49ers, Hyde put up a Fight but Fall short in Seattle

Week 2 - Entering San Francisco's Week 2 meeting with the division rival Seahawks, the 49ers were given the daunting task of having to face a Seattle team that not only has had their number over the past few years (6-0 since 2014), but has also been a perfect 12-0 at home in the month of September since 2010. Though Kyle Shanahan's squad would put up much more of a fight in the latest chapter of the rivalry, it would end up being the same old same when it was all said and done. With neither team scoring a touchdown in their season-openers (both losses), both teams would struggle to find the end zone for a majority of this one as well.

Making his first career start at rainy CenturyLink Field, known as one of the toughest stadium's in the NFL for an opposing team, 49ers quarterback Brian Hoyer looked a lot like he was making his first NFL start as he was stymied and held in check virtually all afternoon long. Throwing for only 99-yards passing, the offense was forced to ride the coattail of Carlos Hyde who had himself quite a game while supplying most of the offense. Coming into 2017 as the only visiting player to rush for 100 yards in Seattle since 2015, Hyde doubled down on that feat and was at it again, rushing for a game-high 124-yards on 15 carries on the afternoon. After falling behind 6-0 in the first quarter following a pair of Blair Walsh field goals, one of which set up by a Brian Hoyer interception, Hyde would break off a career-long 61-yard run to help get the 49ers in field goal range as kicker Robbie Gould cut the deficit in half. Another nice rush by Hyde this time for 27-yards with a 15-yard face mask penalty tacked on at the end of it during San Francisco's next possession would again get them in field goal range and allow them to tie the game at 6 just before the half.

With neither team scoring in the third quarter, both squads would witness their touchdown scoring drought reach seven quarters to start the season. Unfortunately for the Niners, that's where Seattle's dry spell would end. As the 49ers took a 9-6 lead in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter with their third field goal of the day, the Seattle offense would respond in a big way. After struggling in the season-opener at Green Bay's Lambeau Field a week ago and suffering from a poor offensive-line, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson once again failed to resemble a comfortable quarterback in the pocket as he was constantly under pressure and was sacked three times on Sunday. However, he still managed to throw for twice the amount of yards as his counterpart (198 yards) and came through in the clutch when he was needed most. Helping march the Seattle offense inside the red zone, a crucial third and seven play on the 9-yard line would spell doom for San Francisco. With the pocket collapsing, Wilson managed to weave around four 49er defenders and toss the ball into the end zone where he found a leaping Paul Richardson for the touchdown. Blair Walsh would miss the extra point to give the 49ers at least a sliver of hope, but Seattle's defense would clamp down and force a punt with a much needed three and out which allowed Wilson and company to milk the clock from there, sealing the 12-9 victory and handing San Francisco their seventh consecutive loss to their northern rival.

With another nice showing on defense, the loss again falls on the hands of the offense which has now been held out of the end zone for each of the team's first two games and has been virtually nonexistent through the air as the most productive 49er receiver would net only 26 yards (Pierre Garcon and Marquise Goodwin). On a much brighter note, the defense has already appeared to turn the corner after suffering both a league and franchise worst in multiple categories just a season ago. After failing to record a single sack in Week 1, the San Francisco defense tallied three sacks in their second performance, albeit against a below-average Seattle o-line as Tank Carradine, Arik Armstead and Aaron Lynch each supplied a QB sack.

Week 3 Preview: Carlos Hyde and company will have a short week to prepare for the Los Angeles Rams (1-1), the only team the 49ers were able to collect wins against a season ago as San Francisco plays host on Thursday Night Football. Like the 49ers, the Rams are looking to bounce back from a disappointing season a year ago and went out and hired a new coach of their own during the offseason in Sean McVay. The Rams are coming off a 27-20 defeat to the Redskins after serving up a 46-7 shellacking of the Colts in Week 1. Looking to get back into the win column, second-year quarterback Jared Goff will look to claim his first victory in two career tries against the team he grew up rooting for as the 49ers look to continue their recent dominance of the rival Rams. And they'll be doing so with a banged up defense that has already been without starting rookie linebacker Reuben Foster and will now be without one of their key cogs in the secondary as safety Eric Reid is out indefinitely with a knee injury. Fellow safety Jaquiski Tartt is also nursing an injury (neck) and will most likely be a game-time decision, leaving plenty of concern in the Niners' secondary for their only prime time match-up of the season. Rookies Lorenzo Jerome and Adrian Colbert could see some playing time in the absence of both players as they compete for the starting job.


Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest