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49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw knocks the ball out of the hands of Seahawks running back Travis Homer at Lumen Field on Thursday DEC 15, 2022. (San Francisco 49ers)

by Marko Ukalovic

The NFC West title is back in the Bay.

The San Francisco 49ers jumped out to a big lead then hung on to defeat the Seattle Seahawks 21-13 on Thursday Night Football at Lumen Field.

San Francisco clinched the NFC West, their first since 2019, with its seventh win in row and swept Seattle this season. The Seahawks have lost two games in a row and four of its last five as their playoff hopes suffered a huge blow as they have fallen to .500 after a surprising 6-3 start to the season.

During the Niners (10-4) seven game winning streak, their defense has been dominant and the main reason for their current run. They made Seattle one-dimensional on offense as they forced quarterback Geno Smith to throw the ball 44 times.

“I thought the defense was unbelievable,” said head coach Kyle Shanahan regarding the league number one defense performance. “You didn’t give up a touchdown to that last drive…Our defense was unbelievable, they did it throughout the whole game and have been throughout the whole year.”

The legend of Brock Purdy continued to grow with another impressive performance behind center. The rookie quarterback from Iowa State, despite coming into the game with an oblique injury he suffered four days ago, led San Francisco on a nine play 86-yard scoring drive late in the first quarter. On 2nd and 8 from the Seahawks 28 yard-line, Purdy faked a screen to the left and then to the right before finding tight end George Kittle wide open over the middle for a 28-yard touchdown reception to break the deadlock.

“My mindset was I’m coming into this place to play and to start. Once the game started, I was ready to roll. I felt a little something throughout the game and what not on some throws but for the most part our treatment staff and everyone did great job getting me ready (to play) and I was definitely ready to play for four quarters,” Purdy said.

Seattle (7-7) was only able to manage a 38-yard field goal from Jason Myers in the first half as San Francisco’s defense forced three 3 and outs and only allowed one first down on the Seahawks first four offensive possessions.

San Francisco’s defense came up with the game changing play late in the first half. Smith connected with Travis Homer on a short reception when Dre Greenlaw came in with a jarring hit that forced Homer to fumble the ball. Charvarius Ward scooped up the ball and returned it for 40 yards to the Seattle six-yard line with 1:08 remaining in the second quarter.

Two plays later, running back Christian McCaffery run in a one-yard touchdown to give the 49ers a 14-3 lead heading into halftime.

The 49ers only need two plays to pad their lead to start the second half. On 2nd and 5 from the Seattle 46, Purdy once again hooked up with Kittle, this time on a 54-yard touchdown reception where Kittle eluded a tackle and was not to be caught by the Seahawks.

“Touchdown every time,” Kittle said what he thinks about when a play call is designed for him. “That’s your thought process. Whenever Kyle (Shanahan) dials something up (where) you know you’re gonna get the ball, try to speak it into existence. You gotta actually visualize it.”

San Francisco held down the fort on Seattle’s next drive as the home team marched down the field on a 10 play 42-yard drive which resulted in a 51-yard field goal from Meyers.

Seattle closed the gap to a one possession game late in the fourth quarter when Smith found tight end end Noah Fant wide open in the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown reception with 3:35 left. San Francisco closed out the game when rookie running back Jordan Mason converted a 3rd and 3 with a 55-yard run to the Seattle two-yard line with 1:14 remaining.

“Obviously they do have a great pass rush, a great front seven, great guys on the back end. It felt like championship game. We didn’t get it done. We had our opportunities but just didn’t get it done,” said Smith.

Purdy finished the game 17 of 26 for 217 yards to go along with his two touchdowns, no interceptions and a QB rating of 117.0. Kittle led San Francisco in receiving with four catches for 93 yards and two touchdown night. McCaffery had his second consecutive 100-yard game rushing for 108 yards on 26 carries.

Smith went 31 of 44 for 238 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. Tyler Lockett led Seattle in receiving with seven catches for 68 yards. Running back Kenneth Walker III had a quiet game as he chipped in with 47 yards on 12 carries.

