, the team faced yet another fourth-quarter setback, raising concerns about their chances of reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
On Sunday, the 49ers were defeated 20-17 by the Seattle Seahawks, with Geno Smith scoring a 13-yard touchdown run with just 12 seconds left on the clock. This marked the third occasion this season where they squandered a late-game lead against a division rival.
“It’s just infuriating, honestly,” linebacker Fred Warner expressed. “It’s not like us. But that’s what we’ve shown this year. Until we stop doing that, then that’s what we are.”
This latest setback adds to the previous losses earlier in the season against the Los Angeles Rams and the Arizona Cardinals, in which the 49ers held a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter but allowed the opposing teams to score late in the game.
According to records, San Francisco has become the fifth team in NFL history to lose three division games in a season after leading in the final two minutes, a feat that hasn’t occurred since the Carolina Panthers did so in 2001.
“We gave them a chance,” said head coach Kyle Shanahan. “I thought our defense played great all game until that last drive. We let them hang around, and when you let people hang around, that’s what happens.”
Following this loss, San Francisco sits in a three-way tie for second place in the NFC West, one game behind the Arizona Cardinals, who lead the division. The 49ers have suffered three division losses along with another loss in the conference, tightening their margin for error as they move forward.
The team had opportunities to change the outcome and clinch the victory on both offense and defense but ultimately fell short. After stopping running back Zach Charbonnet on a critical fourth-and-one with less than four minutes to go, the offense had the chance to either run out the clock or extend their lead to two scores.
They initially gained first downs on their first two plays but faltered thereafter. Christian McCaffrey was tackled for a loss on first down, quarterback Brock Purdy missed a connection with Deebo Samuel on a second down pass, and Jauan Jennings was stopped well short of the first down marker on third down.
“We have to be better,” left tackle Trent Williams acknowledged. “We have to execute better. We must score more than 17 points if we want to win a divisional matchup.”
This lack of offensive production forced the team to punt, relying on a defense that was already compromised due to the absence of star pass rusher Nick Bosa, who left the game mid-second half with a hip and oblique injury.
Seizing the moment, Smith expertly navigated the Seahawks down the field, successfully completing seven out of eight passes for 54 yards while executing two lengthy scrambles, culminating in the game-winning touchdown.
“Brutal, brutal,” Bosa lamented, reflecting on watching from the sidelines during such a crucial moment. “The most important time in the game for me to be out there, and I couldn’t be. I hate missing time.”