The San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks kicked off Week 6 with first place in the NFC West on the line. Here’s a recap of all the stats and notes you need to know about the game.
San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks Box Score
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | F | |
| 49ers | 3 | 13 | 7 | 13 | 36 |
| Seahawks | 0 | 3 | 14 | 7 | 24 |
49ers-Seahawks Stat Leaders
Leading Passers
Brock Purdy: 18-of-28 for 255 yards, and 3 touchdowns
Geno Smith: 30-of-52 for 312 yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions
Leading Rushers
Isaac Guerendo: 10 carries for 99 yards
Jordan Mason: 9 carries for 73 yards
Kenneth Walker III: 14 carries for 32 yards, 1 touchdown
Zach Charbonnet: 5 carries for 20 yards
Leading Receivers
Deebo Samuel Sr.: 3 receptions for 102 yards and 1 touchdown
George Kittle: 5 receptions for 58 yards and 2 touchdowns
Tyler Lockett: 4 receptions for 65 yards and 1 touchdown
Noah Fant: 6 receptions for 63 yards
Jaxon Smith-Njigba: 5 receptions for 53 yards
DK Metcalf: 3 receptions for 48 yards
49ers-Seahawks Game Recap
The 49ers struck first, driving 90 yards on their opening drive but needing to settle for a Matthew Wright field goal due to starting on their own three-yard line. The 90-yard drive was their fourth of 90+ yards this season, both the most in the NFL and one shy of San Francisco’s total from the entire 2023 season.
The Seahawks drove 39 yards on their opening drive before Smith threw his fifth interception of the season. Seattle offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb clearly placed an emphasis on getting more touches for his running backs, with the Seahawks having more running back carries on their first three drives (eight) than their entire Week 5 loss versus the New York Giants (seven).
Way to go for it rook ‼️
📺 #SFvsSEA on @NFLonPrime
NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4oaLh pic.twitter.com/m9EG5XZRyw— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 11, 2024
The 49ers broke through on their third drive, with Samuel picking up 53 yards after the catch on a 76-yard TD. It was Samuel’s first touchdown since the season-opener and tied for the second-longest touchdown of his career.
Deebo Samuel reached a top speed of 20.90 mph on his 76-yard TD reception, his fastest speed since Week 14, 2019 and his 3rd time reaching 20+ mph this season (tied for 3rd-most in the NFL).
🔹 Yards After Catch: 54
🔹 YAC Over Expected: +43Watch Now: https://t.co/cV6Nl8mVSR pic.twitter.com/MKvlLf3fim
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) October 11, 2024
San Francisco received an injury scare in the second quarter with Mason suffering a shoulder injury. Mason went to the locker room and sat out the rest of the first half, and although he returned after halftime, he left after the first play of the second half. Entering Week 6, he accounted for 74.4% of the 49ers’ rush yards, the highest of any player in the league.
Jordan Mason –
Lands hard on his left side.
Primary concern: AC sprain, Clavicle fracture. Not moving his left arm much as they’re assessing.Secondary concern: shoulder subluxation, rib injury from landing.
But I lean towards AC/clavicle here. pic.twitter.com/DFkb1vc6K8— Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) October 11, 2024
San Francisco dominated the first half on the stat sheet, outgaining Seattle 244-133. The Seahawks had a golden opportunity to cut the deficit to nine at the end of the first half but had to settle for a field goal after three straight incompletions from the two-yard line. That included an incompletion to Metcalf on third down where his toe was barely out of bounds.
That toe just couldn’t keep it in bounds! 😱 pic.twitter.com/I2dGaGFDWb
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 11, 2024
The 49ers opened the second half with their most complete offensive drive of the game, going 70 yards on nine plays and ending with a 10-yard Kittle touchdown. It was Kittle’s fourth consecutive game with a touchdown, tying the longest streak of his career.
Kittle's footwork 😮💨#SFvsSEA on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/t7BgSL1A5z— NFL (@NFL) October 11, 2024
However, Seattle answered right back with a Laviska Shenault Jr. 97-yard kick return TD. It was the second kick return TD league-wide this season (along with DeeJay Dallas of the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1) and the Seahawks’ first kick return touchdown since 2021.
