SANTA CLARA (AP) — Geno Smith scored on a 13-yard scamper with 12 seconds left and the Seattle Seahawks snapped a six-game losing streak against the San Francisco 49ers with a 20-17 victory on Sunday.
Smith completed 7 of 8 passes for 65 yards to put the Seahawks (5-5) in scoring position after taking possession at their 20-yard line with 2:38 left. He then ran into the end zone against a depleted 49ers (5-5) defense that missed injured defensive end Nick Bosa on the final drive.
The victory moved Seattle into a three-way tie for second place in the NFC West division with San Francisco and the Los Angeles Rams, one game behind the leading Arizona Cardinals. The Niners have lost three division games, losing leads in the fourth quarter in all of them after losing games earlier this season against the Rams and Cardinals.
San Francisco had taken a 17-13 lead when Brock Purdy threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Jauan Jennings with 9:33 left. The Niners appeared to be in good shape for a victory after stopping Seattle on consecutive plays for no gain from the 37-yard line with the Seahawks needing just 1 yard for a first down.
But the 49ers couldn’t run out the clock on offense and gave Smith and the Seahawks a chance to come back.
Smith finished 25 of 32 for 221 yards with an interception and a touchdown run. Jaxon Smith-Njigba had 10 catches for 110 yards and Kenneth Walker III scored on a 1-yard run for the Seahawks.
Purdy was 21 of 28 for 159 yards with a touchdown pass, a scoring run and an interception. Jennings had 10 receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown and Christian McCaffrey gained 106 yards from scrimmage for San Francisco.
The Seahawks host Arizona on Sunday and the 49ers visit the Green Bay Packers on the same day.
The opportunity. Their defense became complacent, and that allowed Smith to exploit their weaknesses on the final drive. Turnovers can also be crucial in those moments, and I think a lack of urgency hurt them as well.
1. Geno Smith’s Clutch Performance:
Interviewer: Can you talk about Geno Smith’s performance in the final drive? How did it feel to be the one to seal the win for the Seahawks?
Guest 1: Absolutely. Geno Smith showed incredible poise and leadership in that final drive. To be able to complete 7 of 8 passes, especially when the defense was keying in on him, is remarkable. He’s really stepped up his game this season and proved himself as a reliable quarterback. It must have felt amazing to score the winning touchdown and snap a six-game losing streak against the 49ers.
Guest 2: Agreed. Smith’s ability to make those clutch throws was crucial, especially considering the pressure he was under. It just goes to show that sometimes it’s not only about physical ability, but also mental toughness and decisiveness. You could tell he wanted this win badly, and he delivered when it mattered most.
Interviewer: Moving forward, how do you see Smith’s performance potentially impacting the Seahawks’ chances in the NFC West? They’re now in a three-way tie for second place.
Guest 1: I think this win gives them a lot of confidence. They’ve had some close losses, and this shows that they can compete with some of the top teams in their division. If Smith can continue to play at this level, they’ll definitely be in contention for a playoff spot.
Guest 2: Absolutely. He’s become a vital part of this team. But they’ll need to keep improving if they want to catch up with the Cardinals, who seem to be pulling away. They’ll need to focus on winning their remaining games and not let up, especially with a tough matchup against the Cardinals coming up.
2. 49ers’ Late-Game Collapse:
Interviewer: The 49ers had a commanding lead until the end of the game. What factors led to their collapse in the final minutes?
Guest 1: It seemed like they underestimated the Seahawks. They were content with running out the clock and failed to pressure Smith when they had
