Defense gets 49ers a win in the opener

The well-liked $53 million quarterback threw two interceptions. 

The not so well-liked kicker missed one field goal and had another blocked.

Bad news for the 49ers? Not when you check the final score. Unlike most of last year, the Niners came out on top, defeating the Seattle Seahawks 17-13 Sunday at Lumen Field, up there where the air is clear and the fans are overwhelmingly loud.

This was the first regular-season game on a schedule that will extend to 17 games and possibly last until January—and maybe February if you get to the Super Bowl.

Purdy, who last spring signed a five-year contract extension, had a game in which he completed 26 out of 35 for 277 yards and two touchdowns. But he did have the two picks.

“We need to wipe out the past and just work with the new guys,” Purdy said. “Coming out of this game like we did with a win was huge. With Ricky Pearsall coming in and wanting to learn was awesome. And we are going to continue to learn and improve.” 

San Francisco may have to learn to win without premier tight end George Kittle, who left the game in the second quarter with a hamstring injury that was to be diagnosed on Monday.

The place kicker, Jake Moody, who, of course, had his troubles in past seasons, missed his first field goal try Sunday (27 yards) and had his next one blocked when Seattle swarmed over the 49er offensive line. Moody did connect on the third, and certainly that turned out to be the winning margin.

The Niners didn’t play particularly well, understandably for an opener, particularly one on the road, but if you check the results, they certainly played successfully.

“Overall, I’m happy we got a win,” said halfback Christian McCaffrey, whose 73 yards receiving and 69 yards rushing contributed to the victory.

If we’re being honest, not quite as much as the defense designed by Robert Saleh and executed by individuals such as Nick Bosa, whose sack and fumble recovery came in the closing moments, Fred Warner (4 tackles), Dee Winters(5), and Marquez Sigle (5).

The Seahawks primarily are a running team, but the Niners would not let them run. Seattle gained only 84 net yards on the ground, an average of 3.2 yards per carry.

When the Niners had their chances offensively, they did enough. If you stop the other team, you don’t have to go very far yourself. San Francisco gained 384 yards. They made enough big plays, including Purdy hitting Ricky Pearsall for 45 yards in the 4th quarter, that set up a 49er touchdown.

Pearsall unfortunately became part of a bizarre story last year, when as a rookie, he was shot in San Francisco’s Union Square while trying to resist a robbery. After hospitalization ,he came back to football, and his persistence and work ethic have become legendary in a short time. 

Purdy has not been alone in his admiration of Pearsall’s interest in learning not only the requirements of his position, but of everyone in the offense. 

“He’s always asking questions,” Purdy said of Pearsall. 

One question nobody has to ask is about Pearsall’s talent. Pearsall finished with 4 receptions for 108 yards on a day when the Niners' total offense was 384 yards. 

“To win this game was great”, said San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan. “I’m real proud of our team.I like their attitude, they never waivered.”