49ers Win in OT to Overcome Rival Seattle

Week 15 - Entering Sunday's game between the (3-10) San Francisco 49ers and (8-5) Seattle Seahawks, the 49ers had dropped ten straight games to Pete Carroll and their NFC West rival, including playoffs. And after being embarrassed by a final of 43-16 just two weeks earlier in the pacific northwest, the 49ers would have a chance at redemption while also looking to put a dent in the playoff hopes of a Seattle team that had plans of celebrating a Wild Card berth on enemy territory. Something Niners cornerback Richard Sherman would take great pride in against his former team after a war of words ensued in the days leading up to the game between Sherman and current Seahawk defensive-end Frank Clark.

After forcing a three and out on San Francisco's opening possession, Seattle would strike first with one of two touchdown connections thru the air from Russell Wilson to Doug Baldwin. But a missed extra-point by kicker Sebastian Janikowski would leave the door open and allow the 49ers to jump ahead as rookie return man Richie James Jr. returned the ensuing kick 97-yards for a touchdown. Robbie Gould would add the point-after to follow up the Niners' first kick returned for a touchdown since 2011 when Ted Ginn Jr. took a 102-yarder to the house against Seattle. Rookie running back Jeff Wilson Jr. who rushed for a career-high 90-yards in the win against Denver a week ago, would register another strong 46-yards on just seven carries, but would suffer his second fumble in as many games against Seattle in the first quarter. Determined to put the mistake behind them, San Francisco's next drive would be their longest of the season as quarterback Nick Mullens and company marched 96-yards to pay dirt which would be capped off by a 41-yard touchdown pass to Garrett Celek. However, the 14-6 lead would be short-lived as Doug Baldwin beat former teammate Richard Sherman to find the end zone for a second time to cut the lead to one before a Robbie Gould field goal made it a 17-13 49er lead at the half.

Following another Gould field goal in the third quarter, Seattle running back Chris Carson who was quiet in the early part of the game as Seattle was held to a season-low 31 rushing yards in the first quarter, had a busy rest of the day for the Seahawks' stout rushing attack as he powered his way into the end zone on a 4th & goal attempt from the 1-yard line to tie the game at 20-all. Both teams would exchange field goals in the fourth quarter before heading to their first overtime period of the season. With Seattle winning the coin toss in OT and electing to receive, the 49er defense held its ground and forced a three and out to give the offense a shot at winning the game. Aided by a 15-yard pass-interference penalty, one of a season-high 14 fouls committed by Seattle on Sunday and some nifty running by the tandem of Wilson Jr. and Matt Breida, the 49ers put themselves in prime position to allow Robbie Gould to be the hero. Setting up for a 36-yard field goal, Gould would answer the call and deliver the heroics by splitting the uprights for his 15th career game-winning kick and denying Seattle's attempt at clinching a Wild Card berth.

San Francisco's 26-23 victory would be their first over Seattle since December 8, 2013 when Jim Harbaugh was still coaching the team. Seattle's win in the NFC Championship just over a month later, would be the first of ten straight wins for Pete Carroll's Seahawks team against the 49ers. Since San Francisco's last win over Seattle, the 49ers have undergone three head coaching changes, have started six different starting quarterbacks, and have only two players remaining on their 2013 roster in Joe Staley and Garrett Celek. Though it would take them until Week's 14 and 15, the 49ers have finally strung together their first winning streak of the season, not to mention against two teams vying for a playoff spot while playing the role of spoiler. Throwing for 275 yards and a touchdown, QB Nick Mullens out-dueled Russell Wilson who finished with 237 yards passing and a pair of touchdowns as Seattle's franchise quarterback remains one win away from becoming the first QB in NFL history to have a winning record in his first seven seasons. Looking to rebound from the upset loss, Wilson and company will need to bounce back down the stretch if they plan to fend off other Wild Card hopefuls such as the Vikings, Eagles, Redskins and Panthers.

Week 16 Preview - With back to back victories under their belt for the first time this season, the 49ers who have pushed their way out of position to land the first overall pick in next year's Draft, will once again have their hands full when they host arguably the NFC's biggest surprise team this year in the (10-4) Chicago Bears. Playing stellar football under first-year head coach Matt Nagy and a stout defense under former 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, the Bears have already won more games this season than they have over the last two years combined and are coming off a similar victory to San Francisco's as they managed to beat the hated rival Green Bay Packers who had won nine of the last ten meetings between the two teams prior to Sunday. Chicago's 24-17 victory at Soldier Field clinched their first playoff berth since 2010 as second-year quarterback Mitch Trubisky looks to keep their winning streak alive in Week 16 against the 49ers. But with the 49ers looking to keep their own streak alive, coach Kyle Shanahan who has coached his team to a 7-1 record in December games since 2017, will likely throw everything but the kitchen sink at Chicago offensively to keep his guys motivated and continue their winning ways in the final calendar month of the season.


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