The San Francisco 49ers came into Lumen Field looking for redemption-but what they got instead was a wake-up call. From the opening snap, the Seattle Seahawks set the tone, and they didn’t let up. One play, one touchdown, and just like that, the Niners were in a hole they never climbed out of.
Seattle’s defense was relentless. Every possession felt like a test the 49ers couldn’t pass, and by the time the scoreboard told the full story, the Seahawks had made a loud statement-not just to San Francisco, but to the rest of the league.
But before the game even kicked off, there was already a bit of drama brewing. 49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne made headlines when he snatched and tore up a sign from a Seahawks fan during warmups. It was a bold move, one that quickly made the rounds on social media. The clip went viral in minutes, and NFL fans wasted no time weighing in.
One fan summed up the moment with a bit of poetic justice: “All that turning up just to get turned down.” Another chimed in with a jab at the final score: “I wonder if they walked off the field just like that after 41-6.”
The reactions kept coming-“They got dawg walked for that,” said one, while another added, “Classic Whiner behavior. Fetch the belt, Seahawks!”
To his credit, the fan whose sign was ripped didn’t flinch. He stood his ground, and by the end of the game, he had the last laugh. The scoreboard did the talking, and the Seahawks gave their fans all the bragging rights they could ask for.
Seattle came into this one with some real question marks, especially under center. Sam Darnold had popped up on the injury report late in the week, raising concerns about how the offense might function. But it turned out the Seahawks didn’t need to lean on their quarterback much-because their defense stole the show.
From the jump, Seattle’s defense dictated the tempo. They forced early turnovers, shut down the run game, and made life miserable for the Niners’ offense.
San Francisco’s head coach Kyle Shanahan didn’t shy away from giving credit where it was due. After the game, he acknowledged how Seattle’s defensive pressure completely altered their approach.
“We got away from the run, trying to get back into it,” Shanahan said. “That team doesn’t give up big plays.
That’s why they’re number one in the league over the last two years not giving up big plays. When you get down a lot, it’s going to be tough to get back.
You can’t generate those big plays.”
That’s the kind of defense that doesn’t just win games-it changes game plans. And when you can force a team like the 49ers to abandon what they do best, you’re doing something right.
To be fair, San Francisco’s journey to this point wasn’t an easy one. Injuries piled up throughout the season, and just getting to the playoffs was a testament to their depth and resilience. But on this day, they ran into a buzzsaw.
The Seahawks, meanwhile, looked every bit like a team ready to make noise. Their defense didn’t just show up-they dominated. And if they can keep playing at this level, they’re going to be a nightmare matchup for anyone standing in their way.