Turnovers cost Seahawks in loss to 49ers

SEATTLE – The Seattle Seahawks made a stop that appeared like it would help them stay within one point of the San Francisco 49ers at 14-13 heading into halftime.

But it turned out to be one that helped cost them the game thanks to another costly turnover from the offense.

Seattle’s defense held up with a sack of Brock Purdy on third down that forced the 49ers to punt rather than attempt to kick a near-60-yard field goal into the north end zone late in the first half at Lumen Field. But San Francisco’s special-teams unit came up big and downed a punt at Seattle’s 4-yard line with 17 seconds until halftime that forced the Seahawks to run plays rather than kneel out the clock due to their proximity to the end zone and San Francisco (5-0 record) having three timeouts.

It took only one play for a critical mistake by the Seahawks (3-2). George Holani fumbled in his own end zone and 49ers defensive lineman Gracen Halton fell on it for a touchdown to go up 21-13 with 13 seconds left in the half.

GRACEN HALTON HAVE A DAY 👏

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/j24NvY7Ygl

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 11, 2026

That touchdown proved to be critical in a game that was decided by three points, as San Francisco went on to win it 32-29 to maintain its hold on first place in the NFC West. And it was the result of one of many big mistakes made by the Seahawks that led to points as turnovers proved to be a problem once more for the defending Super Bowl champions.

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San Francisco’s first three touchdowns came off Seattle turnovers that either set up short fields or allowed the 49ers to score without their offense seeing the field.

“In terms of playing complementary football the way that we want to play here as Seahawks and become the team that we want to become, we’re not there yet,” head coach Mike Macdonald said. “So the good news is we have a game in four days that we can move forward and learn from and try to grow from, so that’s the good news, but we need to grow quickly in terms of complementary football. Definitely taking care of the football. Way too many giveaways at this point in the season. We’ll look at those and see how we can get it fixed moving forward.”

The first of the 49ers’ touchdowns off turnovers came early in the first quarter. On Seattle’s third offensive play of the game, Sam Darnold was picked off by Renardo Green trying to force a pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba near the sideline. Four plays later, Brock Purdy connected with Mike Evans on a 2-yard TD pass.

Seattle turned it over again after it forced a punt and started a drive inside its own red zone. San Francisco linebacker Fred Warner stripped running back Emanuel Wilson and Malik Mustapha recovered at the Seahawks’ 11-yard line. Christian McCaffrey rushed for a TD on the very next play to put the 49ers up 14-10.

Then in the closing moments of the first half, it was Holani’s fumble – his second of the game and first that was recovered by San Francisco – that allowed the 49ers to go up 21-13.

“We have to stay out of our own way at the end of the day,” Jaxon Smith-Njigba said. “We spotted them 21 points. Like I said, defense played incredible and it’s on us to protect the ball and move the ball forward.”

The Seahawks went back and forth in the second half with the Seahawks leading by as many as 26-21 early in the fourth quarter, but the 49ers answered back with an 84-yard touchdown march to go up on 29-26 on Brandin Cooks’ 7-yard TD catch with 11:10 left to play.

Seattle tied the game up on a 40-yard field goal from Jason Myers with 6:55 to play, but Eddy Piniero put San Francisco ahead for good with a 44-yard field goal with 1:56 left to play.

The Seahawks has now allowed 45 points off turnovers through their first five games.

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