(Video) 49ers GM Loses His Mind on Seahawks Offense Converting a 3rd-and-17 in a Low Scoring Game

Kenneth Walker gained 19 yards after Sam Darnold tossed him the ball on third down conversion in week 18 victory over the 49ers.

(Video) 49ers GM Loses His Mind on Seahawks Offense Converting a 3rd-and-17 in a Low Scoring Game

Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker leaves 49ers GM John Lynch flabbergasted (Image via IMAGO/X)

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John Lynch‘s reaction said it all. The San Francisco 49ers general manager couldn’t believe that Sam Darnold and Kenneth Walker would pull off a trick play on 3rd & 17.

Klint Kubiak needed to whip up all the party tricks in order to outsmart Robert Saleh‘s defensive game plan for the Niners. Brock Purdy‘s back-to-back five-touchdown games had overshadowed the great work by Saleh and Niners defense. However, the defense was the main star on Saturday (January 3).

The Niners’ backfield kept the Seahawks’ passing and rushing game contained in the first quarter. They allowed just one touchdown and a field goal before the offense answered with three points.

It was a different story after the halftime break. Kubiak ran the ball more. Walker and Zach Charbonnet pounded the Niners’ rushing defense. Deommodore Lenoir, Upton Stout, and Yetur Gross-Matos had to be on their toes to stop the run.

Just when everyone at Levi’s Stadium thought things couldn’t get any worse, the Seahawks pulled off a stunning surprise. Shortly after the four-minute mark in the third quarter, Darnold tossed a pass to Walker, who somehow wriggled his way through a crowded 25-yard line inside the Niners’ half for a Seahawks first down. The Niners must thank Gross-Matos for tackling the Seattle running back; otherwise, he would have gained more than 19 yards.

Fans have seen Lions head coach Dan Campbell call such bold plays, but Kubiak? He’s known for his swashbuckling style of football, but this decision was outrageous even by his own standards. He showed trust in Walker to make the play, and he obliged, much to the dismay of John Lynch, who was flabbergasted.

Usually, Kyle Shanahan‘s Niners are great at shutting down teams on third downs. Josh Dubow of the Associated Press tweeted that this was only the fourth time the Niners, under Shanahan, have allowed a conversion on a run play on 3rd and 15+.

Honestly, Lynch shouldn’t be surprised by it, because the Seahawks have a knack for surprising everyone when it’s least expected. According to Mike Sando of The Athletic, the Seahawks have had four RB rushes on 3rd & 15 in the 2025 season.

John Lynch watched as the 49ers missed their shot at clinching the NFC’s top seed

If any team dreams of hosting playoff games and enjoying a bye, they must finish as the top seed in their respective conference. By defeating the Seahawks, the Niners could have played every playoff game at home, including the Super Bowl in February, if it had come to down to that ofcourse. However, they blew it.

(Video) 49ers GM Loses His Mind on Seahawks Offense Converting a 3rd-and-17 in a Low Scoring Game
Brock Purdy (Image via IMAGO)

Purdy, who had 20 touchdowns heading into the game, finished with zero (a quarterback rating of 25). The only point came from a field goal. It ended 13-3 with the Niners accumulating just 173 total yards on offense. It was the fewest points since a 23-3 loss to Carolina in Shanahan’s first game in 2017, and the fewest yards ever in regular season (with 191 vs the Los Angeles Rams in Week 15 2024).

Lynch watched as his 49ers let the opportunity to clinch the NFC’s top seed slip away, settling instead for the fifth seed. The Seahawks, on the other hand, clinched the top spot for the first time since 2020.

Darnold recorded his first 14-win season. He concludes his first regular season as the Seahawks QB with 323 completions (67.7%) for 4048 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions.

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