The San Francisco 49ers entered their critical Week 18 home game against the Seattle Seahawks knowing fully well they needed to be better on defense.
After all, in the wake of allowing 38 points to the Chicago Bears the week prior in a back-and-forth shootout, the Niners knew a stronger Hawks defense wouldn't allow the same sort of outcome.
Early on, it appeared as if San Francisco would have zero answers for Seattle's ground game, led by Zach Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker, who rumbled all over coordinator Robert Saleh's defense. And it didn't take long for the Seahawks to take an early lead in a critical showdown that'd determine the No.