In what would end up being a lackluster first half by both teams highlighted by seven total punts, it was the kickers and punters who stole the show and saw a majority of the action through the first two quarters as Seattle entered the half with a 6-3 lead. In the days leading up to Sunday's game, the 49ers announced the return of kicker Robbie Gould who was inked to a 2-year extension worth $7.25 Million. But on Sunday, it would be Tristan Vizcaino who filled in for Gould at the kicker position and did a mighty fine job in his absence. Seeing his first NFL action, Vizcaino tied the game with a 47-yard field goal to open the second half and gave them the lead one possession later with a 33-yarder. With their defense holding strong through the first three quarters led by linebacker Fred Warner who was named as the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season due to his efforts in Week 16, San Francisco would take a 16-6 lead early in the fourth quarter when running back Jeff Wilson shot through the middle for a 7-yard touchdown. Coming off a career game in which Wilson tallied over 200 yards of total offense, it would be Seattle's Wilson who began to chip away at the surprising double-digit deficit that his team faced at the early part of the fourth quarter.
Needing to flip the switch on offense, Russell Wilson and company were able to do just that to finish the game strong as they orchestrated three consecutive touchdown-scoring drives. On the first two, Wilson would connect with receiver Tyler Lockett for back to back touchdowns of six and four yards. Seattle's third and final touchdown of the fourth quarter would be aided by a costly 49ers fumble as quarterback C.J. Beathard was sacked and stripped of the ball which allowed for an easy touchdown-scoring drive just three plays later as backup running back Alex Collins found the end zone for an 8-yard score. After leading by 10-points near the start of the fourth quarter, the 49ers quickly found themselves trailing by 10 with just under two-minutes remaining. In need of a quick score, San Francisco was able to answer fairly quickly as Beathard and co. stringed together an 8-play, touchdown-scoring drive that ended with a 3-yard touchdown catch by Jeff Wilson, his second touchdown of the afternoon and his 10th TD of the season after scoring only 5 TD's through his first two campaigns. Unfortunately, an onside-kick attempt by San Francisco would be recovered by Seattle who was able to run out the last of the game clock and hang on for the 26-23 win.
By collecting their 12th win of the season, history will be looking over the shoulders of the Seahawks heading into the postseason and while it might not be something Niner fans want to hear (or read), Seattle has gone on to make it to the Super Bowl each season in which they won 11+ games and were crowned NFC Western Division champions. As for San Francisco who finished the season 6-10 on the year and will pick 12th overall in April's Draft, they're the first team since the 2016 Carolina Panthers to follow up a trip to the Super Bowl with a losing record the following season. And we can all thank the injury gods for that. But breathe easy Niner fans as the 2020-21 NFL regular season has officially come to an end. And what a year it was for Kyle Shanahan's squad that endured just about everything and then some in what will ultimately be a season to forget. Just one year removed from the big dance of Super Bowl Sunday, anything that could've gone wrong, practically did for a Niners team that finished the year five games below .500 and is already counting down the days until next season, while also hoping to have much better luck on the health front as the injury bug was none too kind to the reigning NFC Champions. Not to mention the team having to play their final three home games out of state in Arizona after being kicked out of Levi's Stadium by health officials and the strict regulations put in place by Santa Clara County.
An Inevitable Farewell - Leaving 2020-21 in their rearview, the 49ers will now have to prepare for life without defensive coordinator Robert Saleh who is scheduled to meet with and interview for several of the NFL's six head coaching vacancies around the league. With ties to both the Detroit Lions who play just a stones throw away from Saleh's hometown of Dearborn, Michigan, and the Jacksonville Jaguars where he spent three seasons as the team's linebackers coach from 2014 to 2016 before landing a gig on Kyle Shanahan's coaching staff, Saleh is a top candidate to land a head coaching position after leading a short-handed 49er defense which finished 5th in yards per game allowed, despite a complete overhaul to the roster that was decimated by injuries just two weeks into the season. Saleh could've very well had his name called for a head coaching job in 2020, but instead decided to return to the Bay Area for some unfinished business after coming minutes away from winning the Super Bowl the year before. Now, he's almost a shoo-in to find a top job elsewhere, and if he does, his energy and fiery personality will greatly be missed on the 49ers sideline.
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