What went wrong with the 49ers’ Week 4 loss to the Seahawks



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If you look at the stats sheet, the 49ers looked like they dominated their Week 4 Division game against the Seattle Seahawks. The 49ers totaled 457 net yards versus Seattle’s 234, made 72 offensive plays (Seattle – 54), averaged 6.3 yards per play (Seattle – 4.3) and led the time. possession in the contest (31:40 at Seattle 28:20). But mistakes were ultimately what cost San Francisco in the 28-21 loss.

Beyond an offensive restraint penalty, the San Francisco offense could not have started better on its first try. Jimmy Garoppolo opened the game with a perfect 6 on 6 for 70 yards and a score for tight end Ross Dwelley. After Dwelley’s score, the 49ers have now scored 12 touchdowns recorded by 12 different 49ers.

But beyond opening practice, the offense struggled for the remainder of the half as it moved the ball to the pitch. Garoppolo was 14 of 23 in the first half for 165 yards and threw an unfortunate interception that stopped San Francisco’s second series.

San Francisco managed to score on just three of their possessions that day. The team was also just 2-14 on the third down.

Losing the turnover battle

For the second week in a row, the 49ers were on the negative side of the turnover battle, winning two giveaways again. In addition to the aforementioned interception, returner Trenton Cannon missed a kick return inside the Seattle 20-yard line. Turnover proved costly as Russell Wilson hooked up with Seahawks wide receiver Freddie Swain two plays later for a 13-yard touchdown.

Sunday marked the third game in a row where the 49ers defense failed to save a takeaway.

The defense held on, couldn’t close the contest

San Francisco held Seattle’s leading offense scoreless and without a first try for most of the first half. The Seahawks led the league in first-half points to open the season, scoring 20.7 going into Week 4. Seattle opened the game with five straight three-way and strikeouts, three of which ended. ended with a third bag. Dee Ford (2) and Nick Bosa (1) both registered at least one sack.

Recently signed cornerback Dr. Kirkpatrick, who started against Emmanuel Moseley with Josh Norman (chest) inactive, scored a loss-tackle in Seattle’s second practice of the day.

Despite a remarkable start for the defense, Seattle found its momentum in the second half, scoring on three of its last four possessions.

“I’m going to have to watch him, but it looked like they were just trying to sideline us a little bit more,” said linebacker Fred Warner. “We had to be better at the racing game and it starts with me. I think they just started converting on the third down and we started on the third down early in the game.”

The 49ers managed to limit Wilson to just 149 yards during the day, his lowest production of the season and lowest score since Week 15 of the 2020 season (against the Washington football team – 121 yards ).

The San Francisco defense had several opportunities to leave the field on the third down, but more often than expected, the penalties extended Seattle’s push. Two penalties occurred on the same disc, extending Seattle’s lead by two scores. San Francisco committed eight total penalties that day for 78 yards, compared to five for 27 yards in Seattle.

The 49ers lost several players throughout Sunday’s game, one of the most notable being kicker Robbie Gould. Gould injured his groin in pre-game warm-ups and did not make the Sunday game.

Bettor Mitch Wishnowsky saw pictures in Gould’s absence. Wishnowsky scored an extra point but missed a 41-yard field goal in the second quarter. He also kicked wide to the left on another extra point opportunity.

The 49ers had to change their approach and play more aggressively with Gould sidelined. The team made two two-point conversion attempts, one resulting in a false start penalty (which later became an extra missed point) and the other a successful run from rookie quarterback Trey Lance.

It is possible that the 49ers will be without Gould for an extended period of time. The 49ers could look to the free agent market for another option while the team awaits Gould’s return.

Additionally, Garoppolo suffered a calf injury in the first half of the contest. By Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco will assess the quarterback when the 49ers return to the team’s facilities on Monday.

“Hopefully it will only be a few weeks or something like that,” Garoppolo said after the game.

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