Every little thing that might have gone flawed did go flawed for the 49ers of their season-opening sport Sunday in Seattle.
You had a particular groups unit that appeared just like the gamers had by no means met one another earlier than and a kicker who missed one other simple discipline purpose.
You had star gamers taking place sooner than the inventory market on a foul day — George Kittle, Trent Williams, Jauan Jennings, all picked up accidents, conjuring reminiscences of final yr’s debacle of a season.
You had Brock Purdy throwing two interceptions that left you screaming at your TV.
However amid all that, we’re speaking a couple of first-place workforce following San Francisco’s 17-13 come-from-behind win over the Seahawks.
In a number of weeks, we gained’t keep in mind how the 49ers gained on Sunday; we’ll solely keep in mind that they did, and that win within the standings may loom exceptionally massive come December.
Sure, within the NFL, the ends justify the means.
However the Niners must hope Sunday’s victory over the division-rival Seahawks qualifies as a tone-setter for the rest of the season.
And we’re speaking in regards to the good tones, right here.
Just like the one that claims, “We’re not perfect, but we’re going to fight until the final whistle, no matter how ugly it gets.”
To be honest, nobody anticipated the 49ers’ first sport this season to look crisp, detailed or organized. This workforce is counting on a slew of rookies and unproven gamers on either side of the ball. They’ve spent the previous couple of weeks scrambling to construct a roster and training with restricted personnel.
The Niners entered the season with much more questions than solutions. That doesn’t change after Sunday.
The truth is, they may have added a number of extra inquiries to the pile with their efficiency.
However one of many questions coming into Sunday’s sport was whether or not Purdy may rise to the event within the greatest moments. If he could possibly be clutch.
Does a last drive the place he goes 6-for-6 for 67 yards and a landing reply that query?
Purdy’s game-winning drive was the sort of efficiency you count on from a quarterback making greater than 1 / 4 of a billion {dollars} — franchise cash. He purged the unhealthy play that preceded it and made big-time performs when big-time performs have been wanted.
And this season, it appears like they’ll be wanted very often.
The Niners will not be the juggernaut they as soon as have been. Removed from it.
San Francisco 49ers tight finish Jake Tonges (88) celebrates with tight finish Luke Farrell, heart, after a landing throughout the second half of an NFL soccer sport towards the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photograph/Lindsey Wasson)
San Francisco 49ers security Marques Sigle (36) triest to get the ball after a fumble throughout the second half of an NFL soccer sport towards the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photograph/Lindsey Wasson)
San Francisco 49ers defensive finish Nick Bosa (97) runs down the sphere with the ball throughout the second half of an NFL soccer sport towards the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photograph/Lindsey Wasson)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – SEPTEMBER 07: Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers is sacked by Julian Love #20 of the Seattle Seahawks throughout the second quarter throughout the sport at Lumen Discipline on September 07, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photograph by Steph Chambers/Getty Photos)
San Francisco 49ers tight finish Jake Tonges (88) reacts after a landing throughout the second half of an NFL soccer sport towards the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photograph/Lindsey Wasson)
San Francisco 49ers tight finish Jake Tonges (88) makes a landing catch throughout the second half of an NFL soccer sport towards the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photograph/Lindsey Wasson)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – SEPTEMBER 07: George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers catches a go towards Coby Bryant #8 of the Seattle Seahawks throughout the first quarter throughout the sport at Lumen Discipline on September 07, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photograph by Steph Chambers/Getty Photos)
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 sport at Lumen Discipline on Sept. 07, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photograph by Steph Chambers/Getty Photos)
Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh of the San Francisco 49ers appears on throughout the second quarter towards the Seattle Seahawks throughout the sport at Lumen Discipline on Sept. 07, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photograph by Steph Chambers/Getty Photos)
San Francisco 49ers defensive finish Nick Bosa (97) runs down the sphere with the ball throughout the second half of an NFL soccer sport towards the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photograph/Lindsey Wasson)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – SEPTEMBER 07: Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after defeating the Seattle Seahawks throughout the sport at Lumen Discipline on September 07, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photograph by Steph Chambers/Getty Photos)
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San Francisco 49ers tight finish Jake Tonges (88) celebrates with tight finish Luke Farrell, heart, after a landing throughout the second half of an NFL soccer sport towards the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photograph/Lindsey Wasson)
Develop
Maybe sooner or later, down the road this season or past, their younger expertise may help them attain that stage once more. However within the meantime, they’re going to be taking part in down-to-the-wire, scrap-it-out video games, week in and week out. That is how most groups within the NFL function, and the way gamers carry out in these last minutes of video games is how reputations are burnished.
Purdy carried out with aplomb Sunday. Sure, his game-winning landing go to Jake Tonges (no, that’s not a typo), might need been eminently interceptable, nevertheless it was additionally solely made doable due to Purdy’s scrambling skill. He prolonged the play, stored his eyes downfield, and gave his man — even should you didn’t know who the man was — an opportunity.
You’re going to must be taught to be snug dwelling on the sting should you’re going to observe this workforce this season.
And it wasn’t simply Purdy who got here up clutch in Seattle.
Christian McCaffrey fought by a midweek calf damage to intestine out 142 yards of offense, greater than a 3rd of the Niners’ general output. Tonges got here out of nowhere to make the primary three catches of his NFL profession on the game-winning drive. Amid a endless string of accidents at his place, sophomore receiver Ricky Pearsall lived as much as his singular jersey quantity with a 108-yard efficiency. And defensive finish Nick Bosa – quiet for the overwhelming majority of the sport — made back-to-back profitable performs to cap the win, not solely stuffing a run within the pink zone, however then forcing a fumble from Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold on the following play and selecting the ball as much as seal the win.
When you’ve got that sort of well-timed good play, you may reside with the unhealthy.
It’s on the Niners to set Sunday’s sport as a baseline. If that’s as unhealthy because it will get all season, they are going to win greater than they lose.
If that’s an indication of issues to return, it’s going to be a protracted yr.
Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh put it greatest when he was requested about his younger, inexperienced roster on Thursday: “Put your seatbelt on, enjoy the ride.”
He would possibly as properly have been speaking about the entire workforce. What a bumpy, twisty begin to the journey that was.
However the Niners seem like they’ve the precise guys on the wheel on this road-trip of a marketing campaign — Purdy, McCaffrey, Bosa and Fred Warner. And which may simply allow them to get the place they need by the top.
However within the meantime, please go the Dramamine.
Initially Revealed: September 7, 2025 at 5:27 PM PDT
