Seahawks vs. 49ers: Full Report Card Grades for San Francisco
Week 13's Thanksgiving matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks was supposed to be the moment in which the 49ers exacted some sort of revenge against their hated NFC West rival from up north.
Instead, the Seahawks came in and all but shut down the 49ers offense in what was an uninspired, embarrassing performance in front of the home crowd at Levi's Stadium.
Seattle took this game 19-3, but the score would have been much higher had it not been for San Francisco's desperate defense.
Again, the 49ers offense struggled to do anything. As a unit, the offense gained just 164 total yards.
It's hard to do much worse than that.
But this loss prompts some serious questions. The offense has been absent over the last three weeks—a stretch that has seen the 49ers score just 36 combined points.
More importantly, did this loss shift San Francisco's playoff chances from a realistic possibility into a distant, nearly futile hope?
Pete Prisco of CBS Sports thinks so:
"49ers are dead
— Pete Prisco (@PriscoCBS) November 28, 2014"
"The window is shut.
— Pete Prisco (@PriscoCBS) November 28, 2014"
Now at 7-5, the 49ers are technically still in the mix. But the chances to make the playoffs are grim at best. More importantly, the loss puts an exclamation point on an offense that has been utterly disappointing as of late.
So how does San Francisco grade out after this disappointing defeat? Here are the unit-by-unit breakdowns. The grades are based on statistical performance, big plays and overall game impact. It's safe to argue the defense will score relatively well.
The same cannot be said about the offense.
Quarterback
1 of 10
Quarterback Colin Kaepernick's struggles against the Seahawks continued once more. This time, his difficulties didn't take place at CenturyLink Field in Seattle.
Kaepernick finished the night with 16 passes on 29 attempts for only 129 yards.
His quarterback rating was an abysmal 36.7.
The biggest plays wound up being the two interceptions thrown to Kaepernick's biggest nemesis—cornerback Richard Sherman.
On the first pick, wide receiver Brandon Lloyd moved to the outside. But Kaepernick threw the ball to the inside and right into the waiting grasp of Sherman. According to head coach Jim Harbaugh (h/t Marcus Thompson of Bay Area News Group), Lloyd ran the right route. Kaepernick missed the throw.
Seattle would score a touchdown off the turnover, which was the only end-zone score of the game. Points off turnovers are killers, and this game proved to be a perfect example.
"VIDEO: Richard Sherman picks off Colin Kaepernick again and shushes the 49ers' crowd. Shhhhh. http://t.co/WZKn0CB6xN http://t.co/FRfdXrXa1O
— theScore (@theScore) November 28, 2014"
The interceptions hurt. But Kaepernick was inaccurate throughout the night, often missing his targets by wide distances.
In a game where the 49ers needed to establish some sort of offensive continuity, the lack of production from Kaepernick was a killer.
Grade: F
Running Back
2 of 10
Running back Frank Gore rushed for an average of 2.8 yards per carry. Fellow back Carlos Hyde averaged just a yard more. The two combined for 47 yards of offense on the ground.
Entering the contest, Gore had a career average of 5.33 yards per carry against Seattle. But his performance on Thursday replicated what the Seahawks did to him in the NFC Championship Game a season ago.
Gore and Hyde could not establish the run—an aspect that forced the 49ers to be one-dimensional over the remainder of the game.
Or, as Al Michaels on the NBC national broadcast pointed out, it forced the 49ers to become zero-dimensional.
"Al Michaels calling the 49ers offense "zero dimensional" is the football equivalent to saying the war is unwinnable.
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) November 28, 2014"
Understandably, the Seahawks fare well against the run. Entering the contest, Seattle had allowed just 972 yards on the ground—sixth fewest in the NFL.
The inability to set up the ground game led to the myriad problems elsewhere on offense—problems the 49ers could not overcome.
Grade: D-
Wide Receiver and Tight End
3 of 10
Kaepernick and the 49ers looked as if they wanted to get veteran wide receiver Brandon Lloyd in the mix early and often.
But the results were not to San Francisco's liking—as argued by Eric Branch of SFGate.com.
Lloyd was targeted six times during the contest but only hauled in one of those passes for just six yards. Richard Sherman was the primary beneficiary of Kaepernick's throws.
"#49ers target-Brandon-Lloyd-a-lot game plan wasn’t successful in first half.
— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) November 28, 2014"
San Francisco's other receiving targets didn't provide much of an impact either.
Fellow wideout Stevie Johnson led all wideouts with 28 yards on three receptions, but the top receiving target was running back Carlos Hyde.
Michael Crabtree and Anquan Boldin were held to a combined 28 yards on six catches, and neither impacted the game in the way San Francisco needed. Kaepernick had trouble finding the open man anyway.
