SEATTLE – Here is how the No. 6- seed 49ers (13-6) graded in Saturday night’s 41-6 divisional-playoff loss to the No. 1-seed Seahawks (15-3) at Lumen Field:
PASS OFFENSE: F
Brock Purdy got drilled on the first snap, and this unit stayed askew as he desperately searched for targets that never materialized. Jake Tonges, the Week 1 hero, started in place of an injured George Kittle and fumbled away the 49ers’ second possession before leaving with a foot injury. Things were so off that a double flea-flicker screen amounted to just a 1-yard gain from Demarcus Robinson. Purdy threw for 140 yards (15-of-27, one interception, one fumble), and this game underscored how the 49ers must address the wide receiver spot this offseason. The sendoff stats: Jauan Jennings (two catches, 23 yards), Ricky Pearsall (no catches, two targets), Kendrick Bourne (no catches, two targets, one pregame speech) and Robinson (1-yard catch).
RUN OFFENSE: F
Purdy’s 37 yards (five scrambles) were two more than McCaffrey had on 11 carries, with none longer than eight yards from the 49ers’ offensive catalyst who was hindered by a left shoulder stinger. Brian Robinson only gained 4 yards on three carries, and, as this dissolved into a lost cause, Jordan James got his first NFL carries (six for 28 yards). The Seahawks have not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 27 games, and the 49ers must be ready to change that next season.
PASS DEFENSE: F
Sam Darnold’s strained oblique didn’t derail their offense, and he committed no turnovers while getting sacked twice (C.J. West, Malik Mustapha). No defensive end even hit Darnold, reflecting the season’s inept production that was impacted by Nick Bosa’s and Mykel Williams’ exits to knee injuries. Renardo Green got benched briefly to get an earful from coach Kyle Shanahan for his improper coverage, then Darrell Luter gave up a touchdown catch in his place. The 49ers broke up no passes, and they had no interceptions for the 15th game this season. Awful.
RUN DEFENSE: F
The Seahawks ran for 175 yards (33 carries) only two weeks after tallying 180 yards (39 carries). “Most of the same plays, outside zone. Nothing different,” West said. “We weren’t ready to play today.” Kenneth Walker III was ready: three touchdowns and 116 yards on nine carries. Eric Kendricks, in his second straight start, had nine tackles, as did Dee Winters, who replaced Garret Wallow at the weak-side spot and had multiple breakdowns but also three tackles for loss.
SPECIAL TEAMS: F
Allowing a 95-yard kick return for a touchdown to Rashid Shaheed was the absolute worst way possible to start in Seattle’s ground-shaking amphitheater. Eddy Piñeiro capped his sensational season by making both of his second-quarter field-goal attempts, from 40 and then 56 yards; he was 31-of-32 since arriving in Week 2, but he did miss 5-of-41 point-after kicks.
COACHING: F
Exhaustion led to elimination. It was evident across the board. This team, as phenomenally resilient as it was to reach this stage, was cooked. Is that the coaches’ fault? No. But nothing about this finale was acceptable. Still, it was the most amazing work in Kyle Shanahan’s nine seasons, by him and his staff.
