The San Francisco 49ers found themselves in a tough spot again after letting a fourth-quarter lead slip away on Sunday afternoon. This time, it was their division rivals, the Seattle Seahawks, who pulled off a stunning comeback, scoring the winning touchdown with just 12 seconds left on the clock. The game ended in a painful 20-17 loss for the Niners.
For San Francisco, this gut-wrenching feeling isn’t new. Earlier this season, they faced similar late-game heartbreaks against the Los Angeles Rams and the Arizona Cardinals. Frustration is mounting for the team, with linebacker Fred Warner summing it up:
“It’s infuriating. This isn’t who we want to be, but it’s what we keep showing. Until we fix it, this is who we are.”
Now sitting at 5-5, the 49ers’ season is on shaky ground. They’re struggling within their division, with a 1-3 record against NFC West teams. Adding to the challenge, star defensive end Nick Bosa suffered a hip and oblique injury during the game, leaving his return uncertain.
A Tough Stat to Swallow
What makes this season particularly frustrating is how the team has been losing. According to stats, the 49ers have blown three late leads in divisional games this year—tying a record for the most such losses in a season since 1970. These losses are piling up in situations where they were so close to winning, making them even harder to accept.
Mistakes and Missed Chances
Sunday’s loss highlighted some ongoing issues. Without tight end George Kittle, who was sidelined with a hamstring injury, the offense struggled to find its rhythm. The team managed just 277 yards—one of their worst performances in years—and couldn’t create any big plays. Their longest gain was only 22 yards.
Penalties also played a big role in their downfall, with nine flags costing them 54 yards. Seven of those penalties were on the offense, wiping out potential scoring opportunities.
Quarterback Brock Purdy pointed out the difference compared to previous seasons:
“In the past, we’d bounce back from mistakes. But just because we’ve done it before doesn’t mean it’ll happen automatically. We need to fight for it every play.”
Tough Road Ahead
The clock is ticking for the 49ers to turn things around. They face a challenging schedule, with trips to Green Bay and Buffalo coming up. Doing it without Bosa would make things even tougher.
Bosa, who had been dealing with an injury all week, played through the pain but left the game in the second half after aggravating it. He missed the Seahawks’ game-winning drive, and his absence was felt. Seattle’s offense struggled when he was on the field but thrived once he left.
“It’s brutal,” Bosa said. “The most important part of the game, and I couldn’t be out there. I hate missing time. Hopefully, I won’t be out for long.”
Moving Forward
With seven games left, the 49ers still have time to salvage their season. But they’ll need to clean up their mistakes, regain their focus, and rediscover the grit that made them successful in the past. It won’t be easy, but the team knows what’s at stake.
