For Pete's Sake: 5 critical observations from Seahawks Thanksgiving blow-out loss

While chowing down on some good food with our family and friends, the hope was to see at least one good game after the first two on the docket fell flat. That left all the pressure on the 49ers visiting the Seattle Seahawks to deliver what the other games couldn't, but unfortunately, it went precisely as suspected to put us in a new food coma.

The Week 12 matchup was the start of a brutal four-game stretch in Seattle's schedule, facing the 49ers twice in the time, plus the Cowboys and Eagles as well. Because they've fared well at home this season, it felt like this game was their best shot at taking home an unexpected win against the team atop the division, but it was a feat unable to be conquered.

The silver lining to take away from this disappointing loss is that the Seahawks were not believed to come out as the victors of this game, and fortunately, they are still one of the seven teams currently projected to make the playoffs.

Although the next three games could cause some more misery and drastically change the outlook of the season, let's take this as a small victory for the moment and just enjoy it for what it is.

A tough matchup for the Seattle Seahawks was exactly that - tough

There's a reason the 49ers are the division leaders and continue to be a team slated as Super Bowl favorites.

There's a reason that a team loaded on both sides of the ball can maintain success at a high level the way San Francisco has in recent years.

And there's a reason the Seahawks were unable to keep up or slow down this high-powered team, but that shouldn't be completely discouraging to Seattle fans.

This was always going to be a challenging game, no matter the result. The 49ers have been a powerhouse team recently, hence why they represented the NFC in the Super Bowl just a few years ago. The Seahawks are not at that level yet, and that's okay.

On top of that, the season isn't over now just because they lost in Week 12. Sure, they now hold the 7th seed in the NFC playoff picture, but that's better than being booted out entirely. There's still a path to keep that position, especially in the last three weeks of the season, so don't give up hope yet just because it's not all sunshine and roses right now.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba has a best catch of the year candidate

It wouldn't be a Thanksgiving game in the NFL if there wasn't an incredible catch made by a wide receiver, right? Fortunately for the Seahawks, one of their players made the highlight reel catch in the third quarter on Thursday.

It was a big moment not just because of the catch itself but also due to its timing.

On a critical 3rd-and-9 play, Geno Smith put all his trust in a deep pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba down the sideline. He was being shadowed by Deommodore Lenoir but made arguably one of the best catches of the season by any pass-catcher in the league.

The one-handed catch was reminiscent of Odell Beckham Jr.'s from the 2014 season. It drew comparisons to that infamous catch immediately, deservedly so. The 34-yard reception continued Seattle's much-needed drive down the field, which eventually helped put them in field goal position to bring them within 11 points of their opponents.

Because the offense couldn't do much of anything in this game, Smith-Njigba's impressive moment was a difference-maker that could've dramatically changed the outcome even more had he dropped the ball instead.

The offensive line couldn't overcome San Francisco's pass rush

Besides the expectation from most that Seattle wouldn't leave Lumen Field with a win, the other assumption was that the 49ers stacked front seven would overwhelm the Seahawks' offensive line, creating a nearly uninhabitable environment for Geno Smith all game long.

That's exactly what happened, as the quarterback was sacked six times for a total of 48 yards and, at some point, was brought down so hard he lost his helmet. He was also hit 12 times, with Nick Bosa accounting for five of them himself, which made any chance of offensive production almost impossible.

Although this all equates to negative results, it's difficult to put a whole lot of blame on the offensive line for what everyone knew was inevitably going to happen, as it has for every team that has played the 49ers before them.

San Francisco is a very talented team and has focused on making sure their pass rush is top-notch. Seattle's offensive line had virtually no chance.

Kenneth Walker III's absence was significant

It's always tough when one of your top-performing players goes down in a game when you're set to play your next one just four days later. So when Kenneth Walker III left last week's game with an oblique injury and was almost immediately ruled out, it was clear he would not be on the field for the Week 12 game.

His absence elevated Zach Charbonnet to the top of the running back depth chart, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. However, it's asking a lot from a rookie against one of the best defenses in the league this year.

Because of that, it didn't allow for Seattle's offense to have much of a run game, recording just 21 carries for 88 yards and the longest carry going for only 11 yards. Unfortunately, this might be the case over the next few games since they are facing some of the better defenses in the league, and it could become even worse if Walker remains out.

Ball security, ball security, BALL SECURITY!

At this point in the season, it's disappointing to have to reiterate something like ball security still, but that's where the Seahawks are through 11 games. Although they were facing a tough team whose defense is known for swinging the momentum in their favor, some of the mistakes made when Seattle had the football in their possession are inexcusable.

The first instance was Geno Smith's interception early in the second quarter. Often, the receiver is at fault in a situation like this. But this feels like it was more of a lousy decision throw by Smith than any mistake made by Tyler Lockett on the catch.

Smith threw the football to Lockett despite being essentially covered by a defender on the sideline. On top of that, Lockett had to turn around in order to even attempt at the reception. It allowed Ambry Thomas to get in front of him and snag the interception, ending what could have been an otherwise productive offensive drive.

The other heartbreaking turnover occurred just over ten game-time minutes later, when DeeJay Dallas muffed the catch on the punt, and the football was recovered by the 49ers at Seattle's 22-yard line.

The Seahawk defense stepped up when needed and forced the 49ers to kick a field goal, keeping the score within reach. But that good outcome doesn't outweigh the potentially better one had the offense been able to have another possession to move down the field.

Ball security will need to remain a priority for this team moving forward, even more so with the teams they are set to face over the next month. The opponents themselves will be tough enough without handing over easy opportunities for them to make the job of winning even more difficult.

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