49ers vs. Seahawks: Full San Francisco grades and analysis

Despite a commanding defensive performance and impressive showing running the ball, it wasn’t for the San Francisco 49ers as they lost to the Seattle Seahawks, 12-9. Here are the full postgame grades and analysis for the matchup.

Coming into the game against the Seattle Seahawks, the San Francisco 49ers were massive underdogs. For good reason too, considering the 49ers are coming off a 2-14 season and have struggled mightily playing on the road in Seattle in recent years.

But the team’s defense refused to play like underdogs, holding the Seahawks to only 12 points (who have averaged 27.0 per game at home in September under Pete Carroll) and was the sole reason San Francisco had a chance to win this game in the fourth quarter.

Through and through, the defensive effort from the 49ers was remarkable. The same cannot be said about the offense, which was repulsive barring a few players.

Running back Carlos Hyde ran with ease the entire game, all the way to a total of 124 yards on 15 carries. His backup, rookie Matt Breida, enjoyed a nice outing as well with 35 yards on just four carries.

That’s where the good stops, as quarterback Brian Hoyer played rather poorly and ultimately downed the 49ers’ chances of winning the game.

Here are the full grades and analysis from the matchup.

Defensive grades

Defensive line

This was a paramount game for the defensive unit, and it answered the call with a resounding effort. All game long, the team’s line played a pivotal role in stifling the Seahawks’ offensive attack.

Russell Wilson faced pressure all four quarters and the running game was essentially nonexistent until the end. The 49ers seized an opportunity against one of the NFL’s worst offensive lines and ran with it.

DeForest Buckner led the way, and he was maybe the best player on the field today in terms of impact made. Multiple quarterback pressures and hits highlighted his day:

Arik Armstead also turned in an impressive performance, notching one sack and four tackles. Joining those two was rookie Solomon Thomas, who had his first productive day as a 49er:

Grade: A

Linebackers

With rookie linebacker Reuben Foster out, the only playmaker the 49ers have at the position is NaVorro Bowman. Yes, he’s coming off another major injury and isn’t getting any younger, but the former All-Pro is showing he’s still got it:

Bowman finished with 10 tackles for the game, leading the team. Ray-Ray Armstrong, who’s replacing Foster, had an uneven performance that featured missed assignments leading to a substitution — but Armstrong finished the game and was second in tackles with eight.

Grade: B

Secondary

After giving up two touchdowns last week, the San Francisco secondary tightened up to allow just one against the Seahawks. And that single touchdown came on a broken play, when Wilson used his legendary scrambling abilities to extend a play in the red zone for the score.

For the game, Wilson had 198 yards passing and only averaged 5.1 yards per completion. K’Wuan Williams, Jimmie Ward and Jaquiski Tartt all recorded pass deflections, with Williams having two. Rashard Robinson did nearly have two interceptions, but dropped both of them.

Grade: B

Quarterback

There is no dancing around it, Brian Hoyer was awful against the Seahawks. The offensive line can’t be blamed either, as the pass protection provided was sufficient. The 31-year-old QB just didn’t execute.

As such, the final stat line for Hoyer is dreadful to look at:

• 15-27 passing for 99 yards and one interception.

Yeah, that’s not good.

It’s the second consecutive poor game from Hoyer, who has yet to show any of the success he experienced in training camp:

Through eight quarters played this season, Hoyer is 39-62 passing for 292 yards and two interceptions.

Grade: F

Running back

Carlos Hyde was hard to stop against Seattle and was perhaps the brightest spot of the day for the 49ers. It all began with the running back’s 61-yard run, the longest of his career:

Hyde didn’t stop there either (15 carries for 124 yards), and was seemingly the only viable option for the San Francisco offense. Consider who he was playing opposite of, and Hyde’s play is that much more impressive.

Rookie Matt Breida also showed some glimpses of his ability, as he averaged 8.8 yards a carry on his four rushes. The pair could form a nice duo together, if the offensive line can hold up.

Grade: A

Wide receiver/Tight end

It was a rough day for the 49ers wide receivers. A combination of playing against one of the NFL’s best secondaries and poor quarterback play led to this unit being rendered useless for a majority of the game.

Pierre Garçon and Marquise Goodwin each had three receptions for 36 yards, which was the high for a 49er wide receiver. Nobody else had more than 20 yards receiving.

Goodwin did have a bad drop, and while it was only one, it was certainly costly:

Grade: D

Special teams

Last week, the only source of offense for the 49ers came through their special teams. This week was no different, as kicker Robbie Gould booted three field goals (40 yards, 37 yards and 34 yards) for the only scores of the game for San Francisco.

Rookies Victor Bolden Jr. and Trent Taylor both proved capable enough in the return game, with Bolden Jr. averaging 23.7 yards per kick return and Taylor averaging 13.3 yards per punt return.

Punter Bradley Pinion had another busy day, punting the ball seven times with an average of 43.9 yards.

Grade: A

Coaching

Through two games, Kyle Shanahan is showing that he will experience growing pains this season along with his players. If the Panthers game in Week One featured some questionable decision-making on fourth downs, then Week Two against Seattle today was highlighted by time management.

The time-of-possession was dominated by the Seahawks, so much so that at one point the ratio was nearly 2:1 in favor of the home team. For the game, Seattle had the ball for 36:58 compared to San Francisco’s 23:02.

Most notably in this game was the lack of offense. Shanahan —a renowned offensive mind — is leading the play-calling and so far, the 49ers have yet to reach the end zone.

Grade: C

Next: San Francisco 49ers: App-Trigger Madden ’18 projects a 2-13-1 season in 2017

While they walk away with a loss, there is positive that can be drawn from this game. The defense stepped up and Carlos Hyde put on a show. The next step is to get the offense going, and they’ll get their chance when they face the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football in Week 3.