There was a sighting of tight end Vernon Davis, albeit small. He hauled in two passes for 13 yards, which indicated that his season-long struggles are not going away anytime soon.
Grade: F
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Offensive Line
4 of 10
Before this game, the 49ers offensive line had seemed to regain some of the strength that had been called into question earlier this season.
But any and all notions of that seemingly disappeared in Week 13 against Seattle.
Right tackle Jonathan Martin—starting in place of Anthony Davis (concussion)—gave up a sack and two quarterback hits to Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril. Center Marcus Martin had some minor problems with his snaps but struggled even more in pass protection. The rookie ranks No. 40 out of 41 centers in pass protection, according to Pro Football Focus (h/t Brian Nemhauser of HawkBlogger.com).
While they may be the weak spots along the 49ers O-line, even the veterans struggled at various moments.
Right guard Alex Boone had some blocking gaffes, as did left tackle Joe Staley.
“We’ve got to make plays," Staley said, via Eric Branch of SFGate.com. "That’s what it is. We had zero big plays today. Zero.”
"#49ers LT Joe Staley: “We’ve got to make plays. That’s what it is. We had zero big plays today. Zero.”
— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) November 28, 2014"
Staley and the O-line allowed four sacks and also failed to open up the necessary rushing lanes at the point of attack. Kaepernick was under pressure regularly, and this unit continues to be a significant question mark heading forward.
Grade: D
Defensive Line
5 of 10
There is a recurring story for the 49ers in recent weeks—the defense continues to play well, while the offense fails to exhibit any sort of prowess.
On the whole, San Francisco's defensive line played particularly well. Defensive end Justin Smith recorded three tackles, one sack and two quarterback hits. Smith was also a critical figure in a 49ers' goal-line stand that kept Seattle out of the end zone, forcing a field goal in the process.
"What a goal line stand for the #49ers defense… and it started with Justin Smith making a tackle after he lost his helmet. #TheCowboy
— Scott Kegley (@ScottKegley) November 28, 2014"
The game was still close at that point, so Smith's efforts were not in vain.
San Francisco's D-line suffered a bit of a scare when it lost Ray McDonald to a finger injury. He was able to return, but it meant that second-year pro Tank Carradine got a few snaps in his stead.
Carradine ended up playing 28 defensive snaps, according to Nathan Jahnke of Pro Football Focus. He had only 24 prior to the contest and finished with five tackles—two for a loss.
If there was one letdown from the D-line, it was the fact that San Francisco allowed running back Marshawn Lynch to rush for 104 yards, averaging 5.2 yards per carry.
But Lynch's success offset the final grade only slightly.
Grade: A-
Linebacker
6 of 10
The linebacker corps was a little more vulnerable on Thursday than it had been in recent weeks.
Coverage mistakes plagued linebackers like Chris Borland and Michael Wilhoite, who often allowed Seahawks receivers to get far beyond the initial point of reception. This set up some big offensive plays for Seattle, which the defense could ill-afford to allow.
Borland also committed a costly 31-yard penalty on special teams, per Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area.
But he led the team, once again, in tackles. He registered 16 tackles, one of which went for a loss.
Fellow rookie Aaron Lynch made his presence known on the night—netting five tackles, two quarterback hits and a sack. This tandem has helped alleviate the injuries and absences the 49ers have been forced to endure this season, and the two provide plenty of confidence moving forward.
"Aaron Lynch and Chris Borland - have to like the future of that 49ers defense.
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) November 28, 2014"
Linebacker Ahmad Brooks had his second straight strong showing. He finished the night with four tackles, one pass defended and a sack.
Had the coverage mistakes not happened, this unit would have graded out next to perfect. But these errors—combined with Marshawn Lynch's 100-plus yards on the ground—mark this unit down to a slight extent.
Grade: B-
Secondary
7 of 10
San Francisco cornerbacks Chris Culliver and Dontae Johnson had relatively poor showings against Seattle's receivers.
Johnson missed quarterback Russell Wilson on a blitz, not once but twice. Taylor Price of 49ers.com describes the play further:
"Wilson broke two Johnson tackle attempts. The rookie cornerback blitzed initially and missed his second chance at the Seattle quarterback when he stepped up in the pocket and completed a 63-yard pass to tight end Tony Moeaki.
Cornerbacks Perrish Cox and Chris Culliver chased Moeaki down and stopped him short of the end zone at the 1-yard line. San Francisco would end up holding Seattle to a 21-yard Steven Hauschka field goal.
"
The missed tackle proved costly, but it wasn't the biggest mistake emanating out of the secondary.
