Despite giving up a touchdown to Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin on Seattle's opening possession, the Niners defense managed to hold quarterback Russell Wilson and Co. to 216 all-purpose yards in the first half en route to a 17-13 lead for San Francisco. Seven of those points came off an impressive 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Richie James following the Seattle score:
That gave the 49ers a 7-6 lead in the first quarter, and the Niners added to it with a 41-yard touchdown grab by tight end Garrett Celek. It could have belonged to fellow tight end George Kittle, whom quarterback Nick Mullens overthrew a few plays earlier.
At least Kittle expressed some enthusiasm for his teammate, motioning to the crowd last year's familiar "Celek Time" celebration after the touchdown.
The Seahawks responded, however, driving for eight plays and 79 yards, ending with a 35-yard touchdown to Baldwin to make it 14-13 in favor of San Francisco. Subsequently, the 49ers responded with a nine-play, 66-yard drive culminating in a 28-yard field goal by kicker Robbie Gould.
Additional Notes
Just before Baldwin's first touchdown, the 49ers lost cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon to a knee injury. He went down trying to tackle running back Chris Carson at the Niners' 5-yard line, landing awkwardly near the goal line and out of bounds. Witherspoon was assisted off the field and is questionable to return, although a doubtful designation seems more likely.
Running back Jeff Wilson fumbled again, losing the ball after an impressive 14-yard gain in the second quarter. That marks his third fumble in as many weeks, although Seattle was unable to capitalize with points off the turnover.
Mullens was 11-of-14 for 176 yards and a touchdown, posting a passer rating of 142.6 in the first half.
The Seahawks will start the third quarter on offense.
Written By:
Peter Panacy has been writing about the 49ers since 2011 for outlets like Bleacher Report, Niner Noise, 49ers Webzone, and is occasionally heard as a guest on San Francisco's 95.7 FM The Game and the Niners' flagship station, KNBR 680. Feel free to follow him, or direct any inquiries to his Twitter account.
All articles by Peter Panacy
Peter Panacy
Peter Panacy has been writing about the 49ers since 2011 for outlets like Bleacher Report, Niner Noise, 49ers Webzone, and is occasionally heard as a guest on San Francisco's 95.7 FM The Game and the Niners' flagship station, KNBR 680. Feel free to follow him, or direct any inquiries to his Twitter account.
All articles by Peter Panacy
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
'The window is closed': Analyst declares 49ers' era of dominance over
The San Francisco 49ers lost significant talent this offseason, leading many to declare that their Super Bowl window had slammed shut. While the team hopes its 11 draft picks from last week can help restock the roster and spark another run, one ESPN analyst remains... -
49ers climb in power rankings after defense-heavy draft haul
NFL.com's Eric Edholm released his post-draft power rankings, offering insight into where each team stands after adding their latest rookie classes. At the top of the list are the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, whose draft haul once again earned Edholm's praise. The... -
49ers Draft Night Vibes at Levi's Stadium
This past Thursday, I had the chance to soak in the electric atmosphere at Levi's Stadium for the 49ers' Draft Party. From the gold-blooded diehards to the next generation of the Faithful, there was plenty of buzz about who the 49ers would select with the 11th overall pick. As... -
PFF identifies favorite 49ers pick from latest draft class
While Pro Football Focus (PFF) analyst Trevor Sikkema wasn't overly impressed with the San Francisco 49ers' latest draft class, one selection did stand out to him. Sikkema named Indiana defensive tackle CJ West as his favorite pick by general manager John Lynch and head coach...