Purdy’s 4 TDs lead 49ers past Seahawks 41-23 in playoffs

Published on Saturday, January 14, 2023 | 9:42 p.m

Updated 0 milliseconds ago

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) – Brock Purdy threw three passes and ran for a fourth score in his playoff debut, leading the San Francisco 49ers to a 41-23 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in a wild-card game on Saturday.

“We have a goal to win the whole thing,” Purdy said. “We’re in a tournament, so anything can happen. I have such a great team, O-line, receivers, defense, across the board, man. It’s not a one-man show. I’m so blessed .Thank you for being here.”

Purdy picked up where he left off in the regular season for the 49ers (14-4) and showed little sign of playoff jitters in winning his sixth straight start since filling in for an injured Jimmy Garoppolo early in the Week 13 win. to share Miami.

The Niners advanced to the divisional round where they will host either Minnesota, Tampa Bay or Dallas next weekend.

“When we play our best football, the offense is doing our thing, the defense is doing their thing, we’re a tough team to beat,” Purdy said. “We know that. We have to keep clicking on all cylinders.”

Purdy connected on a 3-yard pass to Christian McCaffrey in the first quarter, converted a 1-yard pass in the third quarter and a 7-yard TD pass to Elijah Mitchell early in the fourth quarter to make it 31- 17.

The Niners broke it open when Deebo Samuel took a short pass from Purdy and ran in for a 74-yard score.

Purdy threw for 332 yards — the second most ever by a rookie in the playoffs behind Russell Wilson’s 385 in a loss to Atlanta 10 years ago — and he became the first rookie QB to account for four TDs in a playoff game.

The Seahawks (9-9) kept it close for most of three quarters before a Charles Omenihu sack late in the third quarter broke up a drive in the red zone.

Purdy then hit Jauan Jennings on a 33-yard pass to set up Mitchell’s game-tying TD pass. Purdy tied an NFL rookie record set by Justin Herbert with his seventh consecutive game with multiple TD passes.

San Francisco rallied from there.

The loss brought a disappointing end to a surprising season for the Seahawks, who made the playoffs on the final weekend in their first season after leaving Wilson.

Geno Smith came in admirably, throwing 30 TD passes in the regular season and keeping it close for a while in the playoffs thanks to a 50-yard TD pass to DK Metcalf in the first half.

Smith finished 25 for 35 for 253 yards, two TDs and an interception.

The Niners jumped out to a 10-0 lead after two possessions hit a field goal on the opening drive and then a 3-yard pass from Purdy to McCaffrey after McCaffrey’s 68-yard run on the second possession.

But Seattle countered with a 14-play drive capped by Kenneth Walker’s 7-yard run and deep pass to Metcalf.

BONEHEAD PLAY

The Seahawks took a 17-16 halftime lead thanks to a strong play by Niners safety Jimmie Ward. Smith scrambled 9 yards to his own 47 with 1 second left in the half, but Ward hit him late after he started to slide.

The 15-yard penalty moved the ball to the San Francisco 38 and Jason Myers made a 56-yard field goal to make it 17-16 at halftime.

Seattle became the third team since the 2000 postseason to lead at the half of a playoff game after trailing by at least 10 late in the first quarter.

INJURY

Seahawks LB Darrell Taylor (neck strain) left the game in the first half.

NEXT

Seahawks: Offseason.

49ers: Divisional round vs. Minnesota, Tampa Bay or Dallas.

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