16 items every Seattleite needs to survive in the Emerald City
Seahawks' Clowney, Reed make Pro Football Focus list of top 50
50 years ago today: Boeing 747 debuts commercial flight — a
Arthur: 49ers' Super Bowl run shows that Pete Carroll's winning
Latin America/Carribean
Seahawks/NFL
Mariners/MLB
Sounders/Reign/Soccer
Huskies/Cougars
Seahawks LB Bobby Wagner to miss Pro Bowl with knee injury
Pro Football Focus: Seahawks QB Russell Wilson is the true NFL
What are biggest questions surrounding the Seattle Seahawks as
Theater/Arts
Kurt Cobain's 'Unplugged' sweater highlights auction of rock
Florangela Davila, fired from Crosscut, hired as KNKX news
The internet's most famous animals
Fashion gets the regal with MoPOP's new 'Queen Within' exhibit
Reader Blogs
Travel Deals by Travelzoo
Golden Globes red carpet: Who wore black the best and worst
Carolyn Hax: Choosing not to let friend usurp birthday plans
These pop-culture favorites will officially be old in 2018
Wearing black at the Golden Globes: What we'll miss
Comics: Funky Winkerbean, Zits and more
Puzzles: Sudoku, Crossword and more
Horoscopes: Daily astrology
Trivia: Quizzes and more
Real estate features
Real estate partner: Conner Homes
Real estate partner: ONE88
Real estate partner: KODA Condominiums
Sponsored: Materra at Greenbridge: Convenience and style
Sponsored: Why now is the time to move to Westridge at Issaquah
Bellevue mansion is the most expensive sale of the year
https://www.seattlepi.com/sports/seahawks/article/Craziest-game-I-ve-ever-been-apart-of-14827744.php
'Craziest game I've ever been a part of': Analysis from Seahawks' thrilling OT win over 49ers
By Ben Arthur, SeattlePI
Updated 6:04 pm PST, Tuesday, November 12, 2019
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 11: Emmanuel Sanders #17 of the San Francisco 49ers is tackled by Neiko Thorpe #23 of the Seattle Seahawks in the first quarter at Levi's Stadium on November 11, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) ***BESTPIX*** less
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 11: Emmanuel Sanders #17 of the San Francisco 49ers is tackled by Neiko Thorpe #23 of the Seattle Seahawks in the first quarter at Levi's Stadium on November 11, 2019 in Santa ... more
Photo: Lachlan Cunningham / Getty Images
The hype ahead of the Seahawks' showdown with the 49ers called for a rebirth of a rivalry. What we got was so much more that.
It was a clash of great teams, trading colossal blows. It was a kicker claiming redemption. It was the league's frontrunner for MVP going at the No. 1 defense in the NFL. And it was the other defense, the one no one trusted, emerging as one worthy of a legitimate contender.
The end result? A thriller.
"That was the craziest game I've ever been a part of," Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson said.
RELATED: Best case scenario for Seahawks? Josh Gordon the 'cherry on top' for WRs room
Seattle topped the San Francisco 49ers 27-24 in a dramatic overtime classic on Monday Night Football at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, perhaps establishing itself as a Super Bowl threat — and not just an NFC threat — in the process.
And if there was no rivalry between the teams ahead of the game, there is now. Called it renewed.
Here are takeaways and analysis from Seattle's biggest win of the season:
WILSON, OFFENSE DOES JUST ENOUGH TO DELIVER MAGIC
Wilson uncharacteristically flopped to start overtime. He threw just his second pick of the season in the red zone of the potential game-winning drive. But the Niners had a sputter of their own, turning their takeaway into a blown 43-yard field goal by rookie Chase McLaughlin that would've won the game. Then the teams traded scoreless series.
But the third time was the charm for the Seahawks. Wilson led a seven-play, 40-yard series to set up the no-doubt-about-it, game-winning field goal by kicker Jason Myers.
THE GAME WINNER.
42 YARDS.@SEAHAWKS WIN! #Seahawks #SEAvsSF pic.twitter.com/FdijK2Nueb
The game-changing play on the winning drive: Wilson scrambled for 18 yards on 3rd and short to give Seattle a fresh set of downs within striking distance of the uprights, at the San Francisco 39. The rest sealed the deal. Wilson completed a short pass to rookie receiver D.K. Metcalf on the next play and tailback Chris Carson got seven yards on the ground to set up Myers' 42-yarder.
Wilson, the MVP favorite, has now led game-winning overtime drives in back-to back contests. He extends his NFL-best fourth quarter and overtime comeback victories mark since 2012 to 32.
The most clutch quarterback in the NFL came through again — and in his team's biggest game of the 2019 season.
RELATED: 'He wants to take the top guys': The emergence of Seahawks corner Shaquill Griffin
SWEET, SWEET REDEMPTION
Myers hit the game-winning field goal in OT to send Seattle home victorious. But to do so must have been especially gratifying, considering his struggles in 2019.
Myers, a Pro Bowler last season, had his worst game of the year in last week's win over the Buccaneers. He missed an extra point and two field goals in the contest, including the potential game winner in regulation. Entering Monday, he was 3 of 8 on field goals of 40 or more yards, according to Pro Football Reference. Seattle inked Myers to a four-year, $15.45 million in the offseason to be Mr. Reliable. Instead, he'd been Mr. Inconsistent.
But the Seahawks remained steadfast in their support of him through the hiccups, and he delivered big against the rival 49ers.
He technically won Monday's game two other times, too. Myers' eventual game winner came after he'd already drilled the kick from the same distance, but it was ruled no good because Niners coach Kyle Shanahan called timeout before the ball was snapped.
And Myers also hit a 46 yarder to give the Seahawks the 24-21 lead with 1:55 left in the fourth quarter. That would've won the game if San Francisco hadn't charged downfield on its ensuing drive to tie it up with one second left in regulation.
"I felt like we won the game like three times," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll joked postgame.
CLOWNEY LEADS PASS RUSH, DEFENSIVE LINE TO ITS BEST SHOWING OF 2019
Seahawks defensive end Jadeveon Clowney had his coming out party in Seattle's big win Monday with a monster stat line: a fumble-return touchdown, a strip sack and five quarterback hits. Carroll called it a "breakout game" for the 26-year-old pass rusher.
The 49ers could do nothing to stop the 6-foot-5, 255-pound Clowney from getting into their backfield consistently. He was wreaking havoc on San Francisco's tackles and guards all night long.
And just like that, @clownejd's got it!
We are ON THE BOARD! 🤩
Q2: SEA 7, SF 10 pic.twitter.com/RwYd1hnUkx
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) November 12, 2019
And his effectiveness in the pass rush created playmaking opportunities for the entire defensive front. At least two sacks — one for nose tackle Al Woods, another split between Jarran Reed and Poona Ford — were caused by Clowney forcing Niners quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to move in the pocket.
The former Texan sparked the best performance of the season for Seattle's defensive line: four sacks (a fifth came from corner Tre Flowers), nine combined QB hits and a bat down at the line of scrimmage. San Francisco' No. 2-rated run attack, which was averaging more than 171 rushing yards per game entering Monday, was also held to just 87 yards on the ground — its lowest output on the season. Seattle's defensive front was spectacular playing both the pass and the run, and it was spearheaded by Clowney.
Monday's outing offered the the latest example that the Seahawks absolutely cannot let Clowney, who's playing on the one-year tender this season, slip away in free agency. The sack production hasn't been there, at just three on the year. But he's been a consistent force at the line of scrimmage.
The big question: does Seattle's defensive line carry its performance against the 49ers into the rest of the season?
DIGGS BALLS OUT IN SEAHAWKS' DEBUT
Maybe Quandre Diggs was the missing piece all along for the Seahawks' secondary.
The 26-year-old safety finally made his Seattle debut Monday — after being sidelined the previous two games since being acquired from Detroit with a hamstring injury — and made his impact felt in a big way. Diggs had an interception and recorded three bone-crushing hits, including two registered as tackles.
"He's played a lot of football and you could tell," Carroll said. "He's got savvy that helps us."
Diggs picked off Garoppolo in the third quarter after Niners receiver Kendrick Bourne bobbled a high pass. The ex-Lion returned it 44 yards down the sideline to set up the Seahawks with first down in the red zone, where they converted the gifted drive into a touchdown for their first lead of the game at 14-10.
Carroll elected to start Diggs with Bradley McDougald at safety instead of rookie second-round pick Marquise Blair, who had started the previous three games. Seattle went with the more veteran tandem, and it paid dividends — with both making Legion of Boom-esque hits in the defensive backfield.
Diggs started at free safety, with McDougald at strong.
INTERCEPTION!
Right in the hands of @qdiggs6 🔥#GoHawks x #SEAvsSF pic.twitter.com/jQBr4texxS
SEAHAWKS' OFFENSE CARRIED BY THE DEFENSE … WAIT, WHAT?
