SEATTLE — Here is how the 49ers (6-6) graded in Sunday’s 30-23 loss to the host Seattle Seahawks (4-8):
PASS OFFENSE: D
Jimmy Garoppolo’s final two passes resulted in incompletions that felt even more damning than the two interceptions he earlier yielded. George Kittle should have been targeted once the 49ers got to the 7-yard line with four snaps, but the Seahawks thought so, too, and denied him from adding to a nine-catch, 181-yard, two-touchdown day. Tom Compton can’t allow Carlos Dunlap to block that fourth-and-goal pass; Mike McGlinchey would be crucified if that was him at right tackle. The 49ers absolutely missed Deebo Samuel, who should return next Sunday at Cincinnati. Brandon Aiyuk produced 34 of his 55 yards on the final drive but should have produced more earlier. Don’t blame the officials for not flagging the third-down hold of Trent Sherfield. The 49ers lost for their own ineptitude, not the officials’.
RUN OFFENSE: D
Those final two (pass) plays? If you run OK on the first two downs and you are a running team, keep going! Elijah Mitchell had 22 carries for only 66 yards, ending a stretch in which the 49ers’ rushing attack absolutely dictated their past games. Mitchell broke nothing beyond 9 yards, and the 49ers were not compelled to try Jeff Wilson Jr. or JaMycal Hasty as ball carriers. Using George Kittle on an end-around seemed desperate, but no more than daring Jimmy Garoppolo with a fourth-and-1 zone-read play while Trey Lance watched on the sideline (and an Alex Mack false start thankfully voided out that play). Overall, the offense was responsible for six of the team’s season-high 10 penalties.
PASS DEFENSE: D
Losing cornerback Emmanuel Moseley and safety Jaquiski Tartt to injuries rocked an already suspect secondary. Rookie Deommodore Lenoir struggled mightily in his first significant action since the opening three games, then veterans Josh Norman and Dontae Johnson also faltered in key moments. That secondary is far too vulnerable. Roughing-the-passer penalties on Arden Key and Charles Omenihu enhanced a Seahawks’ touchdown drive before halftime. Nick Bosa got his 12th sack of the season and hit Russell Wilson three times, which should be enough to make a difference but the 49ers needed more. Arik Armstead and Jordan Willis each had a sack while Key split one with Azeez Al-Shaair. Wilson, even with some wild throws, completed 81.1 percent of his passes (31-of-37, 231 yards). Kudos to Al-Shaair for forcing a fumble at the 2 with 4:03 to spare, as well as to the fumble-forcing plays earlier by D.J. Jones, K’Waun Williams and Bosa.
RUN DEFENSE: B-
Playing without Fred Warner for the first time since 2018 didn’t decimate this unit, not with Al-Shaair racking up 16 tackles in his place. Take away the 73-yard touchdown run on the fake punt (against the return unit) and the 49ers’ run defense allowed only 73 yards on 26 carries. Jones stopped Adrian Peterson for a 5-yard loss on his first carry of a mostly unimpressive Seahawks debut (11 carries, 16 yards, 1-yard touchdown run).
SPECIAL TEAMS: F
Another abominable performance. When special teams falter, all other team deficiencies are exposed, to be fair. But … they were surprised by a fake punt for the game’s first touchdown. They saw Travis Benjamin fumble away the second half’s kickoff — reminiscent of Trenton Cannon’s botched kickoffs that triggered the 49ers’ October loss to Seattle. Speaking of Cannon, the 49ers were comforted to hear he was stable and responsive after an awkward hit on the opening kickoff that resulted in a concussion and an exit by ambulance. Robbie Gould missed a point-after kick at a time when points were at a premium.
COACHING: F
Not every loss merits an ‘F’ but this one does. The 49ers should have clobbered a down-and-out Seahawks team. Instead, Kyle Shanahan bemoaned the 49ers’ self-inflicted wounds, which should include his play-calling once the 49ers got to the 7-yard line in the final minute. DeMeco Ryans’ defense again faltered in the secondary with poor coverage and penalties. Richard Hightower’s special teams units are too unreliable. And, yet, the 49ers are a .500 team with a shot at the playoffs with enough time to recapture late-season momentum.
