49ers vs. Seahawks: Winners, losers from Week 17 NFC West clincher

SEATTLE, WA - DECEMBER 29: Tackle Joe Staley #74 of the San Francisco 49ers spikes the ball after running back Raheem Mostert scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on December 29, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /

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D.K. Metcalf, Ahkello Witherspoon, Seahawks, 49ers

Wide receiver D.K. Metcalf #14 of the Seattle Seahawks against cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon #23 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

Loser: Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon

Before suffering a sprained foot earlier in the season, cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon was enjoying quite the bounce-back season. Since his return from injury, however, Witherspoon has looked a lot like the oh-so unreliable defensive back fans witnessed in 2018.

That was again the case in Week 17.

Witherspoon got the start, yet he was also a regular target of Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. And Wilson was able to take advantage of Witherspoon for much of the game, including this 14-yard fourth-quarter touchdown completion to wide receiver D.K. Metcalf, which made the score 26-21 in favor of San Francisco:

https://twitter.com/Seahawks/status/1211498124792852481

Witherspoon was beat, plain and simple. And while one can admit that happens to the best of defensive backs, the Niners lost their confidence in Witherspoon late, changing him out for fellow corner Emmanuel Moseley.

Moseley didn’t fare much better in the waning minutes, so that’ll be something interesting to watch in the two weeks between Sunday’s game and when the 49ers host their next opponent in the divisional round.