Monday's game offered a flip of script for Seattle: Instead of the offense carrying the defense — as has been the case many times this season — it was vice versa.
The Seahawks' super-efficient offense had one of its worst performances of 2019 Monday against the NFL's top-rated defense, committing four turnovers: three fumbles lost (five fumbles overall) and Wilson's red-zone interception in overtime.
None were more costly than what happened at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Seattle's pass protection fell apart on a drop back by Wilson, and he was strip sacked. The ball wound up in Germain Ifedi's arms as Wilson went down. But instead of falling on the ball, the right tackle attempted to carry the rock out of harm's way, causing a bigger problem in the process. Niners linebacker Fred Warner punched the ball out of Ifedi's grip, and DeForest Buckner returned the fumble 12 yards to the house.
The touchdown cut the Seahawks' lead to three at 21-18 with 12:01 left in the period. The gaffe erased the momentum from Carson's TD at the end of the third quarter that put Seattle in control of the game with an 11-point advantage.
What just happened...?!
TOUCHDOWN, @49ers defense! #GoNiners
📺: #SEAvsSF on ESPN
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app
Watch free on mobile: https://t.co/SlB0VGjZhH pic.twitter.com/uHBN5UxDf3
While Seattle's offense set up the game-winning field goal, the brilliant play of the defense essentially prevented the offense from blowing the game. Seattle's D sacked Garoppolo five times and held him to 24-of-46 passing (52.17% completion rate) for 248 yards and a touchdown with an interception and a poor 66.2 passer rating. San Francisco's run-heavy offense was also held to its worst performance of 2019.
The Niners didn't score an offensive touchdown after the first quarter.
"We just wanted to prove that we were the best defense on the field tonight," linebacker Bobby Wagner said. "It was really on our mindset because we understood what everybody was thinking because of the last two weeks. We felt like we played really well."
LOCKETT HURT
Despite the incredibly win, there is worry surrounding Seahawks No. 1 receiver Tyler Lockett, who suffered a lower leg contusion in the game.
Lockett, who's enjoying a breakout season, came out of the contest in the fourth quarter and did not return. There's concern with the swelling of the injury, according to Carroll. The issue is serious enough that the Seahawks kept him at a Santa Clara, Calif. hospital overnight instead of flying back home with the team.
"Tyler Lockett got a really, really bad lower leg bruise contusion that caused some issue that we're working on," Carroll said. "I can't tell you much more about it than that right now, but he's out of here right now to get looked at. It will be OK, but it's a pretty severe situation for right now."
Carroll added that he's unsure at this time if the issue is serious enough to keep him out long term, beyond the bye week Seattle has coming up.
"I don't know that," Carroll said. "I wouldn't think so, but I don't know that. Didn't sound like it, (but) they got to check it all out."
Seahawks back in hunt for NFC West crown — By taking down the Niners, Seattle (8-2) moves within ½ a game of San Francisco (8-1) for No. 1 in the division. A Seahawks' loss would've put them 2 ½ games behind. Instead, Carroll and Co. gain more ground on the 49ers for the automatic playoff bid.
Seattle is a legitimate Super Bowl contender — Monday's victory was a signature for the 2019 Seahawks, as they defeated what was the NFL's lone unbeaten team. It's easily their best win of the season. They improve to 5-0 on the road for the first time in franchise history. The defense played its best ball of the year, though the offense struggled. Seattle has yet to put a complete game together, and that might be the scariest thought for other contenders.
Seahawks-Niners rivalry is definitely back? — Yes. The Seahawks denied the notion ahead of the game, but the classic that Monday's showdown produced — a drama-filled, overtime affair between two great teams trading blows — erased that belief. Somehow, the primetime contest exceeded expectations.
The Seahawks have a bye next week before returning to action in Week 12 to play at the Philadelphia Eagles Nov. 24.
ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?! pic.twitter.com/9DiLVj5o40
— Shaquill Griffin (@ShaquillG) November 12, 2019
Ben Arthur covers the Seahawks and other local sports for SeattlePI. He can be reached by email at benjaminarthur@seattlepi.com. Follow him on twitter at @benyarthur.
Tiny house village must find new location after four years
'The Brotherhood of the Rope': Dee Molenaar dies at 101
Pro Football Focus: Seahawks QB Russell Wilson is 2019 NFL MVP
First U.S. case of coronavirus confirmed in Snohomish County
50 years ago today: Boeing 747 debuts commercial flight
Hearst Newspapers © Copyright Hearst Seattle Media, LLC