Piñeiro’s late kick and Mustapha’s stop keep 49ers unbeaten, 32-29

Eddy Piñeiro made a 44-yard field goal with 1:56 remaining, and Malik Mustapha stopped Cooper Kupp short of a first down on Seattle’s last possession as the San Francisco 49ers beat the Seahawks 32-29 on Sunday.

San Francisco moved to 5-0 after surviving a game with seven combined turnovers. Seattle fell to 3-2 despite taking a five-point lead in the third quarter and answering the 49ers’ first fourth-quarter touchdown with a tying field goal.

Brock Purdy’s most important possession began with San Francisco trailing 26-21. The 49ers drove 74 yards in 12 plays, overcoming an intentional-grounding penalty that left them facing second-and-21. Purdy found Mike Evans for 28 yards to the Seattle nine, keeping the drive moving toward Brandin Cooks’ seven-yard touchdown catch. Purdy then hit Evans for the two-point conversion and a 29-26 lead.

The official NFL clip shows Evans’ 28-yard reception during that comeback drive.

Evans finished with seven catches for 113 yards and a touchdown. Purdy completed 19 of 29 passes for 189 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Their late production mattered because much of San Francisco’s earlier scoring had come from defensive takeaways and short fields.

Renardo Green’s first interception set up an 18-yard touchdown drive, finished by Purdy’s two-yard pass to Evans. Fred Warner then forced an Emanuel Wilson fumble that Mustapha recovered at the Seattle 11. Christian McCaffrey scored on the next play, an 11-yard run.

The most costly Seattle turnover came just before halftime. Running from deep in their own territory, the Seahawks lost the ball when Gracen Halton stripped George Holani and recovered in the end zone. That defensive touchdown gave San Francisco a 21-13 lead at the break.

Green intercepted Sam Darnold again early in the third quarter, but Piñeiro missed from 52 yards. Seattle then used San Francisco mistakes to change the game. Nehemiah Pritchett intercepted Purdy to set up Darnold’s 16-yard touchdown pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and a Deebo Samuel fumble led to another Jason Myers field goal. Seattle led 26-21 before Purdy’s long scoring drive.

Myers made all five of his field-goal attempts, including the 40-yarder that tied the game at 29 with 6:55 left. San Francisco answered with the possession that produced Piñeiro’s winning kick, then needed one final defensive stand.

On fourth-and-10, Kupp caught a pass but gained only nine yards before Mustapha forced him out. The ruling survived replay review, giving the 49ers the ball back and ending Seattle’s comeback chance.

Darnold finished with 195 passing yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Smith-Njigba had five catches for 102 yards and a touchdown. McCaffrey led San Francisco’s rushing attack with 68 yards on 11 carries.

San Francisco linebacker Dre Greenlaw was ejected in the second quarter after a late hit on Darnold and a head-butt of Ernest Jones IV. Samuel injured his hamstring on the play where he fumbled and did not return, the Associated Press reported.

The 49ers host Washington on Monday, October 19. Seattle visits Denver on Thursday night.

Sources

Rapid reactions to 32-29 loss · 49ers rally past Seattle · ESPN: 49ers-Seahawks final box and play log · San Francisco Standard: 49ers stay unbeaten in Seattle