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The San Francisco 49ers broke their red zone curse on Thursday, scoring an excellent 36-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks to return to .500 and get some breathing room in the NFC West. It wasn't the prettiest of wins, but the important thing is they got the job done.
Both teams are now tied at 3-3, but their seasons look vastly different. One feels a lock to go to the playoffs, while the other can't get out of its own head.
Here are five takeaways from the game.
5 takeaways from San Francisco 49ers' victory over Seattle Seahawks on TNF
#1 - 49ers' red zone woes continue
The game could've been put to bed earlier, especially as the 49ers got two turnovers in the first half that turned into field goals - one with excellent field position. Until Christian McCaffrey returns, scoring touchdowns in the red zone feels like it's going to be a problem for the team.
#2 - Injuries could derail the 49ers season
Jordan Mason left the game in the first half with a shoulder injury. Matthew Wright, their new kicker in place of an injured Jake Moody, also got hurt late in the fourth quarter. The team looked exhausted as well - thankfully, they'll have a lot of time until their next game.
#3 - Geno can't allow himself to be inconsistent
This isn't a strong Seahawks team by many accounts, but they're better than other struggling franchises due to their quarterback, who's playing at a higher level than what the stats show. Geno Smith, however, had a bad game on Thursday, and when that happens, a loss is near certainty.
#4 - Everyone can play running back in Kyle Shanahan's system
With Mason getting injured, Isaac Guerendo took over the position. He struggled for most of the time, but late in the game, he broke a 76-yard run that basically put the nail in the coffin to finish with 99 yards in 10 carries. No matter who you put in, playing running back in coach Kyle Shanahan's system is going to be a success for you.
#5 - George Kittle still got it
The veteran tight end has been on a fantastic streak of touchdowns, scoring five over the previous four games, and he scored two more on Thursday in just five catches against Seattle. No other tight end has been playing as well as Kittle in 2024.
