Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers: 2022 Wild Card Recap

Game story

In the Wild Card of the 2022 NFL season on 2023-01-14, the San Francisco 49ers took care of business against the Seattle Seahawks, pulling away with a 41–23 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 26 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

G. Smith (Seattle Seahawks) paced the passing game, with +8.19 total EPA, and +10.7% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, B. Purdy (San Francisco 49ers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +23.99 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+14.2% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Seattle Seahawks changed the game: (5:08) (Shotgun) 7-G.Smith pass deep left to 14-D.Metcalf for 50 yards, TOUCHDOWN. 14 YAC

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 B. Purdy · San Francisco 49ers · Passing · +23.99 total EPA · 33 snaps · +0.73 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Metcalf · Seattle Seahawks · Receiving · +11.40 total EPA · 14 snaps · +0.81 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Samuel · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +9.19 total EPA · 9 snaps · +1.02 EPA/play
4. 4 G. Smith · Seattle Seahawks · Passing · +8.19 total EPA · 45 snaps · +0.18 EPA/play
5. 5 C. McCaffrey · San Francisco 49ers · Rushing · +4.73 total EPA · 15 snaps · +0.32 EPA/play
6. 6 G. Kittle · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +4.46 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.49 EPA/play
7. 7 C. Johnson · Seattle Seahawks · Receiving · +4.16 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.39 EPA/play
8. 8 E. Mitchell · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +4.01 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.34 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• San Francisco 49ers — C. McCaffrey (B. Purdy pass) (Q1 50:17)
• Seattle Seahawks — K. Walker (Q2 43:19)
• Seattle Seahawks — D. Metcalf (G. Smith pass) (Q2 35:08)
• San Francisco 49ers — B. Purdy (Q3 22:19)
• San Francisco 49ers — E. Mitchell (B. Purdy pass) (Q4 14:10)
• San Francisco 49ers — D. Samuel (B. Purdy pass) (Q4 11:04)
• Seattle Seahawks — D. Metcalf (G. Smith pass) (Q4 1:52)

Field goals

• San Francisco 49ers — R. Gould (Q1 55:16)
• San Francisco 49ers — R. Gould (Q2 37:45)
• San Francisco 49ers — R. Gould (Q2 30:17)
• Seattle Seahawks — J. Myers (Q2 30:01)
• Seattle Seahawks — unlisted player (Q2 30:00)
• San Francisco 49ers — R. Gould (Q4 4:59)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 10–0. San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the SEA 16 (Q1 55:16) — (10:16) 9-R.Gould 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the SEA 3 (Q1 50:17) — (5:17) (Shotgun) 13-B.Purdy pass short right to 23-C.McCaffrey for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. 5 YAC; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the SEA 15 (Q1 50:11) — 9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky..

The second quarter: Seattle Seahawks won the period 20–6. Seattle Seahawks found the end zone from the SF 7 (Q2 43:19) — (13:19) 9-K.Walker left end for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Seattle Seahawks added 1 points from the SF 15 (Q2 43:14) — 5-J.Myers extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Tinker, Holder-4-M.Dickson.; San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the SEA 15 (Q2 37:45) — (7:45) 9-R.Gould 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.; Seattle Seahawks found the end zone from the SF 50 (Q2 35:08) — (5:08) (Shotgun) 7-G.Smith pass deep left to 14-D.Metcalf for 50 yards, TOUCHDOWN. 14 YAC; Seattle Seahawks added 1 points from the SF 15 (Q2 35:01) — 5-J.Myers extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Tinker, Holder-4-M.Dickson.; San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the SEA 28 (Q2 30:17) — (:17) 9-R.Gould 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.; Seattle Seahawks connected on a field goal from the SF 38 (Q2 30:01) — (:01) 5-J.Myers 56 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Tinker, Holder-4-M.Dickson.; Seattle Seahawks connected on a field goal (Q2 30:00) — END QUARTER 2.

The third quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 7–0. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the SEA 1 (Q3 22:19) — (7:19) (No Huddle) 13-B.Purdy up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the SEA 15 (Q3 22:15) — 9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky..

The fourth quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 18–6. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the SEA 7 (Q4 14:10) — (14:10) (Shotgun) 13-B.Purdy pass short right to 25-E.Mitchell for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN. 9 YAC; San Francisco 49ers registered a safety from the SEA 2 (Q4 14:02) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 13-B.Purdy pass to 85-G.Kittle is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the SEA 74 (Q4 11:04) — (11:04) 13-B.Purdy pass short left to 19-D.Samuel for 74 yards, TOUCHDOWN. 66 YAC; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the SEA 15 (Q4 10:51) — 9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.; San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the SEA 13 (Q4 4:59) — (4:59) 9-R.Gould 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.; Seattle Seahawks found the end zone from the SF 3 (Q4 1:52) — (1:52) (Shotgun) 7-G.Smith pass short right to 14-D.Metcalf for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. 0 YAC.

