Seahawks left frustrated after another loss to rival 49ers

SEATTLE (AP) — When Geno Smith stepped to the microphone after another gut punch of a loss for the Seahawks, this one a 36-24 home defeat to NFC West rival San Francisco, he wasn’t about make any excuses.

“Obviously we did a lot of things that you don’t want to do when you talk about winning football games,” Smith said. “We didn’t control the ball, didn’t control the clock, turned the ball over, had penalties. You know, all the things that we talk about every week.”

Smith wasn’t at his best on Thursday despite throwing for 312 yards, with several missed throws and two costly interceptions, but he wasn’t the only one to blame as the Seahawks (3-3) lost their third straight.

The defense struggled yet again, as the San Francisco run game pounded the Seahawks for 228 yards and quarterback Brock Purdy threw for 255 yards and three touchdowns, one a 76-yarder to Deebo Samuel.

While the Seahawks managed to make the game interesting after falling behind 23-3 early in the second half, the turnovers and another poor defensive showing made this a game without many bright spots.

For first-year coach Mike Macdonald, it was a disappointing result to his team’s first divisional matchup of the season, especially in light of Baltimore’s 33-19 drubbing of the 49ers last Christmas, when Macdonald was the Ravens’ defensive coordinator.

“Look, it stings,” Macdonald said. “It stings to have lost three in a row, to lose it against your division rival at home, prime time, such a great environment. Guys fought their tails off down to the last minute. But we’re not playing well enough to beat the team we needed to beat.”

The Seahawks looked poised for a big comeback for part of the fourth quarter. Trailing 23-3 with just over 10 minutes left in the third quarter, Seattle made it a two-score game after Laviska Shenault Jr. returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown.

Just over eight minutes later, Kenneth Walker III made it a five-point game with a 1-yard touchdown run. But when Smith threw an interception to Renardo Green on a pass to DK Metcalf with 7:55 left in the game to give San Francisco the ball at the 15-yard line, the 49ers quickly scored again.

Though they couldn’t pull it out, the Seahawks made it close in the fourth quarter for a second straight game. With a fewer mistakes at some critical moments, Seattle could be 5-1.

Seattle’s run defense needs to improve, and quickly. The 49ers gashed the Seahawks for 228 yards on 33 carries as Seattle gave up big yards on the ground for the third consecutive week.

Jordan Mason gained 73 yards on nine carries before leaving with a shoulder injury early in the second half, while Isaac Guerendo gained 99 yards on 19 carries, 76 on one play in the fourth quarter. The Seahawks are allowing an average of 144.7 rushing yards per game, good for 27th in the NFL. On a team led by the defensive guru Macdonald, that simply isn’t good enough.

Shenault didn’t have a perfect game by any means, with a fumble on a second-quarter kickoff that led to a 49ers field goal, but his long return for a touchdown in the third gave Seattle a much-needed spark.

His big run gave him a 33.5-yards-per-return average and 369 total yards on 11 returns this season, both second best in the NFL.

After four consecutive standout weeks, this game was a bit of a dud for Smith. Although he threw for more than 300 yards and a touchdown on 30-of-52 passing, including 203 yards in the second half, he missed some big throws and threw a pair of interceptions.

He wasn’t Seattle’s biggest problem in an ugly loss, but the his poor first half and two picks were costly.

CB’s Artie Burns (toe) and Tre Brown (ankle) both left the game. Macdonald was optimistic that DT Byron Murphy II (hamstring) will play in Seattle’s next game at Atlanta on Oct. 20.

Minus-6 — Seattle had three turnovers, with Smith’s two interceptions and Shenault’s fumble. The 49ers did not have a giveaway. Through six games, the Seahawks have a minus-6 turnover differential.

The Seahawks will try to snap their skid against a Falcons team that has won its past two and ranks sixth in the NFL with 260 passing yards per game.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith runs the ball against San Francisco 49ers defensive end Robert Beal Jr. (51) during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024 in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf, right, runs the ball against San Francisco 49ers cornerback Renardo Green, left, during the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024 in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams gestures to the crowd during a stoppage against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024 in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024 in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf, left, is unable to bring in a pass in the end zone against San Francisco 49ers cornerback Renardo Green, right, during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024 in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald reacts during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024 in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Germany's rebuilding appears to be on the right track.

Denis Undav scored twice and the four-time World Cup winners extended their unbeaten record in the Nations League to three matches after a convincing 2-1 win at Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday.

