Nobody wants to play a tough division rival twice in three weeks, with a tit-for-tat game against a top NFC contender in between. But that's, unfortunately, the fate the Seahawks were given with their 2023 schedule, facing the 49ers in Week 12 and again in Week 14.
Their first matchup was anything but impressive, as they lost 31-13 in a game ruled by Christian McCaffrey, costly turnovers, and a lack of protection for Geno Smith, resulting in six sacks for a loss of 48 yards. An unexpected shootout followed up that lackluster performance with the red-hot Dallas Cowboys, although that game also ended in another defeat.
But it was a more thrilling showing for Seattle, which was on a two-game losing streak, which provided some hope they would be able to hang with the 49ers this past Sunday.
Some of that dream was dashed when news of Geno Smith missing the game was announced along with the other inactives. Although he has been far from perfect this season, it's never ideal to have your backup come in on short notice against the division leader in hopes of not being swept.
That was unavoidable, though, despite their best efforts to remain competitive for the entire 60-minute game. Now they'll be preparing to take on another NFC leader next week against the Eagles; quite an unfavorable way to kick off the season's final four games.
Drew Lock filled in for Geno Smith better than expected
After Geno Smith was named the Comeback Player of the Year for the 2022 season, he hasn't been able to repeat that performance this season and has continued to be a contributor factor in some of the Seahawks' more noteworthy losses.
That wasn't the case against the 49ers on Sunday since he was ruled out just a few hours before kickoff, allowing Drew Lock to finally get his first start since joining the team through the Russell Wilson trade a few years ago.
The once-presumed starter came out swinging, matching the 49ers' quick score with one of their own, throwing a beautiful 31-yard pass to D.K. Metcalf in the end zone. It was an impressive start against a team that dominated the Seahawks only two weeks before, but the early momentum quickly left and never returned.
Lock helped lead the offense to a field goal before halftime, keeping the game within reach as San Francisco led 14-10. They wouldn't score again until the end of the third quarter when Lock threw a 25-yard touchdown to Colby Parkinson to bring them within five points of their rivals.
The final three drives would end in two interceptions and a punt, essentially ending their chances of walking out of Levi's Stadium with a win. And as disappointing as that was, Lock's performance was a valuable asset in how the young quarterback could fare against a formidable opponent in Smith's absence or if Pete Carroll ever decided to make a change at the position.
Jamal Adams' performances can be summed up with one word: yikes!
Given the current drama surrounding Jamal Adams, maybe it's not the best idea to kind of take a shot at him in the same way that reporter did. But his performance on Sunday kind of deserves it, no?
Besides his controversies off the field making headlines, Adams did not live up to his self-proclaimed hype in a matchup that ultimately impacted the trajectory of the Seahawks' season. To an extent, you can give players a bit of leeway when their performance against a divisional rival isn't the best since the teams know each other better than all other teams in the league. But Adams was atrocious against the 49ers, and it deserves a "Yikes" reaction.
The most standout oops of his day was when Deebo Samuel easily got around Adams for a 54-yard touchdown in the second quarter. It put the 49ers in the lead and gave Brock Purdy the knowledge to take advantage of the mismatch for the rest of the game.
Adams didn't make as crucial of a mistake as that during the second half, but it's just the latest example of the safety not performing to the standard he had set since the Seahawks traded for him a handful of years ago.
The Seahawks cannot win the NFC West after this loss
Through the first seven weeks of the season, Seattle's playoff hopes were alive and well, and it appeared they would be real competition for the reigning NFC West Champions this season. In the following weeks, they were served humble pie, as they have now lost four games in a row with some truly tough opponents left on the schedule to finish the year.
But this loss to the 49ers sealed the deal that they could not win the division from the 49ers since there are just four games left and they are four games behind. San Francisco wins the tiebreaker due to sweeping the Seahawks this season.
Although they're not entirely eliminated from postseason contention, their playoff hopes could soon become a dream unless they can turn things around over the final month and stack some wins.
That could certainly be a possibility, with the Eagles, Titans, Steelers, and Cardinals left on the schedule. But a lot of work will need to be done for that to be a real possibility, starting with more cohesion on offense, a more aggressive pass rush, and far fewer turnovers.
The offense never really gained their footing, making their task even more difficult
Other than the exciting opening drive that ended with a 31-yard touchdown to DK Metcalf, the offense could not do much of anything successfully for the rest of the game. From Zach Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker III's lack of run game to unreliable pass catchers outside of Tyler Lockett, there wasn't much Drew Lock could do to push the ball down the field.
It was an odd sight, given how beneficial it was to have both running backs re-join the team after dealing with injuries. The usual reliance on the ground game had to basically be abandoned, as the duo recorded 17 carries for just 65 yards, averaging 3.75 yards per carry.
The receivers weren't much help either, though. Metcalf caught just two passes on five targets, Noah Fant went 2/4, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba had a rough day, hauling in only four catches on seven targets for 25 yards.
It was a far cry from how the offense in totality fared against the Cowboys one week ago, making their forgettable effort on Sunday even more head-scratching. Hopefully, they figure it out over the next week, or they won't have the luxury of adding more wins to their season and could kiss their playoff hopes goodbye.