No shortage of SF 49ers overreactions in loss to Seahawks

Niner Noise breaks down the 2020 season finale for the SF 49ers, as the team battled hard but eventually fell to the playoff-bound Seattle Seahawks.

And spoiling the Seahawks’ slim hopes of a No. 1 seed is more than a good way to end the season on a high.

The defense has been spectacular despite missing so many personnel, I feel sorry to be losing defensive coordinator Robert Saleh to whichever team is smart enough to hire him as a head coach for 2021.

Not quite the start for the offense we were hoping for.

Well, the defense stopped the Seahawks yet again.

Watching the defense overcome the challenges set before it in 2020 has been one of the highlights.

If the offense had the same success, the SF 49ers would be in the playoffs this season.

First down for San Francisco, but it’s hard to see how many times the Niners will pass when wide receiver River Cracraft is a starter for this.

Well, the offense stalls again, this’ll need to be a battle of defenses if the SF 49ers want to make the upset happen here.

The defense was holding the Seahawks as well, but unfortunately, the little halfback checkdown surprises a defense so many times.

Quarterback Russell Wilson is so good at avoiding certain sacks. Ugh.

Pass was incomplete at least.

The Seahawks score the field goal and it’s 3-0.

Haven’t seen much from Beathard yet, but to be fair, I don’t think the blocking has helped much.

End of the first quarter and it’s a 3-0 ballgame.

There hasn’t been a lot to talk about this game, the SF 49ers offense can’t stay on the field and the Seahawks either can’t stay on the field or they’re chipping away with short runs and passes.

Which speaking of, is what’s happening now.

Well, the San Francisco red-zone defense can’t be criticized, it’s kept the Seahawks out so far.

Say what you want about Beathard, he will put his body on the line for the team every time.

But then he’ll take a really bad sack and it just doesn’t work out.

Unfortunately, the offense looks to have just too many injuries to do anything against the Seattle defense.

AND THEN THE NEXT PLAY IS A PERFECT BOMB TO RICHIE JAMES!

And then the drive is backed up from a holding call. Ugh.

And then the drive is saved by a busted coverage on Kittle.

I mean, a busted coverage on Kittle you don’t see every game.

Well done by Beathard getting the ball there quick so he can get the first down.

Two-minute warning, the SF 49ers could actually steal the lead here.

Doesn’t quite end the way the team would want, but they’re at least going to get some pointed.

The freshly extended Robbie Gould is out and the 49ers are using a street free agent, Tristan Vizcaino, but it’s still good to cut the deficit to 6-3.

Vizcaino, 1-of-1 so far.

Cornerback Dontae Johnson ends the half with a hard sack, not too shabby.

The second half beginning, the SF 49ers have the ball and really need to do something here to put the pressure on Seattle.

Nice little modified play action on that pass to Kittle, and that’ll move the chains.

The announcers are trashing Beathard throwing to Kittle, but it was a good enough throw to catch. Yes, Kittle had to dive for it, but it wasn’t an especially difficult catch.

Tristan Vizcaino, 2-of-2. He might be putting himself on a preseason roster next season if nothing else.

6-6, potential upset alert?

Wow, the defense has been absolutely amazing for San Francisco. This may actually be the best it has looked all year.

Cracraft with a huge return to bring it to midfield, the momentum shift has been enormous.

Goddamn, Kittle, what a circus catch that was!

Plucked it out with one hand, smooth as silk.

Kittle: How do I apologize for dropping a touchdown? I’ll just pluck that ball with one hand like I’m picking an apple.

Kittle: The People’s Tight End.

Vizcaino, 3-of-3.

9-6 lead for the SF 49ers, can they keep it up?

Well, the defense certainly can, the Niners deserve an A-plus all around on the defensive side of the ball.

Can the offense get into the end zone and make it a two-score game?

The SF 49ers look like they’re one big play away from blowing the game wide open, but if you leave a game close then Wilson is always one play away himself.

Big fourth-down coming up here, can they keep the drive alive?

I mean, I’ll go out and say it: I’ve seen enough to think Beathard could be a viable backup for San Francisco next season.

Whether it be Jimmy Garoppolo or someone else at the helm, I may not necessarily hate Beathard as the clipboard holder.

It’s the end of the third quarter, the Niners are threatening again.

Can they get into the end zone?

Touchdown! Wilson jumps in and it’s 16-6!

Where was this team against Washington and Dallas?

As weird as it is to type this, Beathard has been the difference. We would have seen San Francisco beat Washington and Dallas if he was starting those games.

I love Nick Mullens and I love his story, but it’s clear to me Beathard has the advantage over him now.

Ugh, I hate unnecessary flags.

The Seahawks have started driving down the field at will on this drive, looks like the 49ers got that buffer just in time.

The inability to catch Russell Wilson is so frustrating. EDGE Kerry Hyder had him cold and he keeps getting free.

And the result is a touchdown, 16-12 to the 49ers now after a failed extra point.

The failed extra point makes it a bit interesting, now all the 49ers need is a field goal to make it a seven-point game again.

Seahawks bring the blitz on third down, and Beathard stays calm with a perfect throw to Cracraft.

Beathard has been legitimately impressive.

The drive stalls, and now the Seahawks have a chance to get the lead here.

The Seahawks once again driving down the field, you cannot afford to give Russell Wilson a chance to make a comeback, and that’s happening right now.

All Wilson has to do if nobody is open is scramble, the frustrating flaw of the SF 49ers defense is this inability to contain scrambling QBs.

Can the Niners make one last goal-line stand to stop the Seahawks from getting the lead?

So far, so good.

Third down now, can they hold for two more plays?

Third down incomplete, can they hold now for one more play?

No, they can’t, Tyler Lockett has just been unstoppable.

Looks like the 49ers will have a two-minute drill now.

19-16 to Seattle.

Beathard sacked and fumbled, Seahawks recover.

Sigh.

Touchdown to Seattle, and that’ll be the game.

Well, can the SF 49ers score and at least make it an interesting end?

Well, they’re driving down the field quickly enough.

Still, some garbage-time stats to be done, who gets the garbage-time touchdown though?

Let’s make it Kittle, he deserves something to end the season.

Wilson it is. Second touchdown of the game so that’s nice.

An onside kick recovered by the Seahawks, and that’ll end the season.

A 6-10 record wasn’t what we wanted from this season, but we can be proud that we never gave up and fought it out despite so much hardship both from injuries and the general uncertainty from the epidemic.

That’ll end it from me this season, as we look onto 2021.