Seahawks score 20 second-half points and force three crucial turnovers
Richard Sherman needed one last exclamation to make his point clear.
The Seattle cornerback deflected Quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s pass, intended for Michael Crabtree, into the hands of linebacker Malcom Smith with 22 seconds left, defense forced three second-half turnovers and the Seahawks scored 20 second-half points to defeat the San Francisco 49ers 23-17 on Sunday night in the NFC Championship game at Centurylink Field.
The victory sends the Seahawks (15-3) to Super Bowl XLVIII where it will meet the Broncos (15-3) in two weeks at the Meadowlands in New Jersey, since losing to Pittsburg in 2005.
Sherman, one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL, battled 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree most of the evening. However, it was the play that happened with 22 seconds left, when the speedy Sherman made up ground to deflect a pass into the waiting hands of Smith in the end zone to ultimately put the finishing touches on the NFC Championship Game.
Sherman shared the fact that watching film was worth it, because the 49ers made it to the Super Bowl.
The Seahawks, who boast the NFL’s top defense found life in the second half. The 49ers (14-5) scored only seven points in the second half, while Seattle posted 20. A large part of that was a result of three game-changing turnovers.
Seahawks’ Pete Carroll called it a magical moment.
San Francisco’s last three drives resulted in turnovers. Kaepernick, who was 14/24 with 153 passing yards and a touchdown and rushed 11 times for 130 yards, fumbled after being stripped of the ball by defensive end Bruce Irvin. The following two interceptions on its next two possessions, proved costly.
Kaepernick did much to help the 49ers build an early lead, but also suffered some costly mistakes that hurt his team as well.
Line backer Aldon Smith’s sack and fumble recovery of Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson gave the 49ers great field position at the 15 yard line. But Seahawks defense stiffen, yielding a 25-yard field goal by Phil Dawson after Kaepernick was tackled two yards short of a first down while facing third and eight from the 13.
On Seattle’s next series Wilson was stopped a yard shy of a first down, forcing the Seahawks to punt.
Wilson led the Seahawks on 16/25 passing with 215 yards and a score, Lynch carried 22 times for 109 yards and a touchdown and Baldwin caught six passes for a 106 yards.
Meanwhile the 49ers stalled on its possession.
Despite the Seahawks having home field advantage, San Francisco seemed like the home team with the game in complete command though, leading only 3-0.
49ers defense played to the right tune, keeping Wilson and Lynch in check throughout the first half.
With that said, Kaepernick led a second-quarter drive, ripping off a pair of rushes, one resulting in a 58-yard run that setup running back Anthony Dickerson’s one-yard scoring plunge. Following the extra point, San Francisco led 10-0.
After, Seahawks had its best drive of the day when Wilson avoided a rush, scrambling as he spotted receiver Doug Baldwin deep down field for a 51-yard completion.
The drive accounted for only three points after Wilson was sacked by Linebacker Dan Skuta, a 12-yard loss and a incomplete pass on third down.
On fourth down, Kicker Steven Hauschka nailed a 32-yard field goal, trimming the score 10-3.
The tale of different halves worked out in Seattle’s favor as the second half unfolded. The Seahawks outscored San Francisco 20-7 in the half.
After San Francisco’s first drive of the third quarter halted, Seattle marched 75 yards as fans watched Lynch bolt the remaining 40 yards, tying the game 10-all.
The touchdown left the raucous Seattle fans cheering, screaming and dancing. Before then, there wasn’t much for the home crowd to boast about.
Soon after, Kaepernick settled Seahawk fans back into a quiet mode, and directed the 49ers offense down the field. The drive concluded with a 40-yard strike to receiver Anquan Bolden who was well covered but kept his concentrations while making a diftcult catch to give the 49ers a 17-10 lead with 6:29 left in the third quarter.
The Seahawks followed with a drive that resulted in three points, a 40-yard field goal from Hauschka. It happened after; defensive end Cliff Avril stripped the ball away from Kaepernick. Michael Bennett recovered for the Seahawks.
Another quick stop of the 49ers and Wilson was back to work, facing fourth down, threaded a pass between two defenders, connecting with receiver Jermaine Kearse in the end zone, to give Seattle a 20-17 lead, its first lead of the game; one it would never give back.
Hauscha drilled a 47-yard field goal to finalize all scoring.
Then the deflection by Sherman, which started the 12th man celebration and a ticket to the Super Bowl XLVIII.