GAME NOTES: San Francisco finished 6-for-13 on third down conversions. Seattle was 4-for-13.

Lockett suffered a broken bone in his hand during the game and will need surgery to repair his hand. He is expected to miss two weeks.

San Francisco has swept the season series against Seattle for the first time since 2011. 

The Niners have won 7-consecutive games for the first time since 2019 (Weeks 2-9; Week 4 BYE). 

The 49ers are 5-0-or-better against NFC West teams for the first time since 2002. 

San Francisco improved to 4-1 in primetime games in 2022, the team’s best mark in primetime since 2019 (5-1). 

Purdy completed each of his first 11 passing atts. and was 9 of 9 for 73 yds. in the 1st qtr., becoming the first 49ers QB since Jeff Garcia [9 of 9 for 95 yds. at Buffalo. (12/2/01)] to post a 100% completion percentage and complete 9-or-more passes in a 1st qtr.  

With 138 scrimmage yds., McCaffrey registered 100-or-more scrimmage yds. for the 42^nd time since he entered the league in 2017, the most in the NFL in that time frame (2017-22). His 10 games with 100-or-more scrimmage yds. in 2022 is the most in the NFL.  

UP NEXT: San Francisco hosts the Washington Commanders on Sunday 12/24 at 1:05pm at Levi’s Stadium.

49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw celebrates his interception of Tom Brady in the third quarter with his teammates at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday DEC 11, 2022. (San Francisco 49ers)

by Marko Ukalovic

SANTA CLARA — It was not the homecoming Tom Brady had envisioned in what may be his last time playing in the Bay Area.

The Tampa Bay quarterback could only watch in exasperation as the San Franciso 49ers crushed his team in a 35-7 victory on Sunday afternoon at Levi’s Stadium.

San Francisco has won a season best six games in a row and lead the NFC West by two games over the Seattle Seahawks. Tampa Bay has lost two of its past three game yet are in still in first place in the lowly NFC South.

San Francisco suffered another tough injury to one of its star offensive players. Deebo Samuel injured his ankle after he fumbled the ball on a three-yard rushing play at the Tampa Bay 40-yard line. The ensuing Buccaneers drive stalled at the 49ers nine-yard as Brady’s passing attempt on 4th and 2 fell incomplete intended for Evans.

“We hate to see guys go down. Especially one of our leaders like Deebo. You’ve just got to go with the punches and just keep fighting and that’s what everybody on this team did and that’s just the type of team that we’ve got. You get hit in the mouth and you’ve got to just keep fighting,” linebacker Dre Greenlaw said.

San Francisco (9-4) drew first blood on the game’s opening drive with a five play 67-yard drive that was capped off with a 13-yard end around run for a touchdown, his third rushing touchdown of the season. The first play of the series quarterback Brock Purdy was smacked to the turf by Keanu Neal. However, Neal was flagged for roughing the passer when he went helmet to helmet on Purdy.

Tampa Bay (6-7) opened its first drive down going 40 yards down the field but a 55-yard field goal attempt by Ryan Succop was partially blocked at the line of scrimmage resulting in a turnover on downs.

“They kicked our ass,” said Brady who didn’t mix words describing his team’s performance. “It’s the reality of this sport, and every time you take the field you the opportunity to get your ass kicked or to kick ass, and obviously we’re on the wrong end of it today.”

The Buccaneers thought they had a 68-yard touchdown reception by wide receiver Mike Evans when Brady launched a pass down the right sideline and connected with a wide-open Evans but left tackle Donovan Smith was called for holding Jordan Willis negating the big play. Instead, Tampa was forced to punt the ball three plays later.

San Francisco doubled its lead on its third offensive possession. Purdy led an eight play 62-yard drive as the 49ers used a balanced attack of run and pass to march down the field. Once again Neal extended the drive when he was called for passing interference on 3rd and 1 from the Buccaneers eight-yard line. Two plays later Purdy scrambled in for a two-yard rushing touchdown.

“It was real impressive with the way he played,” said 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan on his rookie quarterback’s play. “I thought it was real similar to how he played the week before. I’m just happy that he was able to go out there and perform at the level a lot of us thought that he was capable of and the players felt that way, the coaches felt that way and guys played really good around him too. I was just happy for him.”

