Piercing the mystique of the Seahawks
SEATTLE — The 49ers’ magiccarpet ride to the Super Bowl hit some very bumpy air Sunday night over this lovely but menacing city, but the carpet survived, a bit tattered, and the crazy ride continues.
The 49ers didn’t win this one as much as they survived it, with an epic defensive stand inside the last two minutes.
But a W is a W. Slice it and dice the situation any way you care to, the 49ers beat the Sea
hawks , in Seattle, 2621 under the
hottest spotlight of the NFL season, in a game that meant ohsomuch.
Some will say the 49ers were lucky. But it wasn’t luck that tackled Seattle tight end Jacob Hollister 6 inches short of the goal line on the Seahawks’ last play. It was linebacker Dre Greenlaw. Meet the newest 49ers hero.
The Seahawks put up a classic Rockyesque fight. That’s to their credit, not a mark against the 49ers.
Now, as they say at the crowded deli: “Next!”
When the 49ers sauntered off the field at halftime leading 130 (yes, the 49ers held the Seahawks scoreless in this house of horrors) the realization dawned on many that, hey, maybe these 49ers are a pretty good team.
Holding off the Seahawks’ epic secondhalf charge only reinforced the notion that the 49ers are really real.
Trot out all the qualifiers you can dig up. There is no longer any reason to believe the 49ers are lucky, fluky, overrated or unprepared for primetime pressure.
The 49ers are not perfect, but they are a handful. Their transformation from doormat to contender has been so quick and unexpected that there still are skeptics. The bandwagon has been relatively slow in loading, but the newly Faithful are polevaulting aboard now.
Oh, the doubting and skepticism will persist. The 49ers shoulda killed the Seahawks! The 49ers can live with that. They know that they are who we thought they were: the best team in the NFC, at least.
For those who wish to downplay the win in Seattle’s quaint stadium, have at it. The Seahawks were so desperate that they signed two running backs off their couches six days before the biggest — and last — regularseason game of the year.
Signing Marshawn Lynch last Monday was not a publicity gimmick or a morale boost for the Seahawks. It was one part inspiration and nine parts desperation. Twelve carries, 34 yards, with a few flashes of his former greatness.
The Lynch signing proved to be a stroke of near genius. Lynch busted out for a 5yard run on his first carry in more than a year. But reality hit home in the second quarter when the Seahawks had 4thand1 at the 49ers’ 31, they gave the ball to Beast Mode, and he was stopped cold by Bosa Mode. Rookie Nick Bosa blew up tight end Tyrone Swoopes and met Lynch with force.
In a way, this game worked out perfectly for the 49ers. They won, giving them the division title and a firstround bye in the playoffs and home games the rest of the way — they hope — to the Super Bowl.
As an unexpected bonus for the 49ers, Seattle’s nearmiracle rally, in its depleted state, gave the 49ers’ remaining doubters room to doubt, and the 49ers love it when that happens.
This game turned out to be the classic some anticipated, thanks to Seattle’s force of will. The Seahawks hit the second half running on fumes and former glory. Though their record (114 going in) was similar to that of the 49ers (123), the Seahawks entered the game having outscored opponents by a combined 12 points this season. The 49ers had a positive point margin of 164.
That Seattle hung with the 49ers to the absolute end is a tribute to its pluck. But the 49ers brought the pluck, too.
Basically, every aspect of the 49ers’ game showed up:
Kyle Shanahan’s play calling? Check. On the first play of the second half, fullback Kyle Juszczyk lined up in the slot and slipped wide open deep for a 49yard gain.
The defense, led by spurned Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman and Bosa. Before the game, I saw a man walking a big shaggy dog. The man wore a WILSON jersey, his dog wore a SHERMAN Seahawks jersey. “Yeah,” said a guy on the sidewalk, “because Sherman is a
perro,” a dog. Sure enough, Sherman’s bite was as big as his bark.
The offense, led by the usual suspects. Jimmy Garoppolo (118.8 passer rating) was cool in the din, drilling the ball into windows large and tiny. George Kittle lived up to Seattle head coach Pete Carroll’s gushing praise, catching seven balls for 86 yards. Joe Staley, turnstiled the last time these two teams met, anchored the line that blasted the Seahawks with a fourthquarter drive featuring plays of 14, 16, 21 and 13 yards, the last one a touchdown waltz by Raheem “The Dream” Mostert.
Handle pressure? Go back and rewatch that fourth quarter. In SEATTLE, ladies and gentlemen. Against the SEAHAWKS.
Now the 49ers have returned to Hotel California for a week of R&R, after which the real season will begin, and we’ll see what kind of team this really is. We got a hint Sunday night.