The biggest news out of Santa Clara over the weekend was not the San Francisco 49ers' finale against the Seattle Seahawks. Instead, news surrounded the fates of general manager Trent Baalke and head coach Chip Kelly. On Saturday night, Adam Schefter of ESPNreported that both Baalke and Kelly would be fired following Sunday's game.
On Sunday morning, Jay Glazer reported on FOX Sports that Baalke had actually been informed on Friday that he would not return to the team following the season. Kelly was not given the same courtesy and is scheduled to meet with ownership following the game to discuss is fate.
The personnel moves set a major reset in motion within the organization as the 49ers embark on their third head coach search in as many years as well as a hunt for a suitable general manager.
As for the game itself, 49ers players insisted that they have been focused on their game against Seattle and not the drama around them. They had not been informed of anything surrounding the future of Kelly. The game would likely serve as the final game with the 49ers for both Kelly and QB Colin Kaepernick. The Seahawks needed the victory to have any chance at the number two seed in the NFC playoffs and a bye week. Seattle entered the game on a six-game winning streak against San Francisco.
The 49ers were the first to get into the end zone thanks to a one-yard touchdown run by RB Shaun Draughn. The score capped off a seven-play drive that gave San Francisco an early 7-3 lead. Draughn entered the game as the team's starting running back after Carlos Hyde had been placed on injured reserve this week.
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Draughn entered the end zone again on the 49ers' next offensive possession to take a 14-3 lead. San Francisco engineered an impressive 14-play drive that spanned 79 yards.
As has been the case for much of the season, the 49ers' initial strong showing did not last. A field goal and two Seahawks touchdowns in the second quarter gave Seattle their first lead of the game. The Seahawks entered halftime up 19-14. 10 of those 16 Seahawks points in the second quarter were off of 49ers turnovers.
After the Seahawks extended their lead in the third quarter following a field goal, Seattle's special teams unit had a bad snap while attempting to punt. The football flew over the head of punter Jon Ryan and out of the end zone, resulting in a safety.
49ers Team Leaders
Passing
Cmp
Att
Yds
TDs
C. Kaepernick
17
22
215
1
Rushing
Car
Yds
Avg
TDs
S. Draughn
21
41
2
2
Receiving
Rec
Yds
Avg
TDs
S. Draughn
4
68
17
0
J. Kerley
6
61
10.2
0
Some trickery by the 49ers on special teams placed the San Francisco offense at the Seattle 35-yard line in the fourth quarter. A Ryan punt was caught by WR Jeremy Kerley and then passed across the field to RB Raheem Mostert, who ran the football into Seahawks territory. Two plays later, Kaepernick passed 27 yards deep left to Kerley to the Seattle 5-yard line. The 49ers offense ended up scoring on the drive. A 9-yard pass from Kaepernick to TE Garrett Celek got the 49ers within two points of Seattle.
A scuffle between the two squads ensued and Seahawks DL Jarran Reed was ejected from the game. However, that's as close as the 49ers were able to get. The Seahawks were able to finish the game off and secure a 25-23 win for their seventh straight against San Francisco.
SEA
SF
First Downs
18
14
Total Yards
376
253
Passing Yards
289
191
Rushing Yards
87
62
Penalties (Yds)
4 (34)
4 (25)
Turnovers
0
2
Punts (AVG)
4 (36)
6 (47)
Time of Pos.
29:08
30:26
Injuries
CB Rashard Robinson left the game with a left leg injury. He did not return.
Notes and Quotes
Head coach Chip Kelly confirmed that will have a meeting later with ownership. He stated that no one had told him yet that general manager Trent Baalke had been fired.
"I feel that if I was distracted by anything else, I wouldn't be giving [the players] what they deserve," Kelly said following the game.
Kelly said that, prior to the game, no players asked him about his future. After the game, there were a lot of hugs between Kelly and the players.
Kelly said that he has never had any conversations about coaching changes within his staff.
Kelly ended his postgame press conference by thanking the Bay Area media for their dedication, saying it was a pleasure working with everyone.
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