The 49ers rode a stellar performance from George Kittle and Brock Purdy to an NFC West-clinching victory over the Seahawks in Seattle.
Brock Purdy made a successful starting debut on Sunday against the Bucs, but going on the road to Seattle with the chance to clinch the division was an entirely different challenge.
He passed it with flying colors.
The 49ers backup to the backup quarterback led the team to a 21-13 victory over the Seahawks while leaning on his tight end and his defense.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to the game:
Best memes and tweets after the 49ers beat the Seahawks
Nick Bosa now has an NFL-high 15.5 sacks this season.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 16, 2022
That ties his career-high, set last season.
Bosa is the first 49ers player with multiple 15-sack seasons since sacks became official in 1982. pic.twitter.com/8XKz6MjljE
Seahawks Vs 49ers tonight pic.twitter.com/Eu5aDk5g0V
— Tyler Glasscock (@tyshiesty808) December 16, 2022
I hate to admit this publicly, but right now the 49ers pass rush is better than the Cowboys - and right now Nick Bosa is playing at a much higher level than Micah Parsons.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) December 16, 2022
The 49ers are squeezing the life out of Seattle in all three phases of the game, playing just like the far-and-away No. 1-ranked team that they've been since late October
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) December 16, 2022
It took the Seahawks' offense 117 minutes of game time to finally score a touchdown vs. 49ers.
— Akash Anavarathan (@akashanav) December 16, 2022
The 49ers are NFC West Champions. I repeat, the 49ers are NFC West Champions. After beating the Seahawks. In Seattle. With a third-string QB.
— Niners Nation (@NinersNation) December 16, 2022
The 49ers are SERIOUS Super Bowl Contenders because of their DOMINANT Defense. What Brock Purdy has given them the last 3 weeks has been more than enough.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) December 16, 2022
Managers facing CMC and Kittle in the playoffs: pic.twitter.com/e2vRhmvkRc
— Rotoworld Football (@rotoworld_fb) December 16, 2022
The Seahawks defense as soon as George Kittle gets close
— PointsBet Sportsbook (@PointsBetUSA) December 16, 2022
pic.twitter.com/7hFI3qs984
The entire state of Iowa watching Brock Purdy throwing TD passes to George Kittle. pic.twitter.com/Rw8EEW5I2x
— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) December 16, 2022
HEY SEATTLE @Seahawks YOU JUST GOT pic.twitter.com/90ypd6jhTJ
— Syd (@syd_the_catfish) December 16, 2022
Purdy finished with 217 yards and two touchdowns. He rushed for a critical first down late to ice the game.
Kittle was clearly Purdy’s safety blanket. Kyle Shanahan figured out how to get the tight end wide open and the quarterback made sure to hit him for a 28-yard touchdown in the first quarter and a 54-yarder in the third. The tight end finished with four catches for 93 yards and two scores.
Running back Christian McCaffrey came away with 108 yards on 26 carries with a touchdown run just before the half. He also added six catches for 30 yards.
The 49ers defense continues to set the tone for the NFC West champs. They sacked Geno Smith three times, limited Kenneth Walker III to just 47 yards on 12 carries and kept DK Metcalf relatively quiet with seven catches for 55 yards. Deommodore Lenoir should have added a pick-six to his team-leading 10 tackles on the night but a suspect roughing the passer call on Nick Bosa wiped the score off the board.
A breakdown allowing Noah Fant to score in the fourth quarter was the only blemish in an otherwise dominant performance for the SF defense.