The San Francisco 49ers clinched the NFC West title and a home playoff game by defeating the Seattle Seahawks 21-13 on Thursday night.
The 49ers became the first team to secure a division title and the second to clinch a postseason position in the 2022 campaign. The Philadelphia Eagles locked up a playoff spot on Sunday.
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San Francisco extended its winning streak to seven games and won its second in a row with No. 3 quarterback Brock Purdy as the starter.
Purdy completed 17-of-26 passes for 217 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Both touchdown passes went to tight end George Kittle as the 49ers built a 21-3 lead one minute into the second half.
The NFL’s No. 1 defense held Seattle out of the end zone until 3:35 remained in the game. After the kickoff, the 49ers were able to run out the clock.
San Francisco’s defense made a splash when Seahawks running back Travis Homer fumbled, and 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward returned the recovery 40 yards to the Seattle 6-yard line, setting up a touchdown for a 14-3 lead with 47 seconds left in the first half.
San Francisco running back Christian McCaffrey had 108 yards and one touchdown on 26 rushing attempts and 30 yards on six receptions. Kittle had four receptions for 93 yards and two touchdowns.
Seattle quarterback Geno Smith completed 31-of-44 passes for 238 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions.
Four players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field during the San Francisco-Seattle game:
· Mike Jackson (Spain Park) started at left cornerback for the Seahawks. Jackson made five tackles.
· Forty-Niners cornerback Jackrabbit Jenkins (North Alabama) made one tackle on defense and one tackle on special teams as he made his first appearance in his 11th NFL season. San Francisco elevated Jenkins from its practice squad to make him eligible to play. Jenkins joined the 49ers’ practice squad on Nov. 28. He had been out of football since being released by the Tennessee Titans on March 15. Jenkins’ 143rd NFL regular-season game was only the fifth that he didn’t start. Jenkins was a Pro Bowler for the New York Giants in 2016.
· Forty-Niners tight end Jordan Matthews (Madison Academy) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
· Seahawks long snapper Carson Tinker (Alabama) handled the snaps on seven punts, two field goals and one extra point.
· Forty-Niners defensive back Jimmie Ward (Davidson) made four tackles, including one behind the line of scrimmage.
San Francisco improved to 10-4. The previous two times that the 49ers won the NFC West – in 2012 and 2019 – they went to the Super Bowl. Seattle, the first team out in the current NFC playoff standings, dropped to 7-7.
San Francisco’s next game will be a home outing against the Washington Commanders on Christmas Eve. Seattle also plays on Dec. 24, when it visits the Kansas City Chiefs.
San Francisco 49ers cornerback Jackrabbit Jenkins warms up before an NFL game against the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022, at Lumen Field in Seattle.(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.