Reduced to 10 men, the Netherlands managed a 1-1 draw in Hungary.

Following the retirements of Manuel Neuer and Toni Kroos, Germany started a new cycle and their clean and fluid display against a spirited Bosnia side bodes well for the future.

The Germans top their group after also thrashing Hungary 5-0 and drawing in the Netherlands 2-2.

In the absence of several stalwarts, the Germans played with confidence, developed complex attacking moves and gave the impression of enjoying themselves. They had plenty of chances to score more and had a couple of goals disallowed for offside.

“I knew that Bosnia and Herzegovina are good defensively but you have to keep in mind that we had many chances,” said Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann. “That’s why Bosnia and Herzegovina stayed in the game.”

The only downside was the defensive lapse when Hungary's Edin Dzeko pulled one back 20 minutes from time.

The visitors took the lead in the 30th minute at the conclusion of a move that showcased Florian Wirtz's cleverness. The unmarked midfielder collected a lofted pass in the box and, instead of trying his luck, cut an unexpected back pass to Undav, who calmly finished the move.

Undav, who marked his first start for Germany with a goal against the Netherlands, was clinical on Friday.

His Stuttgart clubmate Maximilian Mittelstädt was the provider six minutes later with an excellent cross, and Undav doubled Germany's lead with a clean tap-in from close range.

Bosnia's Ermedin Demirovic, another Stuttgart player, hit the woodwork in the 35th, but Dzeko scored in the 70th with a header from a corner, his 67th goal for the national team.

The Dutch's unbeaten run was almost stopped at Puskas Arena.

The Netherlands won all nine previous meetings with Hungary and enjoyed most of the possession in the first half. But it could not find an edge to get past the staunch Hungarian defense. Roland Sallai put the host in the driver's seat in the 32nd with a close-range finish from Zsolt Nagy’s cross.

The Dutch looked set for a dreadful evening when defender Virgil van Dijk was sent off for a second yellow card but Denzel Dumfries earned a point for the visitors with a header from Cody Gakpo's curled free kick in the 83rd.

"Even with 10 men, we tried to put pressure forward," Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman said. “I did have the idea: we’re going to score. If you have a man less, you are relieved that you still (finish) 1-1.”

Germany opened a two-point lead over the Netherlands at the top of the A3 Group. Hungary was third ahead of Bosnia.

Georgia's unbeaten record was ended by Ukraine in Group B1.

Georgia, the surprise of this year's European Championship, won its first two games and remained at the top of the group despite the loss. Mykhailo Mudryk scored the winner for Ukraine, earning the war-torn country its first points in the tournament.

The Czech Republic won against Albania 2-0.

Iceland erased a two-goal deficit to draw with Wales 2-2. Brennan Johnson scored in a seventh consecutive game for club and country as the Tottenham winger put Wales ahead with the opener. Turkey defeated Montenegro 1-0 in the other Group B4 game. In League C, Estonia won against Azerbaijan 3-1 while Sweden drew at Slovakia 2-2.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Stefan De Vrij of the Netherlands jumps for the ball with Hungary's Bendeguz Bolla, right, during the Nations League soccer match between Hungary and the Netherlands at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Tijjani Reijnders of the Netherlands attempts a shot at goal during the Nations League soccer match between Hungary and the Netherlands at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Hungary's Andras Schafer, left, tries to tackle Cody Gakpo of the Netherlands during the Nations League soccer match between Hungary and the Netherlands at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Germany's Pascal Gross passes the ball during the Nations League soccer match between Bosnia and Germany in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

Bosnia's Edin Dzeko receives the ball during the Nations League soccer match between Bosnia and Germany in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

Hungary goalkeeper Denes Dibusz makes a save during the Nations League soccer match between Hungary and the Netherlands at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Hungary's Roland Sallai gestures during the Nations League soccer match between Hungary and the Netherlands at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Bosnia's Armin Gigovic tackles Germany's Maximilian Mittelstadt during the Nations League soccer match between Bosnia and Germany in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

Brennan Johnson of Wales celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Nations League group 4 soccer match between Iceland and Wales in Reykjavik, Iceland, Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Arni Torfason)

A Hungary fan holds up his scarf on the stands during the Nations League soccer match between Hungary and the Netherlands at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

German players celebrate after a goal during the Nations League soccer match between Bosnia and Germany in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)