Seattle, WA — Mike Evans proved to be the difference-maker when the San Francisco 49ers needed a spark, helping Brock Purdy engineer a late-game comeback that lifted the unbeaten 49ers to a 32-29 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.
Evans, the veteran wide receiver San Francisco aggressively pursued during the offseason before signing him in March, became Purdy’s primary target during the decisive fourth-quarter possessions. After connecting with Evans repeatedly on the go-ahead touchdown drive, Purdy led the 49ers downfield once more, setting up Eddy Pineiro’s 43-yard field goal with 1:56 remaining.
The victory moved San Francisco to 5-0 and gave the 49ers an early measure of revenge against Seattle, which defeated them twice late last season, including a commanding 41-6 win in the NFC divisional playoffs.
With a healthier defense and Evans now in the lineup, San Francisco showed it could withstand Seattle’s physical approach and deliver in the closing minutes.
“He’s a game changer,” Purdy said of Evans. “True X receiver that if you get the right look and stuff and you give him a chance, he can make defenses pay.”
Purdy praised Evans’ ability to win contested catches and use his size and reach to create separation against defenders.
Evans was equally confident in his ability to make difficult catches when the game was at stake.
“I do feel like I’m one of the best receivers in the game,” Evans said. “I got a big frame, so if you throw it around me, I’m going to do my best to try to make those contested grabs.”
Fourth-quarter surge changes the game
The contest was a physical, turnover-filled battle that featured seven combined giveaways, the most in an NFL game this season. Before San Francisco’s late-third-quarter possession, neither team had produced a touchdown drive longer than 25 yards.
Trailing 26-21, the 49ers finally found the offensive rhythm they needed.
Purdy and Evans connected four times for 75 yards on the drive, including a critical 28-yard completion after an intentional grounding penalty pushed San Francisco into a difficult second-and-21 situation.
The completion helped put the 49ers in position to score. Purdy then found newcomer Brandin Cooks for a 7-yard touchdown, and San Francisco reclaimed the lead at 29-26 after completing a two-point conversion to Evans.
Seattle responded with a field-goal drive led by Sam Darnold, tying the score at 29-29 and setting up a dramatic finish.
Purdy answered once again, moving the 49ers 43 yards into field-goal range. Pineiro converted from 43 yards with 1:56 remaining to put San Francisco ahead 32-29.
The Seahawks had one final opportunity to steal the victory, but their offense could not deliver.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba dropped a third-down pass with Seattle at its own 50-yard line, and Cooper Kupp came up a yard short of the first down on fourth-and-short after Malik Mustapha made the stop.
Seattle’s comeback hopes ended with the turnover on downs.
“We had an opportunity to go down there and win the game,” Smith-Njigba said. “I have to reel those ones in. I know that.”
Turnovers create opportunities for both teams
Although San Francisco struggled to sustain drives for much of the afternoon, its defense helped manufacture early scoring chances.
The 49ers converted Seattle turnovers into touchdowns on drives covering just 11 and 18 yards. Those short fields helped San Francisco build a 21-13 advantage in the first half.
Seattle’s late-half decision to use its timeouts defensively backfired. The Seahawks regained possession at their own 4-yard line with 18 seconds remaining, while San Francisco still had three timeouts.
On the first play, Gracen Halton stripped George Holani of the football and recovered the fumble in the end zone for a touchdown, extending the 49ers’ lead to eight points.
Seattle coach Mike Macdonald acknowledged the importance of ball security and execution.
“We want to stay aggressive,” Macdonald said. “We got to be able to execute our run game and hold onto the football.”
The Seahawks made adjustments after halftime and capitalized on San Francisco’s mistakes to take control of the game.
An interception by Nehemiah Pritchett gave Seattle a short field, and Darnold took advantage by connecting with Smith-Njigba on a 16-yard touchdown pass. The score put Seattle ahead 23-21.
San Francisco’s next possession ended with Deebo Samuel losing a fumble. Seattle turned that mistake into another field goal, stretching its advantage to 26-21 and putting pressure on the 49ers’ offense.
But Purdy and Evans eventually delivered the response San Francisco needed.
Purdy comes through against Seattle’s defense
Purdy completed 19 of 29 passes for 189 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Much of his most important production came in the fourth quarter, when the 49ers needed to overcome Seattle’s defensive pressure.
San Francisco had failed to score a touchdown in its final two games against the Seahawks last season. This time, the 49ers reached the end zone three times in the first half before relying on their offense to finish the job late.
Coach Kyle Shanahan was encouraged by Purdy’s performance against a defense widely regarded as one of the league’s strongest.
“That’s one of the best defenses in the league,” Shanahan said. “There were some ups and downs, by no means was everything perfect. But I thought he was really good in the fourth quarter.”
For the 49ers, the win demonstrated the value of having a receiver capable of changing a game with a handful of critical catches. Evans’ physical presence and ability to win contested balls gave Purdy a dependable option when San Francisco needed to move the chains.
Linebacker Fred Warner expected the matchup to be a hard-fought contest against the defending champions.
“That’s what we expected, honestly,” Warner said. “It was going to be a heavyweight bout. Seattle, they’re the guys who won it all last year and they’re ones that you have to go through.”
Greenlaw ejected after sideline confrontation
San Francisco linebacker Dre Greenlaw was ejected in the second quarter following a confrontation with Seattle linebacker Ernest Jones IV.
The incident began when Darnold scrambled and was hit by Greenlaw after going out of bounds. Greenlaw received a personal-foul penalty for the late hit.
Several Seahawks defenders confronted Greenlaw, who then head-butted Jones, who was not wearing a helmet. Jones was left bleeding after the contact, and officials ejected Greenlaw.
It was at least the third ejection of Greenlaw’s career, adding another flashpoint to an already heated divisional matchup.
Injury report
49ers: Samuel injured his hamstring on the play in which he fumbled and did not return to the game.
Looking ahead:
San Francisco will return home to host Washington on Monday, Oct. 19, as it looks to maintain its undefeated start.
Seattle will try to rebound on a short week when it travels to Denver for a Thursday night matchup.
The 49ers leave Seattle with a 5-0 record and a hard-earned victory in a game that tested their offense, discipline and ability to perform under pressure. Evans’ timely catches and Pineiro’s late field goal ultimately separated the teams in a rivalry contest that remained undecided until the final possession.
