The San Francisco 49ers got a taste of what it feels like to lose in 2019 after falling to the Seattle Seahawks 27-24. Let’s talk about the winners and losers from the game.

Winners

Fred Warner

Warner led the team with nine solo tackles and two sacks, batted a pass to force a punt and forced a fumble that led to a DeForest Buckner touchdown. The 49ers defense has relied on timely stops and plays all season, and Warner came through a few times on Monday night.

K’Waun Williams

Richard Sherman said Williams was the MVP of the defense. Williams had a half-sack that led to a forced fumble and continued to make big run stops for the 49ers that helped get the defense off the field. Williams finished with nine total tackles on the night and was a big reason for the success on defense. To me, Williams slips blocks better than the Niners’ linebackers.

Emmanuel Moseley

Moseley gave up a couple of first downs that led to first downs, but he battled against two physically superior wide receivers in D.K. Metcalf and Josh Gordon all night. Seattle went out of its way to target Moseley on jump balls and fades, and Moseley wasn’t having it. Three pass breakups, all coming against Metcalf, proved that Moseley is here to stay, whether that’s down the line or for the rest of the season. He’s a really good player that was active against the run. Moseley finished the night tied for the team lead in tackles with ten.

Losers

Receivers

Deebo Samuel had eight catches for 112 yards and is not a winner because, like every wideout, not wearing No. 17, he had a crucial drop. Kendrick Bourne—who has the best hands on the team in my opinion—had a ball go right through his hands that took points off the board for San Francisco. He had another drop that would have converted a third and long, but Bourne dropped it once more.

I wouldn’t call this season a rollercoaster for Dante Pettis as there haven’t been enough highs to justify calling it a rollercoaster. Pettis was targeted three times and dropped the ball twice. Both of those drops proved to be costly.

Finally, Marquise Goodwin showed once more to be unreliable. He had three targets on the first drive and was never thrown the ball again. At first, I was wondering why Pettis couldn’t get on the field, but we saw why. The one Goodwin drop towards the end zone looked like he struggled to pick the ball up. The timing to Goodwin was off all night.

Offensive tackles

Shanahan left Joe Staley and Mike McGlinchey 1-on-1 to block Jadeveon Clowney, and that proved to be a mistake. Coming into the game, Seattle struggled to get after the quarterback. During the game, Clowney looked like the 49ers defensive line has all season. Play after play, the tackles would get beaten by the former Texan. There was an obvious rush with it being their first game back, but Clowney hit Jimmy Garoppolo four times and had another sack.

It’ll be easy to second-guess the decision to play Staley and McGlinchey, but they practiced all week, and the coaching staff saw enough to put them on the field. They were outplayed. It’s that simple.

Training staff

Sanders

Weston Richburg

D.J. Jones

Ronald Blair

Azeez Al-Shaair

Matt Breida

I’m sure I’m missing someone, but those are the players that missed time due to injury during the game. Richburg returned, but in his absence, Ben Garland failed to pick up a stunt that led to a sack-fumble which was recovered for a touchdown.

Blair was on crutches after the game, and the team fears his injury could be severe. Both he and Sanders will have MRIs on Monday morning. Jones has a groin injury, and he is considered day-to-day. Al-Shaair will be in the concussion protocol.

Chase McLaughlin

You literally have one job as a kicker. Whether you’re a 15-year veteran, or a rookie undrafted free agent, you make your kicks. McLaughlin wouldn’t have made the potential game-winner from 47-yards if the goalposts were five yards wider. There would be a lot less blame had the kick went through.

Player of the game

Greenlaw had the play of the game, no doubt. He kept the 49ers alive. Then again, Jaquiski Tartt’s forced fumble was as good as you’ll see. DeForest Buckner’s touchdown was great, and you can make an argument for him to be on the winner’s list, but I’m going with Warner. If Warner doesn’t knock the ball out, Buckner doesn’t score. It’s a tough loss for the defense, and you could sense that the team was emotionally drained in the locker room. Their confidence won’t waver, though. That is apparent. It’s also necessary if this team is going to win the division.