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Seattle Seahawks (Q2 35:08) — (5:08) (Shotgun) 7-G.Smith pass deep left to 14-D.Metcalf for 50 yards, TOUCHDOWN. 14 YAC [WPA +14.2% · EPA +5.01]
• Seattle Seahawks (Q3 19:06) — (4:06) (Shotgun) 7-G.Smith pass short left to 14-D.Metcalf to SF 25 for 13 yards (29-T.Hufanga). 2 YAC [WPA +10.7% · EPA +2.90]
• Seattle Seahawks (Q2 30:09) — (:09) (Shotgun) 7-G.Smith scrambles right tackle to SEA 47 for 9 yards (1-J.Ward). PENALTY on SF-1-J.Ward, Unnecessary Roughness, 15 yards, enforced at SEA 47. [WPA +10.3% · EPA +1.43]
• Seattle Seahawks (Q3 17:31) — (2:31) (Shotgun) 7-G.Smith sacked at SF 26 for -7 yards (94-C.Omenihu). FUMBLES (94-C.Omenihu), RECOVERED by SF-97-N.Bosa at SF 30. [WPA -10.3% · EPA -4.90]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q1 53:02) — (8:02) (Shotgun) 23-C.McCaffrey left tackle pushed ob at SEA 17 for 68 yards (30-M.Jackson). [WPA +10.1% · EPA +4.60]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• San Francisco 49ers (Q4 11:04) — (11:04) 13-B.Purdy pass short left to 19-D.Samuel for 74 yards, TOUCHDOWN. 66 YAC [WPA +2.3% · EPA +6.07]
• Seattle Seahawks (Q2 35:08) — (5:08) (Shotgun) 7-G.Smith pass deep left to 14-D.Metcalf for 50 yards, TOUCHDOWN. 14 YAC [WPA +14.2% · EPA +5.01]
• Seattle Seahawks (Q3 17:31) — (2:31) (Shotgun) 7-G.Smith sacked at SF 26 for -7 yards (94-C.Omenihu). FUMBLES (94-C.Omenihu), RECOVERED by SF-97-N.Bosa at SF 30. [WPA -10.3% · EPA -4.90]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q1 53:02) — (8:02) (Shotgun) 23-C.McCaffrey left tackle pushed ob at SEA 17 for 68 yards (30-M.Jackson). [WPA +10.1% · EPA +4.60]

Quarterback report card

G.Smith led all passers in efficiency for Seattle Seahawks, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• G.Smith (Seattle Seahawks) · 45 dropbacks · 55.6% completion · +10.7% CPOE · +0.18 EPA/play · +8.19 total EPA
• B.Purdy (San Francisco 49ers) · 33 dropbacks · 54.5% completion · +5.0% CPOE · +0.73 EPA/play · +23.99 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

San Francisco 49ers held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.34 vs +0.06), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Seattle Seahawks: 10 drives, +5.20 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• San Francisco 49ers: 10 drives, +26.68 total EPA, 8 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• San Francisco 49ers leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• B. Purdy (San Francisco 49ers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• G. Smith (SEA) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• B. Purdy (SF) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q1 55:16 · SEA 16 · Score 0-3
   (10:16) 9-R.Gould 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.
2. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q1 50:17 · SEA 3 · Score 0-9
   (5:17) (Shotgun) 13-B.Purdy pass short right to 23-C.McCaffrey for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. 5 YAC
3. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q1 50:11 · SEA 15 · Score 0-10
   9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.
4. Seattle Seahawks TD (+6) — Q2 43:19 · SF 7 · Score 6-10
   (13:19) 9-K.Walker left end for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Seattle Seahawks XP (+1) — Q2 43:14 · SF 15 · Score 7-10
   5-J.Myers extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Tinker, Holder-4-M.Dickson.
6. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q2 37:45 · SEA 15 · Score 7-13
   (7:45) 9-R.Gould 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.
7. Seattle Seahawks TD (+6) — Q2 35:08 · SF 50 · Score 13-13
   (5:08) (Shotgun) 7-G.Smith pass deep left to 14-D.Metcalf for 50 yards, TOUCHDOWN. 14 YAC
8. Seattle Seahawks XP (+1) — Q2 35:01 · SF 15 · Score 14-13
   5-J.Myers extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Tinker, Holder-4-M.Dickson.
9. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q2 30:17 · SEA 28 · Score 14-16
   (:17) 9-R.Gould 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.
10. Seattle Seahawks FG (+3) — Q2 30:01 · SF 38 · Score 17-16
    (:01) 5-J.Myers 56 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Tinker, Holder-4-M.Dickson.
11. Seattle Seahawks FG (+3) — Q2 30:00 · Score 17-16
    END QUARTER 2
12. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q3 22:19 · SEA 1 · Score 17-22
    (7:19) (No Huddle) 13-B.Purdy up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
13. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q3 22:15 · SEA 15 · Score 17-23
    9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.
14. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q4 14:10 · SEA 7 · Score 17-29
    (14:10) (Shotgun) 13-B.Purdy pass short right to 25-E.Mitchell for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN. 9 YAC
15. San Francisco 49ers Safety (+2) — Q4 14:02 · SEA 2 · Score 17-31
    TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 13-B.Purdy pass to 85-G.Kittle is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.
16. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q4 11:04 · SEA 74 · Score 17-37
    (11:04) 13-B.Purdy pass short left to 19-D.Samuel for 74 yards, TOUCHDOWN. 66 YAC
17. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q4 10:51 · SEA 15 · Score 17-38
    9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.
18. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q4 4:59 · SEA 13 · Score 17-41
    (4:59) 9-R.Gould 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.
19. Seattle Seahawks TD (+6) — Q4 1:52 · SF 3 · Score 23-41
    (1:52) (Shotgun) 7-G.Smith pass short right to 14-D.Metcalf for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. 0 YAC