Two fumbles led to 10 Seahawks points and a 20-17 loss that all but ended any playoff notions for the 49ers.
One of those fumbles came when the 49ers tried a reverse on a punt return which was botched by receivers Brandon Jones and Arnaz Battle.
49ers RB Frank Gore, who had the other fumble, only carried the ball nine times on Sunday.
Vernon Davis caught his 10th touchdown of the season, a record for 49ers tight ends, and also set a career-high with 111 receiving yards.
49ers QB Alex Smith said that throwing for more than 300 yards for the first time was “irrelevant” because the team lost the game.
Seahawks K Olindo Mare’s game-winning field goal extended his team record to 18 straight makes.
Seahawks WR Deon Butler made a 32-yard catch with 12 seconds remaining to set up Mare’s kick.
CB Josh Wilson made several big plays for the Seahawks, including recovering a fumble and returning it 43 yards to set up a fourth quarter field goal.
Said Seahawks LB Aaron Curry of the 49ers’ reluctance to run the ball, “Anytime you play a team that you rushed for almost 300 yards, why not
do it again? I mean, at least
attempt to. It was just weird that they came out and wanted to spread
us out and go deep and pay attention to the pass.”
RB Justin Forsett only got five carries with Julius Jones back in the lineup, but he did score the second Seahawks touchdown on an eight-yard pass from Matt Hasselbeck.
who dat?!?
I was left scratching my head that they didn’t get Forsett involved until well in to the second half.
Obviously Julius Jones is their main guy, but Forsett is electric and makes plays. At times during the first half I was left scratching my head as to why they wouldn’t at least give the hot hand some reps in the game during the first half.
Good win for the Hawks though. Mare has actually put together a good body of work this year, even if the fans will only remember the misses.
As I’ve said from the beginning, the Niners have an unqualified, slapdick coach. That’s why they lose games the way that they do. He and his O-coordinator couldn’t X-and-O their way out of a paper bag.
Then the coach says something meaningful like, “Going forward, we must learn how to win and correct the things we screw up every week. ”
Yoo-hoo! It’s Week 14!
“We’re going to hit people in the mouth” has morphed into, “We’re going to spread-offense people in the mouth” and “We’re going to punt-return-reverse people in the mouth.”
Time to drop your pants again, Mike?