49ers’ 2nd Quarter Notes - SF extends lead to 16-3 over Seattle

The San Francisco 49ers (2-3) are visiting the Seattle Seahawks (3-3) at Lumen Field, in a battle for first place in the NFC West. You can find more injury and roster news here and here.

Here are some quick notes and observations from the second quarter of play.

2nd Quarter start - SF 3, SEA 0 at SEA 29 yd. line

1. Quick three and out. SF keeping good control over time of possession in today's game.

SEA punt - SF 3, SEA 0 at SF 24 yd. line

SF kickoff - SF 10, SEA 0 at SEA 10

1. Special teams making it happen! With CB Darrell Later Jr. forcing the fumble on the kickoff return, 49ers have enjoyed a genuinely positive impact this game. If this keeps up, it'll be a sorely-needed advantage for one of the league's most embattled special teams units.

SEA fumble - SF 10, SEA 0 at SEA 28

1. QB Brock Purdy once again showing off his strongest attribute - running straight backwards at full speed so he can reverse direction and sprint 70 yards to ensure he safely throws out of bounds.
2. New kicker Matthew Wright still making it look easy. If the 49ers can still score field goals at will, this is gonna turn into a blowout (just like last week against the Cardinals should have been).

SF kickoff - SF 13, SEA 0 at SEA 30

1. Yards after catch is still a bit of an issue for the 49ers defense, but they take advantage of a TFL and a holding penalty to keep Seattle from gaining momentum and punting before crossing midfield.

SEA punt - SF 13, SEA 0 at SF 6

1. Oh no, RB Jordan Mason going down (shoulder, questionable to return) is about as bad as it gets. Not sure who's going to fill his shoes, but I'd expect the 49ers are going to get even more pass-happy from here.
2. Juice as the lead back! I suppose FB Kyle Juszczyk and WR Deebo Samuel as the main running backs isn't too crazy given what we've seen over the past couple years. Rookie RB Isaac Guerendo is spelling them, as well.
3. This is the thing that drives me crazy about watching this offense. Purdy throws what looks like a wounded ducks, and the receivers look like they're running in slow motion, but then you look at the replays and the stats... the timing on everything is perfect, the throw's on a rope, and the receivers are breaking the 20 MPH barrier with open fields. And I'm just sitting here wondering why defenses can stop San Francisco at all, then.
4. LG Aaron Banks looked like the guilty party on a busted screen pass to try to convert a 3rd-and-11. Tough, but the kick is good, and the lead lengthens.

SF kickoff - SF 16, SEA 0 at SEA 29

1. Seahawks QB Geno Smith is making magic happen late in the half. Nice quick cut over the middle for a big gain, and I can't believe that he completed a pass while getting hit from behind like he was. Thankfully, S George Odum prevents him from hitting deep on the 2-minute drill.
2. As Seattle drives into the red zone, CB Isaac Yiadom draws a DPI on what probably ended up being an uncatchable ball. If the Seahawks score, I blame the extremely lax coverage that allowed Seattle to convert a 3rd-and-9 at midfield. Prevent defense, as they say, prevents nothing.
3. On the other hand, the 1-on-1 pass defense from San Francisco's cornerbacks, down leading CB Charvarius Ward, has been a treat to watch. CB Renardo Green pushes Metcalf out by a toe, a fantastic play to keep Seattle out of the end zone and settle for the field goal.

End half - SF 16, SEA 3

1. If this keeps up, it'll be a 20-point blowout where San Francisco scores 2 total touchdowns. This team could do it. They really could!