49ers Edge Seahawks in Season Opener
In a tightly contested game, the San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy found himself in a critical moment against the Seattle Seahawks. With the clock ticking down, he needed a touchdown and decided to rely on his tight end.
This time, the hero wasn’t the usual suspects, but rather Jake Tong, who opened the 2025 NFL season with a hard-fought victory over their NFC West rivals, winning 17-13.
Kittle had initially caught the 49ers’ first touchdown pass from Purdy but left the game early due to a hamstring injury. Tong, who has played only 20 games since joining the league with the Chicago Bears in 2022, needed to rise to the occasion for San Francisco.
In a pivotal moment, Purdy faced third down at the Seahawks’ four-yard line. He struggled to locate a teammate in the end zone after three attempts, so—flushed to the right—he launched a hopeful pass towards Tong in the back corner. Surprisingly, Tong managed to leap and snag the ball for a game-winning touchdown, marking his third catch of the game. This play was crucial for San Francisco as they secured victory on the road.
Kittle was seen on the sidelines, hands raised in celebration for his teammate’s remarkable catch.
The 49ers’ defense made a significant contribution too, with Nick Bosa causing a strip sack on Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold just as Seattle was driving toward the end zone on the nine-yard line with only 42 seconds left.
Purdy’s stats showed 277 passing yards on 26 of 35 attempts, with a mixed performance of two touchdowns and two interceptions. While not stellar, he contributed to the game overall. Meanwhile, Christian McCaffrey’s health was a pressing concern as he dealt with bilateral Achilles tendonitis in 2024; however, he managed to run for 69 yards on 22 carries and caught nine passes for 73 yards.
Ricky Piersall also made a significant impact, leading the team with 108 yards on four receptions, including a notable 45-yard catch from Purdy.
On the other side, Seahawks quarterback Darnold developed a solid connection with Jackson Smith-Njigba, who received 13 targets and recorded nine catches for 124 yards. Surprisingly, Seattle’s only touchdown came from Zach Charbonnet instead of Kenneth Walker III.
