The 49ers dominated the line of scrimmage and therefore dominated the clock in Sunday’s 27-7 win over the Seahawks.
They held the ball for nearly 17 minutes longer than the Seahawks (38.20 to 21.40). Thanks to a dedicated ground play that averaged just 4.2 yards per run, and a defense that forced five punts as well as a sharp decrease in the self-inflicted missteps that ravaged them in their Week 1 loss, they were able to hold the ball for almost 17 minutes more than the Seahawks (38.20 to 21.40).
Most notable: After committing 12 penalties of 99 yards, the 49ers committed just one offense against Seattle. It was a pass interference call against. Emmanuel MoseleyIn which case, he might have arrived just a nanosecond early to end up with a pass. The Seahawks, meanwhile, surpassed even the 49ers’ Week 1 mark with 10 penalties for 106 yards.
“I think we had that one penalty — the big PI,” coach Kyle Shanahan noted afterward. “But I thought we did a better job of overcoming (mistakes). They did indeed score, and that is how we got a pick in the 10. That was what I believe made the difference. When we did make a mistake, we were able to overcome it.”
These are the snaps and noteworthy personnel developments from the game.
Quarterback: Jimmy Garoppolo 60, Trey Lance 16
Garoppolo didn’t attempt a pass in the spring, in a training camp practice or in the preseason. After entering the game in quarter two, Garoppolo made his first five throws, including an 38-yard touchdown. Ross Dwelley. He would have been able to get six consecutive wins, but Brandon Aiyuk couldn’t haul in a catchable deep ball along the sideline in the second quarter.
Garoppolo’s best throw of the day may have been a 16-yard dart to the sideline for Ray-Ray McCloud III.
“It kind of felt like 2017 where you just go out throwing, make plays,” Garoppolo said afterward. “That’s what I like to do. It’s different than what we usually do around here, but sometimes you need to do that.”
Garoppolo was also running a game plan for Lance. In fact, Garoppolo had two read option plays and kept the ball in both. That’s likely to change in coming weeks given the 49ers are now down a quarterback.
Go Deeper
Kawakami: It’s Jimmy Garoppolo Time for the 49ers Again, unbelievably.
Retracing your steps: Kyle Juszczyk (fullback) 40, Jeff Wilson Jr. 37, Tyrion Davis-Price 30, Deebo Samuel 11
Two stories surrounded the position. Wilson was named the No. Wilson took over as the No. 1 tailback position from Elijah Mitchell, who’s out for two months with a knee injury. Mitchell, Wilson was only able to carry 2.4 yards per carry. Bears, raising concerns he’s not explosive enough for the lead role. However, his first run against the Seahawks was for 6 yards. The second went for 6 yards. The third ran for 8 yards. He was able to finish with a score of 4.7 yards.
Meanwhile, the 49ers put a lot of faith in Davis-Price, whose 14 carries were second only to Wilson’s 18. One year ago, the 49ers were reluctant about giving rookies a chance. Trey SermonIt was a significant role. Davis-Price, meanwhile, didn’t play on third downs, but he did take four snaps inside the deep red zone.
The third-down ‘back? It was Wilson who was the most active player on eight of these snaps. Samuel followed with five snaps and Juszczyk had three.
Wide receiver Aiyuk 67, Samuel 48, Jauan Jnnings 35, McCloud 18, Danny Gray 7
Gray made his regular season debut on Sunday, after being inactive since Week 1. Gray was covered by Garoppolo on fourth-down in the second quarter, but Garoppolo caught him on a deep ball attempt in the third quarter.
Samuel was able to catch five of six passes and gain 45 yards after the catch. This is a far better game than Week 1. Garoppolo’s consistency on short throws is greater than Lance. A bigger reason: The footballs weren’t nearly as soggy on Sunday as they were in Chicago.
Deebo Samuel had more success this week with Jimmy Garoppolo’s quick passing game and in slightly drier conditions. (Kyle Terada / USA Today)
Jennings was only able to catch a pass for 4 yards. On a day that the 49ers ran the ball 45 more times, Jennings played a major role as a blocking player. He almost forced the uncoordinated Seahawks to take after-the-whistle penalty on three snaps, as the 49ers were securing their win in the fourth quarter.
“My goal is to put them on their back,” Jenning said afterward. “If they lose their head, they lose their head. My goal is to put them on their back.”
Tight end: Charlie Woerner36, Dwelley 38 Tyler Kroft 21
The 49ers started the game with their worst blocking, George KittleKroft, their second best blocker, suffered a knee injury in the second period. This resulted in Woerner taking on larger roles, with 19 snaps against the Seahawks and 36 against them. Dwelley also saw a rise in snaps from 19 to 28.
Dwelley’s performance was memorable. Dwelley’s 38-yard touchdown catch in quarter two was his longest reception. He also gathered in a muffed punt by the Seahawks, but didn’t get a hand on the Seattle wingman who blocked a Robbie GouldField goal in the third quarter
Kittle was able to practice on Friday, his first session after injuring his right groin on Sept. 5. He still looked tentative while running routes early in the session, but Shanahan is optimistic he’ll be available against the BroncosSunday
“I thought he was close this week, so I feel a lot better about next week,” he said.
