In this episode of Saturday vs Sunday, we break down the San Francisco 49ers’ nail-biting win over the Seattle Seahawks—a game that felt more like a playoff matchup than a Week 1 divisional clash. From the opening kickoff, it was clear that Robert Saleh’s return had injected life back into the 49ers defense. We saw a unit that looked like its old Super Bowl-caliber self, flying around, hitting hard, and closing out the game in dominant fashion.
Nick Bosa stole the spotlight in crunch time, showcasing exactly why he’s considered one of the best defensive players in the league. His game-sealing bull rush not only forced a fumble but served as a reminder that very few edge rushers can combine speed and power the way he does. On the offensive side, Christian McCaffrey looked every bit like the Offensive Player of the Year, piling up touches as both a runner and receiver and carrying a massive share of the workload.
Of course, it wasn’t all perfect for San Francisco. Brock Purdy had a mixed performance—two costly interceptions balanced by a clutch game-winning drive. Special teams were shaky as well, with missed kicks putting unnecessary pressure on the offense and defense.
For Seattle, Sam Darnold showed flashes, but without a reliable run game, the offense leaned almost entirely on rookie star Jackson Smith-Njigba. The Seahawks’ defense played tough, but the lack of balance hurt them late.
We dive into all of this and more, sharing why both teams gave us reasons for excitement—and concern—moving forward.