NFC CHAMPIONSHIP: SEATTLE SEAHAWKS vs. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Lumen Field // Seattle, WA
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Team | 1ST | 2ND | 3RD | 4TH | OT || FINAL
SF (10-7) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | - || 14
SEA (12-5) | 0 | 7 | 10 | 11 | - || 28
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Devon Witherspoon returns an interception for a 69-yard touchdown with 1 minute remaining to deny the Niners a Super Bowl opportunity for a third straight year.
// Witherspoon delivers the dagger to return Seahawks to Super Bowl
SEATTLE, Wash. - At the beginning of the season, Pete Carroll told reporters that the 2023 draft class will play an important role in the Seahawks' success this season. Fast forward to the NFC Championship game, and it's a rookie that makes the most important play of Seattle's season thus far - 5th overall pick Devon Witherspoon's pick-six on Brock Purdy with 1:09 remaining in the 4th quarter sent Lumen Field into an eruption, knowing that their team will advance to their fourth Super Bowl in franchise history.
Witherspoon may have already etched his name into Seahawks history for his playoff performance this year. It is his third straight game with an interception after recording 2 in the regular season. The finalist for NFC Defensive Rookie of the Year made the interception on Purdy on the same sideline where Seahawks legend Richard Sherman, who famously helped the team to their first Super Bowl appearance 10 years ago by forcing a turnover of his own, was standing.
"Once I saw his eyes look this way, I knew it was mine," Witherspoon said about the interception. Purdy was staring down tight end George Kittle and in the face of pressure threw the ball towards him. At the end of the play, it was Purdy that was hopelessly chasing down the rookie cornerback.
The turnover marked a deja vu moment for the 49ers quarter, who was intercepted by safety Quandre Diggs on Thanksgiving that ended a potential go-ahead drive.
Down 14-20 in the NFC Championship game, the 49ers were putting together a potential game-winning drive before the interception and score by Witherspoon doomed their chances of coming back to win at Lumen Field, the same place where they lost to the Seahawks by 2 points on Thanksgiving Day. Purdy also fumbled once near his goal line, forced by veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner. That led to a 21-yard field goal by Jason Myers in the 3rd quarter.
It wasn't all thrills for the Seahawks, especially in the first quarter. San Francisco scored a touchdown on their opening drive, ending with a 12-yard run from Christian McCaffrey. Geno Smith then was sacked by Arik Armstead and fumbled near the red zone, ending a potential scoring drive for Seattle. Things did not begin to go their way until Smith lofted a pass to D.K. Metcalf for a 40-yard touchdown on a throw that seemed like it hung in Seattle skies forever. The Seahawks went on to score 17 unanswered points after the 49ers' 1st quarter touchdown to take a 17-7 lead going into the 4th quarter.
San Francisco answered with an Elijah Mitchell 4-yard touchdown to pull within 3 points before Jason Myers extended the lead to 6 with 2:48 remaining. The rest was history.
Smith endured 6 sacks by the 49ers defense as defensive tackles Armstead and Javon Kinlaw terrorized the interior of the Seattle offensive line all day. Despite this, the leader of the Seahawks offense still managed to complete 27 passes for 312 yards and 2 touchdowns. Metcalf put together his best game of the playoffs, recording 8 catches for 124 yards and 2 touchdowns. Tyler Lockett was also a chain mover, catching 8 passes for 72 yards.
Just as they've done for most of the latter part of the season, the Seahawks defense came up big when it matter the most. Purdy was held to 197 passing yards and did not throw a touchdown. Brandon Aiyuk, who went off for 150 yards and a touchdown the last time both teams met, recorded only 68 yards against the Seattle secondary. Seattle's rotational pieces continued to contribute - Devin Bush recorded 5 tackles and a sack, while Boye Mafe took down Purdy twice.
All the work the Seahawks have done since the beginning of the season has led to their fourth George Halas trophy and first since the 2014 season. They will player the winner of the AFC Championship game for the Lombardi Trophy in Las Vegas two weeks from Sunday.
Scoring Summary
- 1st Quarter
[SF] Christian McCaffrey, 12-yard run (J. Moody kick) [7:53]
- 2nd Quarter
[SEA] D.K. Metcalf, 40-yard pass from Geno Smith (J. Myers kick) [11:25]
- 3rd Quarter
[SEA] D.K. Metcalf, 13-yard pass from Geno Smith (J. Myers kick) [9:43]
[SEA] Jason Myers, 21-yard field goal [0:45]
- 4th Quarter
[SF] Elijah Mitchell, 4-yard run (J. Moody kick) [11:35]
[SEA] Jason Myers, 31-yard field goal [2:48]
[SEA] Devon Witherspoon, 69-yard interception return (2-point conversion good) [1:09]
Notable Player Stats
- San Francisco 49ers (10-7)
Brock Purdy, QB: 18 of 31 (58%), 197 yards, INT (63.5 passer rating)
Christian McCaffrey, HB: 12 carries, 77 yards, TD
Brandon Aiyuk, WR: 5 receptions, 68 yards
George Kittle, TE: 4 receptions, 37 yards
Fred Warner, LB: 8 tackles
Charvarius Ward, CB: 7 tackles, TFL
Arik Armstead, DT: 6 tackles, 1 TFL, 1.5 sacks, forced fumble
Javon Kinlaw, DT: 4 tackles, 4 TFL, 2 sacks
- Seattle Seahawks (12-5)
Geno Smith, QB: 27 of 36 (75%), 312 yards, 2 TD (119.2 passer rating)
Kenneth Walker III, HB: 25 carries, 116 yards
D.K. Metcalf, WR: 8 receptions, 124 yards, 2 TD
Tyler Lockett, WR: 8 receptions, 72 yards
Devon Witherspoon, CB: 7 tackles, TFL, INT, TD
Devin Bush, LB: 5 tackles, TFL, 1 sack
Bobby Wagner, LB: 2 tackles, TFL, 1 sack, forced fumble
Boye Mafe, LB: 3 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 sacks
We ready for war.