Culliver also blew coverage on running back Robert Turbin, who got wide open to haul in a 13-yard touchdown pass at the 1:29 mark of the first quarter.
"#49ers CB Chris Culliver should have taken Robert Turbin. He went inside, where he had plenty of coverage help.
— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) November 28, 2014"
This mistake put Seattle up early, which gave the Seahawks the necessary momentum that they carried throughout the game.
Overall, the defensive backfield allowed Wilson to throw for 236 yards on 15 completions. This unit could not come up with the big play when the 49ers desperately needed one.
Grade: D
Special Teams
8 of 10
Cornerback Perrish Cox might be having a great season in the 49ers secondary, but he is far from adequate in the return game.
After a botched Seattle snap that nearly wound up a 49ers miracle, Cox set himself up to return a punt. But the backup punt returner fumbled the ball, and Seattle's special teamers pounced.
"What a terribly ugly play. Punter can't handle the snap, gets it away anyway, but Perrish Cox fumbles on the return #49ers
— Golden Gate Sports (@goldenbaysports) November 28, 2014"
Ex-49ers wideout Ricardo Lockette stripped Cox of the ball at a point where San Francisco was trailing 13-0 in the first half. The 49ers were unable to score during the half, which marked the first time this season where San Francisco was held scoreless at halftime, per Taylor Price of 49ers.com.
Punter Andy Lee—there was plenty of him—averaged 47.6 yards per punt on five tries, and kicker Phil Dawson was a perfect 1-of-1.
Dawson's 40-yard try was the only score the 49ers put up during the disastrous loss.
Grade: D
Coaching
9 of 10
Week 13 marked the first time in the Jim Harbaugh era that the 49ers lost five games in the regular season.
2014 is proving to be an anomaly compared to the successful years Harbaugh and Co. have put forth within the organization. What has transpired through 13 weeks has fueled rumors and reports that he will not be returning to the 49ers next season despite being under contract through 2015.
Mike Florio of NBC Sports' Pro Football Talk wrote the following shortly after Thursday's game:
"Now that the season has begun the process of slipping away with a home loss to a Seahawks team the 49ers will visit in 16 days, the 49ers soon will have to implement their plan for resolving their relationship with Harbaugh.
If the many (and largely unrefuted) reports of persistent dysfunction between Harbaugh and the front office are true, and if it’s now clear that the season has begun the process of disintegrating, the 49ers must decide whether to keep Harbaugh through the next four weeks and try to trade the final year of his contract.
"
The shadow hanging over Harbaugh didn't get any support from 49ers CEO Jed York, who tweeted his frustrations following the game.
"Thank you #49ersfaithful for coming out strong tonight. This performance wasn't acceptable. I apologize for that
— Jed York (@JedYork) November 28, 2014"
“I don’t know anything about the tweet,” Harbaugh said, via Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area. “What matters is what we do, how we respond as a football team."
Harbaugh will need to figure out what the offense needs to do to respond. He and offensive coordinator Greg Roman have already been the focus of dissent within the 49ers offense. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio continues to get the most out of an injury-riddled defense.
But the offense continues to sputter and stumble. While execution from the players is a clear need, the ultimate responsibility falls upon the coaching staff to implement a game plan that puts the team in the best position to win.
Harbaugh and Co. failed in this aspect miserably.
Grade: D (Vic Fangio's defense bails out the F-grade)
Final Grades
10 of 10
QB: F
RB: D-
WR/TE: F
OL: D
DL: A-
LB: B-
Secondary: D
Special Teams: D
Coaching: D-
Cumulative Grade: D
It's pretty obvious what San Francisco's cumulative grade would be had the defense not been evaluated.
The defense, like it had done in Weeks 11 and 12, did its best to bail out the offense. That approach worked against inferior teams like the New York Giants and Washington Redskins, albeit barely.
Against Seattle, the 49ers defense simply couldn't be the difference-maker.
"The #49ers are stifled by the Seahawks on Thanksgiving. Game Story: http://t.co/nUIiscFAWK pic.twitter.com/o89wCYZUc4
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) November 28, 2014"
An absent offense is the primary reason why the 49ers are now in dire straits when it comes to formulating the playoff picture. Sadly, this will not be the game in which San Francisco lost its shot for the postseason. A number of other contests resulted in lackluster results and are riddled with lost opportunities.
On the positive side of things, the 49ers are not eliminated yet. The road is much harder now, and San Francisco can exact revenge in Seattle shortly, but the prospects for January football are bleaker now than ever before.
All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference and ESPN.com unless otherwise indicated.
Peter Panacy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report, covering the San Francisco 49ers. Be sure to check out his entire archive on 49ers' news, insight and analysis.
Follow him @PeterPanacy on Twitter.
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