The final game of the 2019 NFL regular season ended in thrilling fashion as the 49ers edged the Seahawks 26-21 to claim the NFC West and the conference’s No. 1 seed.
Seattle (11-5) was held inches short of coming back from a 13-0 halftime deficit and knocking off San Francisco (13-3) in the game’s final seconds.
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The Seahawks were at the 49ers’ 1 with 23 seconds remaining after Russell Wilson spiked the ball to stop the clock. Seattle had sent out Marshawn Lynch for a possible goal-line leap to match the one he made earlier in the quarter, but a penalty for delay of game forced the Seahawks, who were out of timeouts, into throwing the ball.
On fourth-and-goal, Wilson completed a pass across the middle to Jacob Hollister, who tried to twist his way into the end zone but was held up by the 49ers’ defense. After a lengthy review, the officials determined Hollister was down just shy of the goal line with eight seconds to play.
The 49ers’ goal-line stand had major implications for the postseason. San Francisco earned home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs as the top seed; a loss would have dropped it to the No. 5 seed. Seattle would have been a No. 3 seed and gotten a home wild-card game had Hollister reached the end zone; it will be the fifth seed instead, and it will have to travel to Philadelphia to play the Eagles in the wild-card round.
San Francisco has a first-round bye and will face the NFC’s lowest-seeded team in the divisional round.
Sporting News provided live updates, highlights and score changes for 49ers vs. Seahawks:
49ers vs. Seahawks score
| 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | F | |
| 49ers | 10 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 26 |
| Seahawks | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 21 |
49ers vs. Seahawks scoring plays
First quarter
7:41 — 49ers kicker Robbie Gould 47-yard field goal (49ers lead 3-0).
0:24 — 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel 30-yard touchdown run (49ers lead 10-0).
Second quarter
5:49 — 49ers kicker Robbie Gould 30-yard field goal (49ers lead 13-0).
Third quarter
5:46 — Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson 14-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Lockett (49ers lead 13-7).
3:25 — 49ers running back Raheem Mostert 2-yard touchdown run; PAT failed (49ers lead 19-7).
Fourth quarter
9:55 — Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch 1-yard touchdown run (49ers lead 19-14).
5:51 — 49ers running back Raheem Mostert 13-yard touchdown run (49ers lead 26-14).
3:36 — Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson 14-yard touchdown pass to D.K. Metcalf (49ers lead 26-21).
49ers vs. Seahawks live updates, highlights
(All times Eastern)
Final: 49ers 26, Seahawks 21
11:28 p.m.: Garoppolo sneaks it and runs out the clock. San Francisco wins.
11:27 p.m.: The catch was short of the end zone and the 49ers will take over with nine seconds to play on their own 1.
11:25 p.m.: Jacob Hollister has the reception and looks to be just inches shy of the goalline on fourth-and-goal. Play is under review.
11:21 p.m.: Wilson completes it to John Ursua to the 1 and then a spike stops the clock with 22 seconds left. Seahawks get called for delay of game shortly after.
11:13 p.m.: Wilson hits Metcalf for a 24-yard completion after scrambling in the pocket. Seahawks to the San Francisco 23 with 1:46 to go.
11:08 p.m.: A pair of completions has the Seahawks at their own 42 as the two-minute warning hits.
11:06 p.m.: Mostert picks up 16 yards on third-and-17 and the Seahawks will call a timeout with 2:34 remaining. San Francisco set to punt and Seattle will get the ball back with a chance to win it.
11:01 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, SEAHAWKS. Wilson hits D.K. Metcalf in the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown. Seattle claws within a score yet again. 49ers 26, Seahawks 21.
10:58 p.m.: San Francisco is called for pass interference, giving Seattle a first down in the red zone. Tyler Lockett is down on the play.
10:50 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, 49ers . Mostert weaves through the Seattle defense to respond with a 13-yard touchdown. 49ers 26, Seahawks 14.
10:40 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, SEAHAWKS. Marshawn Lynch leaps over the pile for the touchdown. The crowd is back in it in Seattle. 49ers 19, Seahawks 14.
End of third quarter: 49ers 19, Seahawks 7
10:22 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, 49ers . It takes just two minutes and 21 seconds for San Francisco to respond. Raheem Mostert takes a handoff to the right and punches it in for a 2-yard touchdown. San Fran’s 2-point attempt fails. 49ers 19, Seahawks 7.
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10:17 p.m.: Kyle Juszczyk is left wide open and Garoppolo finds him for a 49-yard pickup to the Seattle 26.
10:12 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, SEAHAWKS. Wilson buys some time in the pocket and then steps up and throws a dart to Tyler Lockett in the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown. 49ers 13, Seahawks 7.
10:08 p.m.: Wilson hits David Moore for a 28-yard touchdown score but Mike Iupati is called for a holding penalty, negating the score.
10:07 p.m.: Consecutive Marshawn Lynch carries go for a total of 23 yards and Seattle is within striking distance for the first time of the night.
10 p.m.: The Seahawks defense forces a three-and-out and will get the ball back for their first possession of the third quarter.
9:59 p.m.: Seattle’s kickoff goes into the end zone and the 49ers will start at the 25 to open the second half.
Halftime: 49ers 13, Seahawks 0
First downs : 49ers 11, Seahawks 6
Total yards : 49ers 222, Seahawks 79
Passing yards : 49ers 141, Seahawks 45
Rushing yards : 49ers 81, Seahawks 34
Penalties : Seahawks 3-15, 49ers 5-30
Possession : 49ers 17:14, Seahawks 12:46
9:35 p.m.: Marshawn Lynch is given the carry on fourth-and-inches and San Francisco’s defense holds up. The 49ers will take over on offense from their own 31 with under a minute to go until halftime.
9:18 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, 49ers. Gould hits his second kick of the night, this time from 30 yards away. San Francisco’s drive went 73 yards off 11 plays. 49ers 13, Seahawks 0.
9:06 p.m.: Russell Wilson is sacked on third down and the 49ers force the third punt of the night.
End of first quarter: 49ers 10, Seahawks 0
8:54 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, 49ers . Samuel takes an end-around handoff and houses it from 30 yards out. Niners up two scores early. 49ers 10, Seahawks 0.
8:52 p.m.: Deebo Samuel has a reception across the middle and picks up 29 yards to near midfield on the quick strike.
8:42 p.m.: Marshawn Lynch makes his first appearance of the night and takes a carry five yards, but the drive stalls after six plays. Two possessions and two punts for the home team.
8:34 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, 49ers . Robbie Gould knocks through a 47-yard attempt for the first points of the night. A series of short throws helped set up the San Fran scoring drive. 49ers 3, Seahawks 0.
8:26 p.m.: Seattle’s opening drive advances just one yard and the punting unit will come out.
8:23 p.m.: The opening kick is a touchback and Russell Wilson’s Seahawks offense will get things started.
8:22 p.m.: Guess who’s back?