The Seattle Seahawks’ 32-29 home loss to the San Francisco 49ers put offensive coordinator Brian Fleury’s approach under the microscope. Locked On Seahawks host Dan Viens argued that Seattle ran on 60% of its first downs, creating too many predictable passing situations in a game in which quarterback Sam Darnold threw two interceptions and took five sacks.
Viens did not argue that Fleury should abandon the run. His objection centered on the sequencing. A first-down run tendency can work behind an elite offensive line and an explosive rushing attack, Viens said, but Seattle has not consistently shown either trait. The result against San Francisco, in his view, was an offense too often facing second-and-long while the 49ers could attack Darnold.
Darnold finished 18 of 29 for 195 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Viens was particularly critical of the opening-drive interception, saying the quarterback appeared to predetermine an outside throw before the snap. The mistakes were costly, but Viens placed the loss in a wider offensive context rather than assigning it solely to Darnold.
Seattle had enough production elsewhere to stay within reach. Kicker Jason Myers made all five field-goal attempts, nailing kicks from 40, 43, 48, 49, and 50 yards. Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba added five catches for 102 yards and a touchdown, along with a 16-yard rush, giving him 118 scrimmage yards despite the 49ers’ extra attention.
The defense limited San Francisco to 269 yards, forced three takeaways and sacked quarterback Brock Purdy three times. That performance sharpened Viens’ point: Seattle did not need a wholesale reset after falling to 3-2, but it needs a more functional opening-down plan. The Seahawks visit the Denver Broncos on Thursday, Oct. 15, before home games against the Kansas City Chiefs and Chicago Bears.
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