San Francisco 49ers 21-13 Seattle Seahawks: Brock Purdy throws two TDs as 49ers clinch NFC West division title on Thursday night
Rookie QB Brock Purdy, listed as 'questionable' with rib and oblique injuries in the lead up to the game, impressed again in only his second NFL start (and first on the road); he completed 17 of 26 passes for 217 yards and two TDs to George Kittle, who had four grabs for 93 yards
Friday 16 December 2022 11:14, UK
Brock Purdy threw two touchdown passes to George Kittle as the San Francisco 49ers clinched the NFC West division title with a 21-13 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night.
It was the seventh-straight win for the 49ers (10-4), seeing them take a three-game lead over the Seahawks (7-7) with three regular season games to play. The victory was crucial as it saw San Francisco sweep Seattle in their two-game series, giving them the tie-break clincher should the teams finish the season tied with the same record.
Rookie quarterback Purdy, who had been listed as 'questionable' with rib and oblique injuries in the lead up to the game, impressed again in only his second NFL start (and first on the road). The 22-year-old completed 17 of 26 passes for 217 yards and those two scoring strikes to star tight end Kittle, who had four grabs for 93 yards.
Christian McCaffrey also had another superb outing, rushing 26 times for 108 yards and a touchdown, while adding 30 yards receiving on six catches.
- Latest NFL playoff picture | NFL divisional standings
- Playoff places up for grabs in NFL 'rivalry week'
- NFL best video clips & game highlights
Purdy completed all nine of his pass attempts in the opening quarter as the 49ers took a 7-0 lead courtesy of a 28-yard TD toss to Kittle after the QB tricked the Seattle defense by faking to his left and right before finding his tight end over the middle.
Jason Myers kicked a 38-yard field goal to get the Seahawks on the board, but then with less than two minutes left of a cagey first half, Dre Greenlaw forced a fumble from Travis Homer and Charvarius Ward recovered the football to set up McCaffrey's score down near the goal line and give the 49ers a 14-3 half-time lead.
San Francisco got the ball to start the second half and then pretty much put the game to bed as, from the second play from scrimmage, Purdy hit a wide-open Kittle down the left sideline for a massive 54-yard touchdown.
Seattle quarterback Geno Smith was 31-of-44 passing for 238 yards and a touchdown on the night. Trailing 21-6, he found tight end Noah Fant for a 10-yard touchdown to bring the Seahawks back to within eight of the visitors with three and a half minutes to go, but the Niners were able to run out the remainder of the clock to clinch the division and guarantee a postseason berth.
San Francisco cornerback Deommodore Lenoir, who made a team-high 10 tackles, had a pick-six in the third quarter called back due to a Nick Bosa roughing-the-passer penalty.
In worrying news for the Seahawks, star receiver Tyler Lockett left the game late on with a broken bone in his hand. He picked up the injury on Seattle's final possession when taking a heavy hit and falling awkwardly.
Lockett is not expected to be available for next Saturday's game at the Kansas City Chiefs but told Carroll he hopes to return for Week 17 against the New York Jets.
Stats leaders
49ers
- Passing: Brock Purdy, 17/26, 217 yards, 2 TDs
- Rushing: Christian McCaffrey, 26 carries, 108 yards, 1 TD
- Receiving: George Kittle, four catches, 93 yards, 2 TDs
Seahawks
- Passing: Geno Smith, 31/44, 238 yards, 1 TD
- Rushing: Kenneth Walker, 12 carries, 47 yards
- Receiving: Tyler Lockett, seven catches, 68 yards
- DK Metcalf, seven catches, 55 yards
Shanahan: Purdy most poised rookie I've ever had
49ers head coach, Kyle Shanahan: "He's definitely the most poised rookie I've ever had. He's been like that since he's got here.
"He was poised all week, even with him being unsure of whether he'd be able to go or not... but he just got comfortable, he got better as the game went, and it was pretty unbelievable.
"The team had a lot of respect for him before that game, but a lot more now."
49ers tight end, George Kittle: "What Brock has done since he's come in is he was confident in OTAs [Organised Team Activity]... and he diced up the best defense in the NFL, he came in in the preseason games and was threading balls.
"He has had confidence since he came into the building, and everyone on this team has sensed that. He's just been waiting for an opportunity, and unfortunately with all the injuries at quarterback he's finally gotten it."
What's next?
Tom Brady takes on Joe Burrow for the very first time in the NFL as two of the best quarterbacks in the NFL go toe to toe this Sunday, live on Sky Sports.
Brady's Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7) welcome Burrow's Cincinnati Bengals (9-4) into town - kick-off at 9.25pm - with the New York Jets (7-6) also hosting the Detroit Lions (6-7) in a key clash for playoff spots, with this one getting under way at 6pm. The Sunday night triple-header rounds off with the Washington Commanders (7-5-1) hosting the New York Giants (7-5-1) in an NFC East divisional battle with huge postseason implications for the two wild card hopefuls - kick-off at 1.20am on Monday morning.
There's also a bonus Saturday night trio of games, also live on Sky Sports, with the Minnesota Vikings (10-3) getting things underway as they host the Indianapolis Colts (4-8-1) from 6pm. And, following on from the action at U.S. Bank Stadium, the Cleveland Browns (5-8) and Baltimore Ravens (9-4) do battle in an AFC North rivalry clash, with kick-off at 9.30pm, while the Buffalo Bills (10-3) and Miami Dolphins (8-5) wrap things up in what is anticipated to be a snow game in Western New York - this one scheduled for 1.15am in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Sky Sports NFL is your dedicated channel for NFL coverage through the season - featuring a host of NFL Network programming. Don't forget to follow us on skysports.com/nfl, our Twitter account @SkySportsNFL & Sky Sports - on the go!
