By JOSH DUBOW
AP skilled soccer author
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — When Charles Omenihu took the ball out of Geno Smith’s fingersSeattle’s possibilities additionally started to fade.
The turnover ruined a scoring alternative for the Seahawks and shortly the sport as San Francisco turned a good sport right into a blowout.
The Seahawks’ shocking season got here to a bitter finish Saturday after they gave up 25 straight second-half factors and misplaced 41-23 to the 49ers in a wild card sport.
“We had our probability,” stated coach Pete Carroll. “So the suddenness of this ending is what’s putting proper now. We thought we had been going to make it occur and take these guys down and transfer on. I am very disillusioned. We had a terrific alternative at the moment. All of us really feel it.”
After going into halftime main 17-16 after a giveaway area aim within the remaining 13 seconds because of a private foul on Jimmie Ward, the Seahawks fell aside within the second half.
The Niners had a spark when Seattle security Johnathan Abram grabbed and twisted Deebo Samuel’s beforehand injured left ankle following a sort out on the opening drive of the second half and by no means seemed again.
“I do not know what he was attempting to perform by doing that, nevertheless it wasn’t good,” 49ers linebacker Fred Warner stated.
San Francisco took the lead for good on that drive when Brock Purdy hit a buzzer from the first and the 49ers took management with a sack of Omenihu that Nick Bosa recovered.
“He made a terrific play,” Smith stated. “He had two fingers on the ball. That is precisely how we do it: two fingers on the ball, glued to my chest. He is the NFL, man. The 49ers have a terrific protection. , bugs, in video games like this, turn out to be rather more crucial.”
The Seahawks allowed one other landing drive on the following possession to path 31–17, allowed a 76-yard landing run to Samuel on the following drive, after which threw an interception on the following play, ending any probability of a comeback.
That introduced a disappointing finish to what had been a really encouraging season for Seattle. The Seahawks traded franchise quarterback Russell Wilson within the offseason after which acquired a giant season from Smith, who threw for 30 TD passes and a franchise-record 4,282 yards within the common season.
Seattle made the playoffs in week 18 because of an extra time win over the Rams and a Inexperienced Bay loss to Detroit that evening and put up an excellent battle by simply over half.
The Seahawks scored on a 14-play drive and 50-yard go from Smith to Metcalf to erase a 10-0 deficit, however did not rating within the second half till a junk-time TD with 1:48 to play.
Smith completed 25 of 35 passing for 253 yards, two touchdowns and two turnovers.
“I am not totally glad,” Smith stated. “I do not be ok with what occurred at the moment. I really feel like we might have moved on. So for me, man, I simply must be higher and I take it personally.”
Now consideration turns to the long run, and the largest query of the offseason is the standing of Smith, who’s eligible to turn out to be a free agent in March however possible earned a hefty contract.
“He led a crew that did not make the playoffs final 12 months to the playoffs this 12 months,” security Quandre Diggs stated. “We would not be right here with out Geno. … I hope he’s again safely. I believe issues will work out.”
Smith feels the identical.
“I wish to end my profession in Seattle,” he stated. “I wish to be right here. The city, the town, the crew, Coach Carroll, the group, all of them embraced me. I used to be a man who in all probability might have been out of the league. They embraced me and I wish to repay them for that.”
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