Reviewing Monday night football game between 49ers and Seahawks

Taut and full of big plays, drama and momentum swings, Monday night’s football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers was a mini-classic. It had everything.

It had so much of everything that it went not only to overtime but to the final play of overtime.

At the end, the visiting Seahawks secured a 27-24 victory and the 49ers were no longer the NFL’s only unbeaten team.

Turnovers produced or led to touchdowns. Momentum swung wildly. The Seahawks (8-2) and 49ers (8-1) could well be playing for the NFC West championship when they meet again in the final game of the season. Perhaps we will get a repeat performance.

The 49ers built an early 10-0 lead, but soon found themselves on the wrong end of a 21-10 count. And then it was 21-21. 24-21, Seahawks. Tied at 24. And then overtime, where the Seahawks had the initial possession, drove down the field and turned the ball over again.

The 49ers’ fate was impacted by rookie kicker Chase McLaughlin, signed last week to fill in for 15-year veteran Robbie Gould (quad). McLaughlin made three field goals, including the game-tying kick from 47 yards, but then hooked one wide from 47 in overtime (trust me, it was ugly).

The 49ers, shorthanded to start with tight end George Kittle out, lost receiver Emmanuel Sanders along the way, as well as running back Matt Breida. The Seahawks saw receiver Tyler Lockett go out and newbie Josh Gordon step up a couple of times.
At the end, an 18-yard run by Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson set up Jason Myers’ 42-yard field goal for the win, adding the last brushstroke to this masterpiece.

“That,” said Seahawks defensive end Jadaveon Clowney, “was the craziest game of my career.”

And oh so memorable.

 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman