Let's just get this out of the way first: there's pretty much nothing good about giving up a 76-yard touchdown to an opposing offense, which the Seahawks did in Thursday night's loss to the 49ers.
That being said, one small silver lining in an otherwise disastrous play, Brock Purdy's 76-yard touchdown pass to receiver Deebo Samuel, was the tremendous effort, not to mention speed, demonstrated by outside linebacker Boye Mafe.
After Samuel drifted past Mafe to get open initially, Purdy lofted a pass towards Samuel, and because the ball was slightly underthrown, safety Julian Love misjudged it and failed to either break up the pass or make the hit on Samuel, leaving the veteran free to race down the left sideline.
Mafe immediately gave chase, and while he wasn't quite able to get Samuel down, the 261-pound edge rusher did reach a top speed of 21.74 miles per hour, which according to NFL Next Gen Stats was the fastest speed by a front seven defensive player on a play from scrimmage over the past two seasons.
Again, that's little consolation after a big play that contributed to a loss, but it did back up something Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said following the loss, which is that while the team isn't doing nearly enough to win games, the effort is there. And in a way, that play was a microcosm of that point. Samuel shouldn't have been that open, and Love should have made a play to limit the damage, but even in a very negative play, some serious effort showed up.
"There's things that are really good that we can build off of foundationally, effort wise, physicality, intent, energy wise," Macdonald said Monday. "All of that is positive. But there's too many things right now that are costing us football games that we can't do."
Must-see shots of the Seahawks at their Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (1) at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (1) at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (1) at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (1) at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrel Dodson (0) at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Jerome Baker (17) at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Jerome Baker (17) at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) and Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) and Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks tackle Jarran Reed (90) at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (1) at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) and Seahawks center Connor Williams (57) at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) and Seahawks cornerback Tre Brown (22) at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) and Seahawks cornerback Tre Brown (22) at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (1) and Seahawks tight end Pharaoh Brown (86) at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5) at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