After a three and out by Tampa Bay, Purdy led the Niners on a nine play 71-yard scoring drive. Purdy threw a deep ball down the sideline that running back Christian McCaffery made an acrobatic catch where he magically kept both of his feet inside before going out of bounds for a 27-yard receiving touchdown. After a lengthy review, the touchdown stood as San Francisco had a commanding 21-0 lead halfway through the second quarter.

Ther 49ers took advantage on the ensuing when they scored their fourth touchdown of the first half with 15 seconds left before halftime. Purdy connected with a wide-open Brandon Aiyuk for 32-yard touchdown reception to complete a seven play 91-yard drive in 2:14.

McCaffery turned out the lights on Tampa Bay 59 seconds into the third quarter when he scampered for a 38-yard rushing touchdown after the Niners defense picked off Brady for his first of two interceptions on the day. Tashuan Gipson picked off Brady and returned it 36 yards to the Tampa Bay 38-yard line.

The Bucs spoiled the 49ers shutout bid late in third quarter when Russell Gage was in the right place at the right time when he caught a ball that hit off the chest of Chris Godwin and rolled into the endzone for an eight-yard touchdown reception.

Purdy, who became the first quarterback to beat Brady in his first start, finished 16 for 21 for 185 yards and two touchdowns, no interceptions and a QB rating of 134.0. McCaffery had a monster day, his best in 49ers uniform, as he led all rushers with 119 yards on 14 carries to go with his one touchdown. Jordan Mason chipped in 56 yards on 11 carries.

“Honestly, for me, I just kept telling myself, ‘This thing ain’t over with that guy on the other side of the field.’ I just wanted to keep putting up points on the board however many times we could knowing this dude made all these crazy comebacks in his career. I didn’t want that to happen in my first game as a starter,” Purdy said.

Brady, who had one of his worst games in his career, went 34 for 55 for 253 yards and one touchdown with a QB rating of 63.7. Godwin led Tampa Bay in receiving with five catches for 54 yards.

GAME NOTES: San Francisco finished 4-for-9 on third down conversions. Tampa Bay went 4-for-16.

• San Francisco improved to 19-7 all-time against Tampa Bay, including a 13-3 mark at home. 
• The 49ers have won 8 of their last 9 home games against the Buccaneers. 
• The Niners improved to 2-1 against the Buccaneers and 7-5 against the NFC South under Shanahan. 
• The 49ers have won 6-consecutive games for the first time since 2019 [Weeks 3-9 (Week 4 BYE)]. 
• San Francisco is 6-1 or better through its first 7 home games for the first time since 2011. 

UP NEXT: San Francisco travels up to Seattle to take on the Seahawks for the battle of the NFC West on Thursday Night Football 12/15 at 5:15pm at Lumen Field.

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffery runs past a Miami Dolphins defender during the afternoon at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday DEC 4, 2022. (Getty Images)

by Marko Ukalovic

SANTA CLARA — It was a bittersweet win for a team that is rolling.

The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Miami Dolphins 33-17 to win their fifth game in a row, but it came with a hefty price to pay on Sunday afternoon at Levi’s Stadium.

Quarterback Jimmy Garopollo suffered a season ending injury with multiple fractures in his foot during a sack on the team’s opening drive early in the first quarter. This is the second starting quarterback San Francisco has lost this season with Trey Lance being out for the season after the second game of the season.

It was a somber mood afterwards in the locker room as San Francisco as their attention was focused on losing Garopollo.

“Bittersweet,” said 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. “Anytime you get a chance to win, especially against a great team, great coach and great players that we know very well it’s obviously great. But to lose our quarterback and the captain of our team it’s tough. So, bittersweet.”

Lineback Fred Warner said it felt surreal to have lost their second starting quarterback for the season.

“Man shocked. I had no idea it was that bad. My heart goes out to Jim (Garopollo). The way the he competes, the way he prepares every week. It was just a freak thing. That sucks.”