The 49ers could raise the end if Kittle is absent for a third time Troy FumagalliThe practice squad.
Offensive line Trent Williams 76, Aaron Banks 76, Jake Brendel 76, Spencer Burford 76, Mike McGlinchey 76, Colton McKivitz 2
Last year, the 49ers’ Week 10 win over The Ravens was the one that got them on the right track. RamsThey ran the ball 44 times and averaged just 3.5 yards per carry in the game. On Sunday, those numbers were even better — 45 rushing attempts and 4.2 yards a carry.
The 49ers’ 45 carry total was the highest since Week 11 of 2011, when Frank Gore combined with Kendall Hunter, Anthony Dixon, Alex Smith for 49 carries in an over-the-top win. CardinalsCandlestick Park
What were the best blockers Sunday? They were on the left side as Williams and Banks consistently created running lanes through the Seahawks’ defense, including on Juszczyk’s touchdown plunge. Banks was a rookie and seemed to have difficulty dealing with quick opponents. The Seahawks’ defensive front — led by extra large Al Woods — is all about size, and perhaps that played to Banks’ strength.
After allowing two quarterback pressures to the Bears, he also allowed one. The season began with a major theme: how quickly Chris Foerster, the offensive line coach, was able to get his two inexperienced Guards, Banks, and Burford up to speed. Burford was the team’s highest-graded offensive lineman in Week 1; Banks had that honor in Week 2.
1-yard TD for Mr. 100
📺 #SEAvsSFOn @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/e68Px1wCPR
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) September 18, 2022
Protective line: Nick Bosa 36, Arik Armstead 34, Charles Omenihu 28, Samson Ebukam 22, Javon Kinlaw 21, Kevin Givens 19, Drake Jackson 14, Kerry Hyder Jr. 14, Hassan Ridgeway 7
Bosa was able to take his second snap at the right defensive line for the second week straight. The rest of the game was played on the left side. This split against the Bears was 29 snaps on the left defensive end and 14 at the right. It was 9 snaps on both the right and left for the Seahawks.
Bosa’s first sack came during a rush from the left side. The second, he lined up at the right defensive end and then looped inside. Jackson initially gave Bosa the sack, but eventually the official scorekeeper awarded Bosa the entire credit.
Big stop at the third down @nbsmallerbear @The99Athlete!
📺 #SEAvsSFOn @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/mOxHhjxhlk
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) September 18, 2022
Linebackers: Fred Warner 49, Dre greenlaw 49, Azeez Al-Shaair 19
This unit was the headline after the game, when the 49ers and Greenlaw announced a two year contract extension. Al-Shaair, Greenlaw, and Al-Shaair were scheduled to become free unrestricted agents at the close of the league season.
Greenlaw seemed to be more in control Sunday than in Week 1. He and Charvarius WardWith eight tackles, Greenlaw tied for the team’s lead. Greenlaw had six solo stops including one behind the line.
Protective backs Talanoa Hufanga 49, Tashaun Gipson Sr.49, Ward 49. Moseley49, Samuel Womack III (30). George Odum 1
The back-breaking mistakes that proved to be the 49ers’ downfall in Week 1 were largely eliminated in Week 2. Quarterback Geno SmithIn the second quarter, he escaped from his pocket and was found by the receiver Tyler Lockett wide open for a 27-yard gain while Moseley’s pass interference infraction against DK Metcalf went for 26 yards.
Those were the only times that the Seahawks gained more than 20 yards. Hufanga, Gipson and Ward had strong outings. Moseley rebounded from poor tackling against the Bears. Ward and Gipson both had interceptions.
Charvarius was the 49er who intercepted Charvarius Ward’s first pass. (Kyle Terada / USA Today)
Special teams: Dwelley 21, Woerner 20, Odum 18, Oren Burks 16, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles 15, Tarvarius Moore 15, Deommodore Lenoir12, Gould 12, Womack 11 Ambry Thomas 11, Mitch Wishnowsky 9, Taybor Pepper 9, Jordan Mason8, McCloud 7, McGlinchey 6 Banks 6, Burford 6. Jaylon Moore 6, Blake Hance 6, Hufanga 5, Juszczyk 5, Jennings 4, Omenihu 4, Moseley 2, Warner 2, Kinlaw 2, Jackson 2, Greenlaw 1, Bosa 1, Armstead 1, Ebukam 1, Givens 1, Hyder 1, Kroft 1
The team’s Week 1 gunners were Moore and Odum. Moore was able to have Thomas and Lenoir work as gunners on Sunday. Moore, of course, forced the Seahawks’ muffed punt in the second quarter when he shoved a Seahawks player into the return man.
Wishnowsky’s two other punts were downed at the 13- and 8- yard lines. On the season, he has already made five punts within the 20-yard mark. On Friday, the fourth-year punter signed an extension to his four-year contract with the 49ers.
(Top photo by Tyrion Davis-Price / Thearon W. Henderson/ Getty Images
