As Seattle Seahawks entered the NFC West fight with the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle presented one of the most confident first halves in a long time. It was a 10-3 halftime lead which is a small number for the dominate presence Seattle held during the first 30 mins of the game.
From the first sn ap, Seattle was in control of game tempo with their disciplined defense and physical football. The 49ers were unable to make any adjustments to Seattle’s defense.
Zach Charbonnet sparks Seattle’s statement.
28 yards. 1 touchdown. 1 game changing run. 1 IGNITED Seahawks sideline. 28 yards on a 3rd and 2 run the game winning touchdown.
Game winning touchdown.The Seahawks had already surpassed the 49ers in terms of total rushing yards during the second quarter, amassing 115 yards to the 49ers’ 69. A stat line like that is outside the norm, even for a match of this rivalry.
Dominance, But Not For Sure
Even with the total control of the field, the Seahawks left a few good chances to score. A Sam Darnold sack during the first quarter set the stage for a field goal instead of a touchdown. Plus, San Francisco was even gifted the opportunity to get a field goal themselves because of a goal-kick error and a field goal that was ultimately missed.
When a team plays with such a clear domination, these missed opportunities hint at over respect for the other team.
49ers Without Answers
For Kyle Shanahan, first halves in Seahawks games have always ended in too many pieces of the puzzle that need to be solved. Not a lot is left for the 49ers in regards to pieces, as Seattle’s defense has a clear line of control.
The 49ers score was contingent on the Seattle offense making a bad play, thus the score wasn’t a direct reflection of control as the 49ers had none.
A Rivalry Primed For A Defining Moment
A Seahawks and 49ers game is a rivalry that can get out of hand protection wise, literally and metaphorically. With how tense and unstructured the gameplay is, the first and second halves have almost opposing purposes with the 49ers almost solely relying on control and the Seahawks on wild plays.
If the Seahawks improve their execution and keep dominating the ground game, they will have the opportunity to change the course of their rivalry against San Francisco.
For the time being, Seattle has the advantage and the momentum.