Kittle adds to highlights but is stifled on last play
SEATTLE — Maybe it’s time to start naming George Kittle’s greatest plays, and let’s start with Sunday’s big one.
The Sideline Skedaddle in Seattle.
First, it’s necessary to mention that the 49ers lost to the Seahawks 30-23, and Kittle was blanketed by defenders on the 49ers’ last two chances at a potential game-tying touchdown.
So, sometimes you can stop the great ones.
But Kittle had himself an afternoon, and let’s go right to the big play.
Just before halftime, the 49ers — leading 17-14 — faced a 2nd-and-6 on the Seattle 48-yard-line. Jimmy Garoppolo flipped a short pass to Kittle at the 45-yard-line. The tight end angled to the left sideline and took a sharp right turn when he got there.
Turning that corner, he sprinted around linebacker and tackling machine Bobby Wagner, who dived at Kittle, missed, and took out his own safety, Ryan Neal.
Kittle now had nowhere to go but straight down the sideline. For nine or 10 long strides, Kittle pranced within inches of the sideline, an amazing tightrope performance, good for a touchdown and a 23-14 lead (Robbie Gould missed the extra-point try).
It was Kittle’s second touchdown of the half. The first came in the opening quarter and was a 24-yard rainbow from Garoppolo, Kittle getting himself open at the back of the end zone to tie the score at 7-7.
Kittle finished with nine receptions for 181 yards. It was the first two-touchdown game of his career and third with 180-plus receiving yards.
The Seahawks took notice of Kittle and the day he was having. As the 49ers marched into the Seahawks’ red zone on their final drive, needing a touchdown to tie, Seattle had multiple players covering Kittle, forcing Garoppolo to target Trent Sherfield twice, unsuccessfully.
“They did a good job of following me around,” Kittle said. “The very last play, I had two guys on me.”
Asked how tough this loss was for the team, Kittle said, “It’s brutal. Losing sucks. Had all the opportunities, turnovers, fake punts for touchdowns. When you give Russell Wilson a chance, he’s going to take advantage of that opportunity.
“We weren’t clean enough on offense. I think our defense played a (heck) of a game. They did about everything they could to keep us in the game and give us an opportunity.
Our offense, we didn’t really do anything in the second half. It’s hard to win in Seattle if you don’t really do anything in the second half.”