Honestly, it felt like a movie we’ve seen a dozen times before. The San Francisco 49ers leading late, the defense looking stout enough to hold, and then—total collapse. On November 17, 2024, at Levi’s Stadium, the 49ers vs seahawks last game didn’t just end a six-game winning streak for San Francisco; it basically blew the NFC West wide open.
Geno Smith hadn't beaten the Niners since he took over in Seattle. Not once.
But with 12 seconds left on the clock, he scrambled for a 13-yard touchdown that felt like a dagger to the heart of the Bay Area. Final score: Seahawks 20, 49ers 17. If you're a Niners fan, this one stung more than the others. It wasn't just a loss; it was a blueprint for how to beat a team that looks invincible on paper but fragile when the lights get bright in the fourth quarter.
What Really Happened in the 49ers vs seahawks last game
The game started as a gritty, defensive slog. Most people expected a shootout, but instead, we got a tactical chess match. Brock Purdy was efficient but not explosive, finishing 21-of-28 for 159 yards. He did manage a 10-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter, showing off that sneaky mobility that doesn't get enough credit.
But the real story was the injuries.
Losing Nick Bosa in the third quarter was the turning point. He re-aggravated a hip pointer injury, and you could practically feel the air leave the stadium. Without Bosa, the pass rush lost its teeth. Seattle’s offensive line, which had been struggling to keep Geno upright, suddenly had room to breathe.
The Jauan Jennings Show
If there was a bright spot for San Francisco, it was Jauan Jennings. With George Kittle sidelined due to a hamstring injury, Jennings stepped up in a massive way. He hauled in 10 catches for 91 yards and a go-ahead touchdown with about nine minutes left.
At that point, it looked like the Niners would survive.
They had a 17-13 lead. They even stopped Seattle on a critical 4th-and-1 at the San Francisco 37-yard line. Most experts—and everyone in the stands—thought that was the game. But Kyle Shanahan’s offense couldn't milk the clock. They went three-and-out, giving the ball back to Geno Smith with 2:38 remaining.
The Drive That Flipped the NFC West
Geno Smith has been called a lot of things, but "clutch" is the one that's sticking lately. He led an 11-play, 80-yard march that was surgical. He leaned heavily on Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who is rapidly becoming a superstar. JSN finished the day with 10 catches for 110 yards, basically doing whatever he wanted against the Niners' secondary in the closing minutes.
Then came the scramble.
With no timeouts left, Smith saw a lane. He didn't just run; he glided 13 yards into the end zone, capping it off with the Stephen Curry "night-night" celebration. It was a cold move.
- Seattle’s Defense: They held the Niners to just 277 total yards.
- The Run Game: Kenneth Walker III found the end zone on a 1-yard plunge earlier in the game.
- The Kicking: Jason Myers hit two monster field goals from 52 and 57 yards.
Basically, the Seahawks played a complete team game while the 49ers played like a team waiting for the clock to hit zero.
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Why This Loss is a Massive Red Flag for San Francisco
This wasn't an isolated incident. The 49ers vs seahawks last game marked the third time in the 2024 season that San Francisco blew a lead in the fourth quarter against a divisional opponent. They did it against the Rams. They did it against the Cardinals. And now, they did it against Seattle.
You've got to wonder about the conditioning or the late-game play-calling.
The Niners are now 5-5. Seattle is 5-5. The Rams are 5-5. It’s a literal three-way tie for second place behind the Cardinals. The "Super Bowl or bust" mentality in Santa Clara is starting to feel a bit more like "just make the playoffs."
Christian McCaffrey had 106 yards from scrimmage, but he didn't look like the game-breaker we're used to seeing. Maybe it’s the lingering effects of the Achilles issues, or maybe the Seattle defense, under Mike Macdonald, has finally figured out how to slow down the Shanahan machine. Macdonald’s defensive scheme was brilliant, mixing coverages and keeping Purdy from hitting the big plays downfield.
What’s Next for Both Teams?
If you’re looking for actionable insights from this matchup, keep an eye on these three things as the season winds down:
- Monitor the Injury Report: The 49ers are a different team without Bosa and Kittle. If those two aren't 100%, San Francisco is beatable by almost anyone.
- The Rise of JSN: Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the real deal. In your fantasy leagues or betting slips, he’s a "must-watch" for the rest of the year.
- Divisional Tiebreakers: Since the Niners have lost three games within the NFC West, they are currently at the bottom of the tiebreaker pile. They have to win out in the division to have any hope of a home playoff game.
The road ahead is brutal for San Francisco, and this loss to Seattle might be the one they look back on as the moment the season slipped away. Seattle, on the other hand, has found its swagger. Geno Smith finally got the monkey off his back, and the "Night-Night" in the Bay might just be the start of a new era in this rivalry.
To stay ahead of the curve, watch how the 49ers adjust their defensive rotations without Bosa in the coming weeks. If they don't find a secondary pass rush, expect more late-game collapses. For the Seahawks, watch if Ryan Grubb continues to let Geno use his legs in high-leverage situations; it’s clearly a weapon they’ve been underutilizing.