Brock Purdy TD to Jake Tonges, Nick Bosa sack win it

SEATTLE – Brock Purdy bought time in the pocket, rolled right and threw up a Hail Mary-esque pass, even if it was only a 4-yard desperation lob.

Jake Tonges, subbing for the injured George Kittle, somehow used all 6-foot-4 of his frame to pull down his first-ever touchdown catch.

The 49ers had a four-point lead with 1 1/2 minutes remaining in their chaotic season opener. More chaos was coming. So was Nick Bosa.

Bosa recovered a Sam Darnold fumble with 36 seconds remaining inside the 49ers’ red zone to preserve a season-opening 17-13 win.

“It was a rollercoaster,” Bosa said, “and in the NFL you have to stay even keel, no matter what happens, because if I’m not locked in on that last play, maybe we lose.”

Bosa pushed Seahawks right tackle Abraham Lucas into Darnold in the pocket, the ball came loose, Bosa pounced on it, and a few minutes later, Purdy skipped off into the visitors’ tunnel with his first win as a $265 million quarterback.

Thus, the 49ers were not doomed by Jake Moody’s disastrous field-goal attempts, Purdy’s two interceptions after halftime, or injuries that took out Kittle (hamstring), wide receiver Jauan Jennings (shoulder) and, temporarily, left tackle Trent Williams (ankle).

GRAND FINALE, PART I

Tonges said his first career touchdown played out in slow motion as a 10-second moment he will remember forever.

“I went up, caught it, looked down at my feet to make sure I was inbound, looked around for flags, and it was silent because we’re on the road,” Tonges said. “Someone, I think Russell Gage, said: ‘You scored, you scored.’ Then I spiked the ball and celebrated with all my guys.”

Up until the winning drive, Tonges had no career receptions — to the surprise of Purdy and most teammates afterward. Tonges produced catches for 2 and 9 yards only a few snaps before Purdy sought him out for the finale.

“The coverage was tight and I felt I needed to leave the pocket and find a guy in the end zone,” Purdy said. “I wanted to put it hopefully where Tonges could get it or no one could get it. It was a close call.”

Purdy sparked that drive with a 45-yard completion to Ricky Pearsall, thrusting the 49ers to the Seahawks’ 22-yard line. After Tonges’ initial catches, McCaffrey had a 1-yard run and a 6-yard catch, setting up a third-and-3 from the 4-yard line, which Purdy and Tonges turned into magic.

Seattle coach Mike Maconald said: “We played the first 9.9 of that 10-second play at the end phenomenally. The guy made a great play.”

GRAND FINALE, DEFENSIVELY

The Seahawks threatened to nullify Tonges’ score with their own touchdown, and a 40-yard pass from Darnold to Jaxon Smith-Njigba got them in the red zone. After pass rusher Bryce Huff jumped offside, Bosa stopped Kenneth Walker III for no gain and followed his a strip-sack fumble recovery.

“In those two-minute situations, you want to go tee off on the quarterback,” Shanahan said. “And from what I saw, it was an awesome job not just running past him and allowing him to step up. He got to the top, came back underneath. … To finish it right there, we don’t have to worry about what else would have happened.”

Bosa said of the winning finish: “It tested us in a lot of ways, so it was really good. Obviously ending with a win is what we’re always aiming for, and the fact I was able to help is always great.”

Darnold, the 49ers’ 2023 backup, was 16-of-23 for 150 yards and one sack.

‘NO QUESTION’ MOODY STAYS?

The third time was Moody’s charm, as he tied the score at 10 by converting a 32-yard attempt with 9:42 remaining. Shanahan said there is “no question” Moody will remain the 49ers’ kicker, but he did note he didn’t want to make any heat-of-the-moment proclamation and would review everything about this game.

Earlier, Moody added to his struggles from last season and the preseason. A 27-yard attempt from the left hashmark careened into the left upright. In turn, it was the Seahawks who got a go-ahead field goal just before halftime, with Jason Myers converting from 48 yards for a 10-7 lead.

Moody’s second field goal attempt, from 36 yards, got blocked when Julian Love quickly jumped past Matt Hennessy and smothered Moody’s attempt on its ascent. Shanahan, irate at the time, blamed that block on the “operation” of the blockers.

McCAFFREY VERY ACTIVE

Questionable with a calf issue, McCaffrey was not eased into duty. He produced 142 yards from scrimmage as the 49ers’ greatest offensive weapon, though he was relieved on occasion by Brian Robinson Jr. (nine carries, 33 yards).

Asked how his body will respond, McCaffrey quipped: “Amazing.” He had 22 carries for 69 yards and nine receptions for 73 yards.

GRAND OPENING

Purdy engineered a 95-yard, 14-play touchdown drive on the 49ers’ first possession, capped off by a 5-yard touchdown pass to Kittle near the front right pylon. Keeping that series afloat were three third-down conversions: receptions by Kittle (eight yards) and Pearsall (26 yards), but also a roughing-the-passer penalty on Leonard Williams on a Purdy incompletion.

The Seahawks answered the 49ers’ first touchdown drive, also capitalizing on a defensive penalty. After Upton Stout drew a pass-interference penalty on an apparent fourth-and-3 overthrow toward Cooper Kupp in the end zone, Zach Charbonnet scored on a 1-yard run for a 7-7 tie early in the second quarter.

HEALTH WATCH

— Kittle initially drew inspection from the 49ers’ medical staff on the bench following his touchdown catch. Five offensive snaps later, Kittle slowly walked to the sideline downfield after Purdy got sacked (when McCaffrey failed to block a blitzing safety).

— Jauan Jennings jogged off with a left shoulder injury early in the fourth quarter. He caught 2-of-5 targets for 16 yards, including an 11-yard gain on third down. Already without Brandon Aiyuk (knee), Demarcus Robinson (suspended) and Jordan Watkins (ankle), Shanahan acknowledged the 49ers might sign Kendrick Bourne, who worked out for them Monday.