LAVISKA. 97 YARDS. pic.twitter.com/2iQKsCYWcu
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) October 11, 2024
The kick return turned around a game that looked like it was turning into a 49ers landslide. Following a San Francisco punt, Seattle drove 94 yards on 13 plays and cut the lead to 23-17 with a Walker rushing touchdown, his fifth in four games this season. The 94-yard drive was the Seahawks’ third 90-yard drive of the season, second-most behind only the 49ers.
The most controversial moment of the game occurred at the start of the fourth quarter. Seahawks punt returner Dee Williams appeared to muff a punt, but the replay review upheld the call of no touch from Seattle, taking a turnover away from San Francisco.
"We've seen two different angles where it's pretty clear it hits the finger of the receiving team player and then there's a clear recovery…I believe this should have been reversed to San Francisco's football."
Terry McAuley disagreed with this call being upheld. pic.twitter.com/j56E25TAZN
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 11, 2024
The Seahawks had two opportunities to take the lead subsequently, but Smith’s second interception set the 49ers up at the Seattle 15-yard line. Kittle’s second touchdown created some much-needed separation for a Niners team teetering on the verge of another second-half collapse.
KITTLE'S SECOND TD.#SFvsSEA on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/cazUyfOFf4— NFL (@NFL) October 11, 2024
Seattle’s last-ditch drive was prolonged by an illegal shift penalty nullifying a 52-yard Metcalf touchdown. Lockett eventually cut the lead to five with 1:44 remaining but the Seahawks were left with very little margin for error. That came back to bite after a 76-yard dash by Guerendo, effectively icing the game. Kyle Juszczyk capped things off with a six-yard touchdown, giving San Francisco a season-high 228 rush yards.
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
The Niners have now won five straight over the Seahawks, their longest win streak ever against Seattle (eclipsing a four-game win streak from 2010-12). On the flip side, the Seahawks have lost five straight Thursday games, tied with the New Orleans Saints for the second-longest active streak behind the Giants (nine straight).
And for all their inconsistencies, the defending NFC champs are on top of the NFC West for now. The Cardinals would technically take over first if they can win at Lambeau Field on Sunday, but the 49ers are clearly the prohibitive favorites in the division at this stage.
49ers vs. Seahawks Game Recap: San Francisco Avoids Another 4th-Quarter Collapse
The 49ers are a team whose underlying metrics suggest they deserve better than the boasted 3-3 record. After Thursday night’s win, San Francisco has led for 65% of its minutes played this season. Only the 5-0 Minnesota Vikings and 3-2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers can claim a larger share of time leading this season.
Of course, the 49ers lost after blowing a 10-point fourth-quarter lead in Week 2 versus the Los Angeles Rams and a 13-point halftime lead last Sunday against the Cardinals. San Francisco flirted with disaster again on Thursday but was fortunate that Smith’s second interception provided enough buffer to get the 49ers to the finish line.
Indeed, the 49ers offense ended up having its best finish of the season by expected points added (EPA):
- Weeks 1-5 in the Second Halves of Games: -0.01 EPA per Play on Offense (14th)
- Week 6 vs. Seattle in Second Half: 0.36 EPA per Play on Offense (season-high)
Purdy specifically produced 0.30 EPA per play in the second half, a huge bounce back from last week’s disintegration against Arizona. Sunday, Week 5 saw Purdy average -0.67 EPA per dropback in the second half, his second-worst in any regular-season half of his career (behind last year’s Week 6 loss at Cleveland).
From a traditional stats perspective, Purdy threw two touchdowns with zero interceptions after entering Thursday with one TD and four interceptions in the second halves of games this season.
49ers Running Back Depth Chart
Mason has had a stranglehold of the 49ers’ backfield snaps this season. Entering Week 6 he accounted for 74.4% of the 49ers’ rush yards, the highest of any player in the league.
However, after exiting Thursday’s game due to his shoulder injury, Mason’s status will be one of the key injuries to monitor for fantasy football waiver wire purposes entering Week 7.
SEE MORE: San Francisco 49ers Depth Chart
Following Mason’s permanent departure after the first play of the second half, Patrick Taylor Jr. (13) and Guerendo (seven) split snaps. Guerendo got six carries for 93 yards compared to Taylor’s five carries for 16 yards, but the rookie’s 76-yarder accounts for virtually all that difference.
Given the split, it’s fair to assume that neither Guerendo nor Taylor would receive the same clear lead-back role Mason has enjoyed this season. Christian McCaffrey is targeting an early November return, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, meaning the 49ers could need a new starting running back for their two upcoming home games against the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys before their Week 9 bye.