The San Francisco 49ers appeared to be in control of their divisional game when their defense made two crucial stops in short yardage, giving them the ball back with the lead and only four minutes left to play.
But once again, they collapsed in the fourth quarter, leaving the defending NFC champions at risk of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
The 49ers lost 20-17 to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday after Geno Smith scrambled for a 13-yard touchdown with just 12 seconds remaining. This marks the third time this season that San Francisco has blown a late lead in the fourth quarter against a division rival.
“It’s just infuriating, honestly,” linebacker Fred Warner said. “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 loss comes after early-season defeats to the Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals, where the 49ers also led by double digits in the fourth quarter before allowing late scores.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the 49ers became the fifth team since the NFL merger to lose three division games in a season after leading in the final two minutes. The last team to do that was Carolina in 2001.
“We gave them a chance,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “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.”
The loss leaves the 49ers (5-5) tied for second place in the NFC West, one game behind division-leading Arizona. With three division losses and another conference loss, the 49ers’ margin for error is shrinking.
San Francisco had opportunities to finish the game on both sides of the ball but fell short.
After stopping Zach Charbonnet on fourth-and-1 from the 37-yard line with 3:56 left, the offense had a chance to either run out the clock or make it a two-score game.
The 49ers picked up first downs on their first two plays but then stalled. Christian McCaffrey was stopped for a 1-yard loss on first down, Brock Purdy missed Deebo Samuel on a second-down pass, and Jauan Jennings was tackled short of the first down on a third-down catch.
“We have to be better,” left tackle Trent Williams said. “We have to execute better. We have to put more than 17 points on the board if we want to win a divisional game.”
The offense was forced to punt, putting the game in the hands of a depleted defense missing star pass rusher Nick Bosa, who left the game earlier in the second half with a hip and oblique injury.
Smith took full advantage, moving Seattle down the field with ease. He completed seven of eight passes for 54 yards and scrambled for two long runs, including the game-winning score.
“Brutal, brutal,” Bosa said about having to watch from the sidelines. “The most important time in the game for me to be out there and I couldn’t be. I hate missing time.”
