49ers vs. Seahawks Wild Card Playoff Live Blog

At 4:00 there's supposed to be a thunderstorm, which means there's a possibility the game could stop in the fourth quarter if there's lightning.

SANTA CLARA -- This is the live blog for the San Francisco 49ers' Wild Card Playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks. I will update this frequently with information and analysis from the press box.

11:25 One key for both teams in this game is to strike early while the rain is relatively mild. Right now, there's a light drizzle, which shouldn't affect the game too much. But the rain is supposed to pick up throughout the game, and at 4:00 there's supposed to be a thunderstorm, which means there's a possibility the game could stop in the fourth quarter if there's lightning. 

Shanahan has to have a game plan ready just in case it rains harder than expected. He should have lots of screens and short passes off play action in the game plan to keep the chains moving. He also should call short option routes for Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle and Jauan Jennings, because those routes are extremely difficult to cover on a slippery field.

Pete Carroll will attempt to disguise his defense's coverages and bait Brock Purdy into throwing interceptions in his first playoff game -- Carroll did this successfully to Purdy last month in Seattle. So it's imperative for Shanahan to call as many passes as possible that don't require much reading. Get Purdy out of the pocket, because he's relatively short for a quarterback and he can see the field better when there aren't linemen in front of him. When he plants himself in the pocket, he has to move and slide to find throwing windows.

12:03 Here are the 49ers inactives: Drake Jackson, Tyrion Davis-Price, Tevin Coleman, Ambry Thomas, Nick Zakelj, Ross Dwelley and Jimmy Garoppolo.

1:31 The 49ers win the toss and defer. The Seahawks will receive the opening kickoff.

FIRST QUARTER

1:35 On 3rd and 2 from the Seattle 28, Arik Armstead sacks Geno Smith for a loss of 10, and the Seahawks go three and out after gaining 9 yards on a first-down run. Javon Kinlaw made a tackle for loss on second and short. After the punt, the 49ers take over at their 36.

1:41 On 3rd and 3 from the Seattle 16, Brock Purdy stares down Jauan Jennings running a slant and nearly throws an interception to linebacker Cody Barton. Next play, Robbie Gould makes a 34-yard field goal. Purdy had Jennings open in the end zone from 23 yards out but underthrew the pass and it got broken up. And on the first play of the game, the ball slipped out of Purdy's hand, sailed over Deebo Samuel and nearly got picked off. Rough start for Purdy.

49ers 3, Seahawks 0.

1:47 On 3rd and 2 from the Seattle 46, Geno Smith keeps the ball on a zone-read run and gets tackled by Tashaun Gipson for a loss of one. Hilarious. After the punt, the 49ers take over at their 15.

1:53 First play of the drive, Christian McCaffrey sprints 68 yards untouched before getting dragged down from behind. Three plays later, Purdy calmly scrambles to his right and hits a wide open McCaffrey for a three-yard touchdown pass. Looks like Purdy settled down. Also looks like the Seahawks still stink.

49ers 10, Seahawks 0.

SECOND QUARTER

2:14 On 1st and goal from the 7, Kenneth Walker outruns Dre Greenlaw to the left pylon for the touchdown. Nice drive by Seattle, which showed some creativity by calling two direct snaps to running backs that gained 12 yards. Dre Greenlaw and Charles Omenihu each got injured during the drive. Greenlaw returned, Omenihu has not yet.

49ers 10, Seahawks 7.

2:27 On 2nd and 9 from the Seattle 12, Purdy has nowhere to throw, so he tries to scramble, but he gets sacked by Bruce Irvin for a loss of 8. Two plays later, Robbie Gould makes a 33-yard field goal.

49ers 13, Seahawks 7.

2:34 On 3rd and 3 at midfield, Charvarius Ward gives up deep touchdown catch to D.K. Metcalf, who ran right by him. Terrible coverage from the 49ers' No. 1 cornerback, and now the 49ers are losing. Ward tried to look back for the ball when it was in the air and looked the wrong way. Terrible technique.

49ers 13, Seahawks 14.

2:37 On 3rd and 3 from the 49ers 32, Purdy forced a pass to Deebo Samuel running a slant and the pass nearly gets intercepted by a linebacker. The 49ers are looking surprisingly shaky against a team they've dominated twice this season.

2:38 After the punt, the Seahawks take over at their 16.

2:45 On 3rd and 8 from the 29, DeeJay Dallas runs for no gain, and the 49ers take their second timeout. After the punt, the 49ers take over at their 23 with 1:08 left in the half.

2:52 On 3rd and 10 from the Seattle 28, Purdy throws deep for Deebo Samuel and the pass gets broken up by Michael Jackson. Next play, Robbie Gould makes a 46-yard field goal with 13 seconds remaining in the half.

49ers 16, Seahawks 14.

2:57 With nine seconds left, Geno Smith scrambles and takes a late hit from Jimmie Ward, who gets flagged 15 yards, which sets up a 56-yard field goal as time expires. What a sloppy end to the half from the 49ers. They look unprepared.

49ers 16, Seahawks 17.

THIRD QUARTER

3:21 On 2nd and goal from the 1, Purdy sneaks into the end zone for the touchdown. He also picked up a first down with a QB sneak earlier in the drive on 3rd and 1. The 49ers needed that touchdown drive. Purdy completed all three of his passes, including a 23-yard gain to George Kittle.

49ers 23, Seahawks 17.

3:38 On 3rd and 14 from the 49ers 19, Charles Omenihu strips the ball from Smith and Nick Bosa recovers at the 30. What a great start to the second half for the 49ers. Whatever Kyle Shanahan said at halftime worked.

FOURTH QUARTER

3:48 On 2nd and goal from the 7, Purdy spins away from pressure and hits a wide open Elijah Mitchell for a touchdown. Purdy is having a phenomenal second half.

3:49 The 49ers go for 2, and Purdy connects with Kittle in the end zone.

49ers 31, Seahawks 17.

3:57 On 3rd and 25 from the Seattle 19, Smith checks it down for 12 yards and the Seahawks punt. They look defeated. The 49ers take over at their 25 with 11:45 left.

4:02 On 2nd and 8 from the 49ers 26, Brock Purdy fakes a toss to his right, rolls to his left and tosses a short pass to Deebo Samuel who runs through the entire Seahawks defense untouched for a 74-yard touchdown. This game is over. Stay tuned for the 49ers' grades.

49ers 38, Seahawks 17.

4:06 First play of Seattle's next drive, Deommodore Lenoir picks off a pass intended for Tyler Lockett. Great play by the young cornerback. The 49ers take over at the Seattle 37.

4:15 On 3rd and 10 from the Seattle 13, Purdy scrambles left, scrambles right, hits Aiyuk in the back corner of the end zone but Aiyuk drops it. Amazing play by Purdy. The 49ers kick another field goal.

49ers 41, Seahawks 17.