Purdy gives 49ers much-needed lift
Brock Purdy threw for 255 yards and three touchdowns, and the San Francisco 49ers never trailed in a 36-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night.
Deebo Samuel had a 76-yard catch-and-run touchdown and finished with three catches for 102 yards for the defending NFC champions (3-3), who moved into a tie with Seattle (3-3) for first place in the NFC West after an uneven start to the season.
George Kittle added five receptions for 58 yards and two scores for the 49ers, who beat the Seahawks for a sixth consecutive time. Kyle Juszczyk added a late TD run, and he and Kittle both celebrated their scores by leaping into the stands to embrace their wives, who were sitting together in the first row.
Matthew Wright, who joined San Francisco earlier this week to replace injured kicker Jake Moody, had a trio of first half-field goals from 25, 41 and 35 yards.
Geno Smith passed for 312 yards and a touchdown but was intercepted twice, and the Seahawks lost their third in a row after a 3-0 start under first-year Coach Mike Macdonald.
Four days after blowing a 23-10 halftime lead and losing to division rival Arizona, San Francisco fended off a second-half challenge by Seattle, which got a boost from Laviska Shenault Jr.’s 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the third quarter.
After the 49ers punted, Smith led a 94-yard drive and Kenneth Walker III scored from 1 yard out to get Seattle within 23-17.
But Smith’s second interception, this one by Renardo Green, set up Kittle’s second TD of the game and a 29-17 lead for the Niners.
Smith found Tyler Lockett for a 9-yard scoring pass with 1:44 left to narrow the score to 29-24. San Francisco responded with Isaac Guerendo’s 76-yard dash downfield that led to Juszczyk’s 6-yard TD run.
Seattle’s struggles with the run game continued, with the team finishing with 20 carries for 52 yards — 32 by Walker.
Smith was intercepted on Seattle’s opening drive. The Seahawks were on the San Francisco 25 when rookie safety Malik Mustapha pulled down a pass meant for Lockett.
Jordan Mason broke away for a 38-yard run on San Francisco’s first series, but the drive ended with Wright’s 25-yard field goal.
Samuel pulled down an early second-quarter pass from Purdy and shook off a defender for the 76-yard TD that put the 49ers up 10-0. Samuel became the first receiver in NFL history with 20 or more rushing touchdowns and 20-plus receiving scores.
Darrell Luter Jr. forced a fumble on the Seahawks’ kickoff return and Tatum Bethune recovered on the Seattle 29. Wright capped that drive with a 41-yard field goal. Wright’s third field goal gave the Niners a 16-0 lead late in the second quarter.
Aided by a pass interference call that put the ball on the 2, Smith threw three incomplete passes before the Seahawks settled for Jason Myers’ 20-yard field goal as the first half expired.
Purdy found Kittle for a 10-yard touchdown to start the second half that made it 23-3.
Mason, who left the game in the second quarter with a shoulder injury, later returned and finished with 73 yards on on nine carries for the 49ers as he continues to fill in for the injured Christian McCaffrey.
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle reacts after scoring during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle SeahawksThursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) nuns during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. males catch during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
San Francisco 49ers’ George Kittle (85) reacts after a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) is tackled by San Francisco 49ers’ Malik Mustapha (6) during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Seahawks’ Jaxon Smith-Njigba runs during the first half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) runs during the first half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
San Francisco 49ers’ George Kittle (85) os tacked by Seattle Seahawks’ Devon Witherspoon (21) during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
