49ers survive wild finish vs. Seahawks, clinch NFC West with 26-21 win

The San Francisco 49ers are NFC West champions and the top seed in the conference.

This, following the Niners' Week 17 26-21 win on Sunday Night Football against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field.

The win also ends the 49ers losing streak in Seattle, which extended back to December of 2011. But what's more important is the playoff implications for head coach Kyle Shanahan and Co.

San Francisco got off to a 13-0 first-half start, thanks largely to wide receiver Deebo Samuel and tight end George Kittle. Samuel managed the first half's only touchdown on a 30-yard end-around rush to get into the end zone, which put the Niners up 10-0:

Meanwhile, the 49ers were mostly able to stifle the return of running back Marshawn Lynch, who had just 7 yards on four carries in the first half, finishing with 34 yards in total. And San Francisco's defense managed to hold Seattle to 79 first-half yards in total.

But the Niners went 3-and-out to start the third quarter, not easing the nerves of 49ers fans who have seen plenty of Seattle comebacks over the years.

That started on the Seahawks' opening drive of the third quarter, which spanned over seven minutes and culminated in a 14-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Russell Wilson to wide receiver Tyler Lockett to make it 13-7 in favor of San Francisco. The 49ers gave up some chunk plays on the drive, too, which didn't bode well for the defense's efforts down the stretch.

San Francisco's attempt to answer back for the touchdown was made easier by fullback Kyle Juszczyk's 49-yard catch and run, which helped put the offense right back into scoring position. Then Samuel picked up 24 yards to help set up a 2-yard rushing touchdown by Raheem Mostert:

The 49ers attempted to go for two on the ensuing conversion, yet wide receiver Kendrick Bourne was just shy of the goal line, keeping the score 19-7 in favor of San Francisco.

Yet the Niners defense clearly didn't have the same impact as it did in the first half, again allowing the Seahawks to get back into the red zone in an attempt to make it a one-score game again. Lynch might not have been putting up the big numbers, but he did respond with a 1-yard touchdown over the top to make it 19-14 with 9:55 remaining in regulation.

Kittle and Samuel helped San Francisco respond, though, putting the offense back into the red zone.

Again, Mostert:

Mostert finished the game with only 57 rush yards, but the two touchdowns were massive. Yet one can't overlook the 86 yards Kittle put up, as well as Samuel's 102.

Mostert's second score put the 49ers up 26-14 with just under six minutes remaining in regulation. A very stressful six minutes, that is. Especially with the ensuing kick going out of bounds, giving the Seahawks possession to start near midfield, then another trip into the 49ers red zone. Wilson then hit wide receiver D.K. Metcalf for a 14-yard touchdown, beating cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon, who struggled in coverage for much of the night. That made it 26-21 in favor of San Francisco with 3:36 remaining. The Niners subsequently went 3-and-out during a drive that was hurt by center Ben Garland being flagged for unnecessary roughness on a play where he couldn't hear the whistle.

Seattle would have a chance to take the lead with 2:27 left in regulation. And before too long, they were back in the red zone.

Facing a 4th-and-10 at the 49ers 12-yard line, Wilson managed to complete a pass for a first down to the 1-yard line. But Seattle was flagged for a delay-of-game call, pushing it back to the 6-yard line.

Then on 4th-and-goal with 12 seconds remaining, Wilson tried to hit tight end Jacob Hollister just shy of the goal line. Yet linebacker Dre Greenlaw managed to stop him just inches shy of the plane:

Literally, inches.

In doing so, the Niners will look forward to their first-round bye and home-field advantage in the playoffs, which will be needed.

• Written by:
  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
  @PeterPanacy

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