SF 49ers can’t find goal-line magic in Week 17 loss to Seahawks

In Week 17 last year, the SF 49ers managed an epic goal-line stand against the Seahawks, although that didn’t wind up being the case this go-around.

The SF 49ers 2020 season is officially after, and it came to a close with another Week 17 goal-line stand against the Seattle Seahawks where mere yards would mean the difference between a win or a loss.

Except this time, Seattle got the final laugh en route to the 26-23 victory over the Niners at State Farm Stadium.

The Seahawks managed to get on the board first with a 36-yard field goal, which seemed like a small blessing considering how much San Francisco’s offense scuttled early in the game. And another field goal in the second quarter made it seem Seattle was going to cruise to a low-score win.

Yet that would overlook some impressive performances by the SF 49ers’ starting boundary cornerbacks, Jason Verrett and Ahkello Witherspoon, who both made strong cases to improve their 2021 free-agent bids and significant contracts.

Meanwhile, coaching what could be his final game with the Niners, defensive coordinator Robert Saleh continued to show why he can do a lot with an awfully shorthanded crop of players at his disposal.

Although it helps to have a probable All-Pro in linebacker Fred Warner, who notched his first sack of the season:

Consider it one final showing by Saleh for the numerous head-coaching vacancies around the league to be named soon.

Quarterback C.J. Beathard struggled against a Seahawks defense that hadn’t allowed 20-plus points over its last five games despite issues earlier this season. By the eight-minute mark of the second quarter, Beathard had minus-6 net passing yards.

So much for the hope he’d pick up where he left off by beating the Arizona Cardinals with three touchdowns in Week 16.

At least it seemed like a small miracle Beathard and wide receiver Richie James led the Niners to a field goal late in the first half by fill-in kicker Tristan Vizcaino to make it 6-3 entering halftime.

Finally, offensive excitement. And Vizcaino tied things up on San Francisco’s second-half opening drive, too, to make it six apiece.

Not bad for a kicker signed off the street making his first ever field-goal tries.

Vizcaino gave the SF 49ers their first lead of the game, which was aided by perhaps the greatest catch in recent team history with tight end George Kittle‘s insane one-handed grab:

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1345870812612501504

Insane. No other words to describe it. Too bad Beathard couldn’t hit a wide-open Kittle in the end zone shortly thereafter.

Kittle still finished with seven catches for 68 yards on the game.

That catch, followed up by another solid defensive stand by the Niners, seemed to give Beathard and the offense some momentum. And that led to running back Jeff Wilson Jr. punching it in for a 7-yard rushing touchdown to make it 16-6 in favor of San Francisco.

It also seemed to wake things up for Seattle, though, as quarterback Russell Wilson bounced back after a lethargic two-plus quarters to engineer an eight-play, 75-yard drive culminating with a touchdown pass to wide receiver Tyler Lockett. Yet the Seahawks’ extra-point attempt missed, leaving the SF 49ers to cling to a four-point 16-12 lead with 10:54 remaining in regulation.

The Niners couldn’t answer, though, and were forced to punt. And that led to what San Francisco fans know all too well: another potential Seattle fourth-quarter game-winning drive led by Wilson and Co. It was only fitting, a year after linebacker Dre Greenlaw’s Week 17 stop against the Seahawks’ Jacob Hollister at the goal line, another goal-line stand would be needed by the SF 49ers defense.

This time, however, Wilson hit Lockett on fourth down for the go-ahead score and 19-16 lead.

Beathard being strip-sacked on the Niners’ following possession and the subsequent Seattle recovery all but iced things, sending San Francisco to its 10th loss of the season after giving up a meaningless touchdown after Beathard’s turnover. At least Beathard hit Wilson for a late touchdown before regulation ended to help cover the spread.

And no Week 17 heroics this time around.