George Kittle strikes twice as 49ers hold off Seahawks fightback
George Kittle (31) recorded two touchdowns as the San Francisco 49ers fended off a second-half surge from the Seattle Seahawks, securing a 36-24 victory in a hard-fought divisional matchup on Thursday.
Niners quarterback Brock Purdy delivered an impressive performance, throwing for three touchdowns and accumulating 255 passing yards without any interceptions, while Deebo Samuel contributed with three receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown.
San Francisco, which had faced challenges in closing out games while in the lead in recent weeks, appeared determined to reverse that trend, establishing a commanding 23-3 advantage early in the third quarter at Lumen Field, thanks to touchdowns from Samuel and Kittle, along with three field goals from Matthew Wright.
However, the Seahawks responded dramatically with a remarkable 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Laviska Shenault Jr., reigniting hope for the home team.
Following a defensive stop on the next 49ers possession, Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith orchestrated a 94-yard drive over 13 plays, culminating in a one-yard touchdown run by running back Kenneth Walker, narrowing the score to 23-17.
The Seahawks' momentum, however, was halted midway through the fourth quarter when 49ers cornerback Renardo Green intercepted Smith's pass intended for D.K. Metcalf.
This interception positioned the 49ers favorably at the Seattle 15-yard line, where Purdy capitalized by connecting with tight end Kittle for a nine-yard touchdown pass, extending San Francisco's lead to 29-17.
Despite the setback, Seattle remained resilient and set the stage for a tense finish with just one minute and 44 seconds left, as Smith found Tyler Lockett in the end zone for a touchdown, bringing the Seahawks within five points.
Any chance of a Seattle comeback was extinguished on the first possession of the ensuing San Francisco drive, as rookie running back Isaac Guerendo broke free for a 76-yard run, stopping just short of the goal line. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk then powered through from six yards out, securing the victory for the 49ers.
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