49ers 17, Seahawks 13: Late heroics produce chaotic season-opening win

SEATTLE – Brock Purdy purchased time within the pocket, rolled proper and threw up a Hail Mary-esque cross, even when it was solely a 4-yard desperation lob.

Jake Tonges, subbing for the injured George Kittle, someway used all 6-foot-4 of his body to tug down his first-ever landing catch.

The 49ers had a four-point lead with 1 1/2 minutes remaining of their chaotic season opener. Extra chaos was coming. So was Nick Bosa.

San Francisco 49ers defensive finish Nick Bosa (97) runs down the sector with the ball throughout the second half of an NFL soccer recreation towards the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Picture/Lindsey Wasson)

Bosa recovered a Sam Darnold fumble with 36 seconds remaining contained in the 49ers’ pink zone to protect a season-opening 17-13 win.

“It was a rollercoaster,” Bosa stated, “and in the NFL you have to stay even keel, no matter what happens, because if I’m not locked in on that last play, maybe we lose.”

Bosa pushed Seahawks proper deal with Abraham Lucas into Darnold within the pocket, the ball got here unfastened, Bosa pounced on it, and some minutes later, Purdy skipped off into the guests’ tunnel along with his first win as a $265 million quarterback.

Thus, the 49ers weren’t doomed by Jake Moody’s disastrous field-goal makes an attempt, Purdy’s two interceptions after halftime, or accidents that took out Kittle (hamstring), large receiver Jauan Jennings (shoulder) and, briefly, left deal with Trent Williams (ankle).

GRAND FINALE, PART I

Tonges stated his first profession landing performed out in sluggish movement as a 10-second second he’ll keep in mind eternally.

“I went up, caught it, looked down at my feet to make sure I was inbound, looked around for flags, and it was silent because we’re on the road,” Tonges stated. “Someone, I think Russell Gage, said: ‘You scored, you scored.’ Then I spiked the ball and celebrated with all my guys.”

Up till the profitable drive, Tonges had no profession receptions — to the shock of Purdy and most teammates afterward. Tonges produced catches for two and 9 yards just a few snaps earlier than Purdy sought him out for the finale.

“The coverage was tight and I felt I needed to leave the pocket and find a guy in the end zone,” Purdy stated. “I wanted to put it hopefully where Tonges could get it or no one could get it. It was a close call.”

Purdy sparked that drive with a 45-yard completion to Ricky Pearsall, thrusting the 49ers to the Seahawks’ 22-yard line. After Tonges’ preliminary catches, McCaffrey had a 1-yard run and a 6-yard catch, organising a third-and-3 from the 4-yard line, which Purdy and Tonges was magic.

Seattle coach Mike Maconald stated: “We played the first 9.9 of that 10-second play at the end phenomenally. The guy made a great play.”

GRAND FINALE, DEFENSIVELY

The Seahawks threatened to nullify Tonges’ rating with their very own landing, and a 40-yard cross from Darnold to Jaxon Smith-Njigba acquired them within the pink zone. After cross rusher Bryce Huff jumped offside, Bosa stopped Kenneth Walker III for no acquire and adopted his a strip-sack fumble restoration.

“In those two-minute situations, you want to go tee off on the quarterback,” Shanahan stated. “And from what I saw, it was an awesome job not just running past him and allowing him to step up. He got to the top, came back underneath. … To finish it right there, we don’t have to worry about what else would have happened.”

Bosa stated of the profitable end: “It tested us in a lot of ways, so it was really good. Obviously ending with a win is what we’re always aiming for, and the fact I was able to help is always great.”

Darnold, the 49ers’ 2023 backup, was 16-of-23 for 150 yards and one sack.

‘NO QUESTION’ MOODY STAYS?

The third time was Moody’s appeal, as he tied the rating at 10 by changing a 32-yard try with 9:42 remaining. Shanahan stated there may be “no question” Moody will stay the 49ers’ kicker, however he did notice he didn’t wish to make any heat-of-the-moment proclamation and would assessment all the things about this recreation.

Earlier, Moody added to his struggles from final season and the preseason. A 27-yard try from the left hashmark careened into the left upright. In flip, it was the Seahawks who acquired a go-ahead subject objective simply earlier than halftime, with Jason Myers changing from 48 yards for a 10-7 lead.

Moody’s second subject objective try, from 36 yards, acquired blocked when Julian Love shortly jumped previous Matt Hennessy and smothered Moody’s try on its ascent. Shanahan, irate on the time, blamed that block on the “operation” of the blockers.

Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers runs the ball throughout the second quarter towards the Seattle Seahawks throughout the recreation at Lumen Subject on Sept. 07, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Picture by Amanda Loman/Getty Photos)

McCAFFREY VERY ACTIVE

Questionable with a calf difficulty, McCaffrey was not eased into obligation. He produced 142 yards from scrimmage because the 49ers’ best offensive weapon, although he was relieved every now and then by Brian Robinson Jr. (9 carries, 33 yards).

Requested how his physique will reply, McCaffrey quipped: “Amazing.” He had 22 carries for 69 yards and 9 receptions for 73 yards.

GRAND OPENING

Purdy engineered a 95-yard, 14-play landing drive on the 49ers’ first possession, capped off by a 5-yard landing cross to Kittle close to the entrance proper pylon. Retaining that collection afloat had been three third-down conversions: receptions by Kittle (eight yards) and Pearsall (26 yards), but in addition a roughing-the-passer penalty on Leonard Williams on a Purdy incompletion.

The Seahawks answered the 49ers’ first landing drive, additionally capitalizing on a defensive penalty. After Upton Stout drew a pass-interference penalty on an obvious fourth-and-3 overthrow towards Cooper Kupp in the long run zone, Zach Charbonnet scored on a 1-yard run for a 7-7 tie early within the second quarter.

HEALTH WATCH

— Kittle initially drew inspection from the 49ers’ medical employees on the bench following his landing catch. 5 offensive snaps later, Kittle slowly walked to the sideline downfield after Purdy acquired sacked (when McCaffrey failed to dam a blitzing security).

— Jauan Jennings jogged off with a left shoulder harm early within the fourth quarter. He caught 2-of-5 targets for 16 yards, together with an 11-yard acquire on third down. Already with out Brandon Aiyuk (knee), Demarcus Robinson (suspended) and Jordan Watkins (ankle), Shanahan acknowledged the 49ers may signal Kendrick Bourne, who labored out for them Monday.

— All-Professional linebacker Fred Warner acquired kicked within the face on the Seahawks’ first scoring drive, his helmet popping unfastened and his nostril bludgeoned by Charbonnet’s foot on an outdoor run. Warner returned that collection with cotton stuffed up his left nostril, and he opened the subsequent drive with a deal with for loss. Mentioned Bosa: “His nose was just leaking blood. I was like, ‘You OK? You don’t look OK.’”

— Left deal with Trent Williams harm his problematic proper ankle on the identical collection (the 49ers’ third) wherein Kittle left. Williams didn’t miss any snaps, nonetheless.

— Defensive finish Sam Okuayinonu was evaluated and cleared of a possible concussion. He pressured a fumble that was recovered by security Marques Sigle, who began in his NFL debut.

“We have a really new team,” McCaffrey stated. “There’s so much talk about our past teams and we try to wipe away all the past noise away and focus on this team. To have a bunch of new guys come out for the first time together and play with each other and get out a gritty win against a good team in a touch environment, that’s a big deal.”

San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges (88) reacts after...

San Francisco 49ers tight finish Jake Tonges (88) reacts after a landing throughout the second half of an NFL soccer recreation towards the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Picture/Lindsey Wasson)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – SEPTEMBER 07: George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers catches a cross towards Coby Bryant #8 of the Seattle Seahawks throughout the first quarter throughout the recreation at Lumen Subject on September 07, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Picture by Steph Chambers/Getty Photos)

San Francisco 49ers tight finish Jake Tonges (88) makes a landing catch throughout the second half of an NFL soccer recreation towards the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Picture/Lindsey Wasson)

George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers scores a landing towards Ty Okada #39 of the Seattle Seahawks throughout the first quarter throughout the recreation at Lumen Subject on Sept. 07, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Picture by Steph Chambers/Getty Photos)

Brian Robinson Jr. #3 of the San Francisco 49ers catches the ball throughout the second quarter towards the Seattle Seahawks throughout the recreation at Lumen Subject on Sept. 07, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Picture by Steph Chambers/Getty Photos)

Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers appears to cross the ball towards the Seattle Seahawks throughout the recreation at Lumen Subject on Sept. 07, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Picture by Steph Chambers/Getty Photos)

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) tries to get previous Seattle Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) throughout the first half of an NFL soccer recreation Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Picture/Lindsey Wasson)

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir (2) celebrates because the clock winds down throughout the second half of an NFL soccer recreation towards the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Picture/John Froschauer)

Jake Tonges #88 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates a landing throughout the fourth quarter towards the Seattle Seahawks throughout the recreation at Lumen Subject on Sept. 07, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Picture by Amanda Loman/Getty Photos)

San Francisco 49ers tight finish Luke Farrell (89) is tackled by Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) and linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) throughout the second half of an NFL soccer recreation Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Picture/Lindsey Wasson)