The 49ers got Seattle’s best shot in the first half and were able to withstand it with a strong effort over the final two quarters that allowed San Francisco to escape with a 41-23 win and advance to the divisional round.
The postseason spotlight didn’t seem to faze rookie Brock Purdy, who finished with 332 yards and four total touchdowns in the win. He became the first rookie in the Super Bowl era to throw and run for offense in his first career playoff start. Furthermore, he is the first rookie quarterback to have four total touchdowns in a postseason game.
Despite being one of the biggest underdogs of Super Wild Card Weekend, the Seahawks walked into Levi’s Stadium and gave the Niners a run for their money in the first half. After a slow start, Geno Smith and the offense put together back-to-back drives and kicked a 56-yard field goal to make it 17-16 going into the locker room at halftime. However, Seattle couldn’t maintain that level in the second half and the Niners flipped the switch.
San Francisco scored three straight touchdowns to open the second half that put the game away. The big swing came 13 plays later, after a 75-yard 49ers’ touchdown where they retook the lead. For now, it looked like Smith and the Seahawks were going to answer with a scoring drive of their own, but Smith fumbled the ball in the red zone and Nick Bosa recovered the fumble. That led to another 49ers touchdown and effectively sent Seattle packing. Smith finished 25 of 35 for 253 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
From here, the 49ers will see how the rest of Super Wild Card Weekend unfolds. The only team they are not eligible to play will be the Giants, who visit the Vikings on Sunday afternoon. If Minnesota wins, it will travel to Santa Clara and face San Francisco in the divisional round. If New York pulls off the upset, the Niners will host the Buccaneers-Cowboys winner on Monday night.
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