Seahawks pressure shattered 49ers' offense. Purdy struggled, line buckled, and only flashes of brilliance appeared in the divisional round defeat.
The San Francisco 49ers’ season came to an end in the divisional round with a frustrating loss to the Seattle Seahawks, and the offensive performance tells a clear story of inconsistency, pressure, and missed execution. While a handful of players stood out in limited roles, too many starters struggled.
Quarterback: Brock Purdy
Brock Purdy endured one of the toughest outings of his career. He finished 15-of-27 for 140 passing yards with no touchdowns and one interception, producing a season-low 54.6 passer rating which is his lowest mark in any playoff game. PFF graded Purdy with a 59.3 offensive grade and a 56.4 passing grade, numbers that reflect both Seattle’s defensive success and San Francisco’s inability to generate explosive plays. While Purdy faced heavy pressure throughout the game, he was also unable to consistently push the ball downfield or capitalize when opportunities arose.
Offensive Line: Pressure Took Its Toll
Protection issues plagued the 49ers all night. San Francisco surrendered 19 total pressures, with 18 charged directly to the offensive line. Starting left guard Spencer Burford struggled the most, earning the lowest offensive grade among linemen at 43.5. Burford also posted the team’s lowest run-blocking grade (46.3) and pass-blocking grade (38.8), allowing six pressures which was the most of any player on the field.
Right tackle Colton McKivitz was the highest-graded lineman with significant playing time, earning a 75.7 offensive grade across 60 snaps. He also led the regular starters in run blocking with a 73.6 grade, though he still surrendered five pressures.
Veteran left tackle Trent Williams once again showed his value in pass protection, recording the best pass-blocking grade of the game at 86.9. Williams allowed just two pressures (one hit and one hurry) over 57 snaps, though even his strong performance wasn’t enough to stabilize the line overall.
Connor Colby technically finished as San Francisco’s highest-graded offensive lineman, earning an impressive 80.7 offensive grade and a team-best 78.0 run-blocking grade. However, his impact was limited, as he played just three offensive snaps.
Skill Positions: Bright Spots and Letdowns
Tight end Jake Tonges was the offensive standout before exiting with an injury. Tonges earned a 90.3 offensive grade and the top receiving grade of the game at 89.7, hauling in five catches for a team-high 59 yards on six targets over just 29 snaps. His presence provided one of the few consistent sparks in the passing game.
Luke Farrell, who replaced Tonges, struggled mightily. Farrell earned a 39.7 offensive grade and the team’s lowest receiving grade at 44.2, finishing with just one catch for one yard on two targets.
At wide receiver, rookie Ricky Pearsall (51.6 offensive grade) and Kendrick Bourne (52.5) failed to make a meaningful impact, combining for limited production across 66 snaps. Jauan Jennings was charged with the team’s lone drop.
Running back Christian McCaffrey remained a factor as a receiver, earning the second-highest receiving grade on the team at 85.6 after catching five passes for 39 yards. However, his rushing efficiency was limited, as he posted the lowest run grade of the game at 52.0 while averaging just 3.2 yards per carry.
Jordan James was the most effective runner, earning a 75.0 run grade and finishing with 28 yards on six carries. Brian Robinson, meanwhile, struggled in both pass protection and efficiency, earning a 48.6 offensive grade and allowing one pressure.
Final Thoughts
While individual performances stood out, the collective breakdown in pass protection and lack of explosive plays ultimately doomed San Francisco’s offense.