It was not the homecoming Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, who was the offensive coordinator last season in Santa Clara, had in mind coming back to his old stomping grounds.

“I thought that was an outstanding job the (San Francisco) 49ers defense, just the team collectively. They just brought it,” McDaniel said.

The game could not have gotten off to a more perfect start for Miami on its opening drive. The first play from scrimmage quarterback Tua Tagovailoa connected with former 49ers receiver Trent Sherfield who caught a ball over the middle and raced down the field for a 75-yard receiving touchdown.

San Francisco drove down the field looking to answer when on 3rd and 6 from the Miami 19-yard line when Jaelan Phillips’ knee crushed Garopollo’s foot during a 10-yard sack that Jerome Baker was also on that sent Garopollo to the sideline and then onto a cart to the locker room where he did not return.

Robbie Gould kicked a 47-yard field goal to get the Niners on the board.

Rookie quarterback Brock Purdy took the helm and led the 49ers on two impressive touchdown drives in the first half. The first one was a nine play 54-yard drive that was finished off with a three-yard touchdown reception to fullback Kyle Juszczyk.

The second was an impressive 11 play 76-yard drive right before halftime when he connected with running back Christian McCaffery on a three-yard touchdown reception with four seconds left in the second quarter to give San Francisco 17-10 lead.

“Brock I think has played a lot of football and I think you can tell, just the way he plays the position. He has a savviness to him. He has an understanding, a confidence to him. Just commanding everyone’s respect and getting the plays in and out, delivering some confident passes out there. So I think we can definitely still do some things with Brock (Purdy),” Juszczyk said.

The second half proved once again the half of San Francisco’s defense. Nick Bosa came alive with three sacks on Tagovailoa including a forced fumble that was recovered that was recovered by the Dre Greenlaw who ran it back for a 23-yard touchdown that sealed the deal for San Francisco late in the fourth quarter. With his three sacks, Bosa leads the NFL in sacks with 14.5.

Purdy was able to use his legs to scramble out of the pocket when Miami brought pressure and showed veteran poise when in the pocket with needle threading passes over the middle on third downs to keep drives alive. Though the 49ers settled for three more Gould field goals in the second half, they dominated the time of possession by a two to one margin to keep Miami’s potent offense the field.

Tagovailoa on the other hand struggled to connect with his receivers for the majority of the afternoon with high overthrows that eluded open receivers that had big play potential. He finished 18 for 33 for 295 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. The two interceptions by Jimmie Ward and Deommodore Lenior came on back-to-back drives that cemented the win for San Francisco late in the fourth quarter.

Miami cut the 49ers lead to 23-17 when Tagovailoa connected with with Tyreek Hill on a 45-yard touchdown reception to start the fourth quarter. But that was that was as close as they would get as San Francisco turned out the lights forcing three turnovers near the end of the game.

The touchdown also snapped San Francisco’s four-game streak of consecutive second halves where they shutout their opponent. In the past five games, the 49ers have outscored the opposition 70-7 in the second half.

San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan was successful on two consecutive challenges that ended up overturning receptions called on the field to incomplete passes, the last one that ended a Miami drive on a 4th and 2 inside 49ers territory.

Purdy finished 25 for 37 for 210 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Garopollo’s line was 2 for 4 for 56 yards. McCaffery had 146 all-purpose yards as he led the team in both rushing and receiving. He had eight catches for 80 yards with one touchdown and 66 yards on the ground on 17 carries. Rookie running back Jordan Mason chipped in with 51 yards on eight carries.

“To get in and play, and now starting next week and what not, it’s something that I always looked forward to and honestly told myself that’s going to happen. Here we go,” Purdy said.

Hill led all receivers with nine catches for 146 yards with one touchdown. Former 49ers running backs Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. combined for just 33 rushing yards on eight totals carries.

GAME NOTES: San Francisco finished 8-for-19 on third down conversions. Miami went 0-for-7.

Miami leads the all-time series 8-7. San Francisco snapped its two-game losing streak to Miami and are 4-4 at home against them.

UP NEXT: San Francisco concludes its three-game homestand when they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday 12/11 at 1:25pm at Levi’s Stadium.