The 49ers found themselves two yards away from losing the NFC West title to the Seahawks Sunday. On the fInal play of the game Seahawks’ tight end, Jacob Hollister caught a pass from Russell Wilson and tried to reach for the goal line. After what seemed like an eternity for the review to be complete, the 49ers and their general manager, John Lynch, celebrated as the call on the field was confirmed, no touchdown. The defensive stand crowned San Francisco atop the NFC West as they defeated Seattle 26-21.
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The final play reminded Head Coach Kyle Shanahan of the game against Atlanta on December 15. On the last play in regulation, the Falcons were initially ruled short of a touchdown, but a booth review overturned the call granting Atlanta the final touchdown and the victory.
“I wasn’t ready to celebrate anything. [The Atlanta game] kind of ruined my celebration, to tell you the truth. I wanted to wait until I saw it on the scoreboard,” Shanahan said.
49ers’ rookie, Dre Greenlaw, was able to keep Hollister out of the endzone for the game winning tackle. “I just made sure that I kept my feet on the goal line … and just made a tackle that my coaches and teammates will be proud of. I’m just thankful to be able to make the play,” Greenlaw told ESPN.
The victory gave San Francisco their first win in Seattle since Christmas Eve 2011, finishing the season 13-3, their best record since 2011. San Francisco also clinched the number one seed in the NFC, a first round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. This marks seven years since the 49ers have been division champions.
“We worked for this all year,” Shanahan said. “That’s always the goal going in, just to get in the tournament. To get in there with the No. 1 seed feels very good. We were going to be ready to deal with whatever we had to tomorrow, whether if we had to go play three games, but I know we’re much happier that we can stay at home now when you’re two games away from the big one. We’re going to enjoy this bye week, but very proud of the guys. We’ve had to win a lot of different ways this year. I keep feeling like we’ve done it every way possible, and then we find a way to do it.”
Jimmy Garoppolo, who was 18 of 22 with no touchdowns or interceptions and a passer rating of 118.5, said, “This whole season has been complementary football between our offense, defense and special teams, and tonight was no different,” Garoppolo said. “They’d step up and make a huge play, we’d step up and make a huge play. It was just everyone stepping up when their number was called.”
The 49ers will enjoy a week off to get healthy and rest as Seattle preps themselves for a road game in Philadelphia next Sunday in the NFC Wild Card round. If New Orleans beats Minnesota and Seattle gets past the Eagles, the two rivals will face off again in the second round.
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