Five plays after DT Glenn Dorsey went down with a right knee injury during the San Francisco's first defensive play of the game, Seattle QB Russell Wilson passed to WR Tyler Lockett for a 24-yard touchdown to give the Seahawks an early 7-0 lead over the 49ers.
Head coach Jim Tomsula said Dorsey is being checked for an ACL injury and will have an MRI on Monday.
The Seahawks would get into the end zone during the team's following two drives. It would not be until the closing seconds of the first half that the 49ers would finally see the end zone. QB Blaine Gabbert would throw a 19-yard touchdown pass to TE Vance McDonald to cut the Seahawks' lead to 13 on a 9-play, 92-yard drive. The Seahawks would head into halftime with a 20-7 lead.
49ers Blaine Gabbert finds Vance McDonald for TD
The two teams exchanged field goals after that. The 49ers' first drive of the second half would end with a successful Phil Dawson field goal attempt, lessening the Seahawks' lead, but Seattle would follow that up with a successful Steven Hauschka field goal on the next drive. The 49ers would then kick a field goal near the end of the third quarter, but the Seahawks would still lead 23-13 and that would be the last time the 49ers scored in the game.
The field goal exchange would end early in the fourth quarter when Wilson passed to Seahawks RB Thomas Rawls for a 31-yard touchdown, increasing the Seattle lead to 29-13. Rawls started for RB Marshawn Lynch, who was inactive for the game, and would rush for 209 yards on 30 carries and a touchdown. It would be the most rushing yards ever by a Seahawks running back. Rawls would also have 46 yards receiving on three receptions.
"Definitely disappointed in the performance. You have to be solid in run fits, and tackling," said Tomsula following the loss.
QB Colin Kaepernick was placed on injured reserve on Saturday – ending his 2015 season. Gabbert made his second consecutive start for the 49ers, completing 22 of 34 passes for 264 yards and a touchdown for a 98.2 passer rating. His Seattle counterpart would complete 24 of 29 passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns for a 138.5 passer rating for the Seahawks.
When discussing Gabbert's performance against Seattle, Tomsula said, "I'm not into moral victories, but that was encouraging."
Blaine Gabbert: 'We Didn't Do Enough to Win'
RB Shaun Draughn carried the ball 12 times for the 49ers, gaining only 37 yards on the ground and 40 through the air on eight receptions. Gabbert would add 22 yards rushing.
WR Anquan Boldin would lead the team in receiving yards with 93 on five receptions. McDonald would be responsible for the team's lone touchdown.
The 49ers have not lost three of their last four and their fifth straight to Seattle. San Francisco will begin preparing to return home for a November 29 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium. You can enter for a chance to win free tickets to that game here.
