In Week 13, cornerback Richard Sherman made his much-anticipated return to CenturyLink Field as the San Francisco 49ers fell to the Seattle Seahawks 43-16. Yet Sherman was hesitant to overplay the context of the situation.


Veteran cornerback Richard Sherman probably wanted to have a bigger impact against his former squad in Week 13, as the San Francisco 49ers traveled to take on the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field -- the place where the three-time Pro Bowler so often tormented the Niners before joining them as a free agent earlier this year.

Or at least have his new team pull off a road upset against its NFC West division rivals.


The 49ers fell in embarrassing fashion to the Seahawks, losing 43-16 in a game marked by more defensive miscues, mistakes, turnovers and sloppy play. Sherman, who gave up a fourth-quarter touchdown to Seattle wide receiver Jaron Brown, played down the sentimental aspects of returning to the spot where he had so much success during the Seahawks' glory years of not long ago.

"It was just a regular game," Sherman told reporters after the contest. "It's just unfortunate we didn't play as well as we could have. Had too many turnovers, gave up too many plays. But that's football, and it's the way things have gone this season."

Sherman and the 49ers defense managed to hold Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson to just 185 yards passing. Yet four passing touchdowns, including a long 52-yard reception by wide receiver Tyler Lockett, essentially tell the story behind the big plays San Francisco allowed. Lockett's touchdown came against 49ers linebacker Malcolm Smith, who also spent time in Seattle and intercepted the infamous fade pass Sherman deflected, intended for then-Niners wide receiver Michael Crabtree, during the 2014 NFC Championship game.

Interestingly enough, the Seahawks did a reenactment of that play after scoring in the first half:


"I didn't even see it," Sherman said of the celebration. "They've had a lot of fun celebrations, so it was good for them."


Before the game, Sherman spent time warming up with Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin, one of his good friends and a teammate at Stanford before both joined the NFL in Seattle.

"We're good friends. We don't see each other during the season. We'll see each other during the offseason, as we both live here. But it was good seeing him, though."

Sherman and the 49ers will have a chance to catch up again with Seattle in two weeks, when the Seahawks travel to Santa Clara to take on the double-digit-loss Niners at Levi's Stadium in Week 15.

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.
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