You’ve heard the phrase firing on all cylinders.
But have you ever seen a team firing on no cylinders?
That was the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday night in Seattle. This was a game where not one single thing went right, from the opening kickoff to the final whistle. The Seahawks dominated in every phase, handed the Niners a humbling 41–6 loss, and brought what had been a miracle season to a jarring, unsatisfying end.
And sadly, this is just how it finished.
A Nightmare Start That Never Stopped
Seattle opened the night with a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, immediately setting the tone and sending Lumen Field into chaos. The Niners’ first offensive possession didn’t help when they failed to convert on a fourth-and-one, and gifted the Seahawks the ball in plus territory right away.
To the defense’s credit, Robert Saleh’s group bent but didn’t break early. Dee Winters came up with a massive third-down stop to force a 31-yard Jason Myers field-goal attempt instead of a touchdown.
Then the offense made sure it didn’t matter.
Jake Tonges fumbled on the ensuing possession, giving Seattle (once again) the ball in plus territory. For a team that already struggles to generate pressure (the Niners entered the game last in the league in sacks), the margin for error was nonexistent.
Seattle punched in a touchdown with 1:50 left in the first quarter, and the floodgates cracked open.
Brief Signs of Life, But the Gap Was Already Too Wide
San Francisco managed to get on the board with a 56-yard Eddy Piñeiro field goal, cutting the deficit to 11, but nothing about the game felt stable or sustainable.
In the second quarter, Fred Warner made his presence felt and came down from the box to the sideline, injecting emotion and leadership into a group that desperately needed it. And honestly? It worked. At least for a moment.
Brock Purdy actually played a solid first half, throwing with confidence and nearly connecting on a desperation Hail Mary attempt at the end of the half that almost landed.
But football doesn’t reward “almost.”
Right before halftime, Seattle rushed in another touchdown as time expired, pushing the lead to 24–6. Christian McCaffrey, clearly limited, spent the final moments of the half on the sideline nursing a shoulder injury.
The Niners went into the locker room down 18, knowing they needed perfection.
They got the opposite.
Second Half Collapse
Jake Tonges exited the game at the start of the third quarter. C.J. West recorded his second sack of the season but it didn’t slow Seattle.
Myers drilled a 24-yard field goal to make it 27–6.
Then Purdy threw another interception, once again handing Seattle the ball in plus territory. With 2:23 left in the third quarter, the Seahawks turned that gift into another touchdown.
34–6.
This wasn’t on Purdy or at least wasn’t all on Purdy. The offense as a whole gave absolutely nothing. No separation. No protection. No run game. No rhythm.
The Bottom Falls Out
Early in the fourth quarter, Dee Winters came off the field and on the very next play, Seattle scored again. 41–6 with 12:43 remaining.
McCaffrey stayed on the field despite clearly playing hurt. Purdy was later sacked, fumbled, and watched Seattle recover yet another short field opportunity with 9:12 left.
Drew Lock entered the game at quarterback for Seattle with nine minutes remaining.
Somehow, unbelievably, the Niners didn’t record their first punt of the game until 4:23 left in the fourth quarter which is truly a stat that feels fake considering the scoreboard.
A Brutal Ending to a Special Season
The Seahawks won in dominant fashion, 41–6, and there’s no sugarcoating it.
And honestly, for what it’s worth, this season was still a miracle. A roster decimated by injuries. A defense held together by tape and belief. A team that survived far longer than anyone expected. It just hurts that this is how it ended.