Featuring postgame quotes from the following:

Head Coach Mike Macdonald

Opening Statement

"Man, obviously it was a great football game. It's a big time win for us as a team. We all knew that was a big game for obvious reasons. I'm just really proud of the guys sticking in there. I thought all the points of emphasis we made throughout the last couple of weeks trying to take the next step as a football team really showed up. So the challenge now is to keep stacking this thing and doing it one week at a time, one day at a time. That's been the message from when we showed up until now. It will always be that way. I'm proud of the guys. It was just a really exciting football game and to close it out at the end of the two-minute was big time."

How did your offense bounce back after the interception?

"After the pick, we talked about sticking with it. We talk about clearing the next room and just go clear the next room and rock and roll. After he threw the pick, we got the stop on defense and forced the field goal. We went right back down, scored the touchdown and really put us in position to go up two scores defensively. Those third downs would've been great to get a win on that and force them to kick a field goal. That two-minute drive, I mean, the poise, the play calling, the protection, all of that stuff is really important. And then for [QB] Geno [Smith] to close it out was pretty awesome."

How was Seattle Seahawks QB Geno Smith after that interception?

"You're going to be upset after throwing a pick, but it's just the same guy we always see. This guy's a massive, big-time competitor. So you just try to build him up and let him know we've got his back and he knows that. It's great because they're kind of happening within the flow of the progressions and I think Geno feels that late in the down that [Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba] is going to find a way to get open. So they're building a cool chemistry. We can keep the ball moving forward and converting on some of those big time medium range conversions."

How did you feel about the play of the inside linebackers today?

"We've made a big deal about the inside linebackers, but I mean as I've said, it's all 11 guys on defense. In order for those guys to do their jobs, we have to set edges up front. We have to play with knock back and stay alive, especially against the wide zone stuff. So it's a team shout out on playing good run defense and the inside backers need to make tackles. I think we made a ton of tackles with the inside backers today and that's great for us. It's a full defensive effort."

How have you been able to get the players to believe?

"I think our guys have believed. It's just been frustrating when you're not getting the results you want. I just feel like we've been steadfast in our message and what we're trying to do and the resolve in the locker room. We talk about 12 as one. That's what we're going to be and that's what the guys have done. You want better results, you want to win every game. When you don't and when you fall short, it gets frustrating. But our resolve has been there the whole way."

Can you talk about how the communication has evolved on the team since the beginning of the season?

"It feels like it did at the beginning of the season. We had a winning performance, good enough to win the football game. There's things we're going to be chasing as well like third down effectiveness, how well we're rushing the quarterback with four. Some of the communication as the drive starts to extend. Those are things we have to be really good at to take the next step as a defense. That's going to be our challenge. The communication, the preparation, all that stuff we're chasing on the front end Monday through Saturday into Sunday morning. I've gotten really good feedback from some of our leaders. That's encouraging when you feel you're on the right path and getting these guys ready to go. We'll keep doing that."

How would you say Seahawks T Abraham Lucas played?

"People have been taking shots at our offensive line, but I thought our guys played really well today. They protected Geno. I thought we really had a good protection plan. He had a little more plays than we wanted him to play, but he was right at his number going into that last drive, so he fought through it. That guy's an absolute warrior. Proud of him."

What was the reasoning behind not challenging the 4th down stop?

"They told me they had a replay assist from New York, so it didn't feel like it was. You'd just be banging your head against the wall at that point."

Did you guys emphasize tackling this week? It looked like players were flying around wall to wall.

"I think there were some really great open field tackles, but when you talk about tackling, you have to get guys to the football. If you eliminate space, it's easier to make tackles. Really, it's two different types of situations. When there's not massive vertical seams in your defense, it's a lot easier to make tackles. Our guys made the decision that they're going get to the football and play team defense. That's how we want to play, and that's how we played tonight."

Talk to me about the defense, and more specifically, the secondary?

"They did a lot of great things. The 49ers' offense does many things to consistently put stress on you. We played with energy and were ahead of the plays. It sets the tone."

When Seattle Seahawks QB Geno Smith took off on that last run, could you tell if it was open? "[Seattle Seahawks OC Ryan] Grubb knew it before I did. He said it couple times. Once Smith broke through the line of scrimmage, you could sort of see that he has a chance to score. From there, I'm just thinking about how much time is left, so it worked out perfectly."

Geno Smith isn't typically known as a dual-threat quarterback. How do you feel about him running the football?

"When he has decided to do it, he is doing it at the right pace. It's not like we are running read-option 50 times a game, but when he does run, that's definitely a threat to defenses."

There were minor issues with snapping the football today with new starter Seattle Seahawks OL Olu Oluwatimi. What did you see there?

"I know we had the one snap that we mishandled, but it looked like Geno just missed it. The snap looked on target to me, but we'll figure out what went wrong there. We gave a game ball to the whole offensive line. [Oluwatimi] went into Wednesday not knowing he's starting. That says a lot about him and his preparation. He deserves a lot of credit."

How about Seattle Seahawks LB Tyrice Knight? What did you think of his performance?

"I can't critique any of this stuff right now, but as a defense, it was a winning performance. There is still room to grow, which is exciting. It's good football. It's some of our best football, but it is not our absolute best. I think [Knight] would be one to tell you that, as well. Hopefully, we'll keep growing."

What did you think about the penalties today?

"It's just about making smart and consistent decisions. Of course, you emphasize that during the week, and to an extent, you get what you emphasize. I think our players deserve a lot credit for making those smart decisions in critical moments. 'Do I let go? Am I holding? Can I get my hands inside?' Operation wise, I thought this game was cleaner. I think we had one false start on offense. We'll keep chasing it. You have to keep your foot on the gas."

What was your view of Geno Smith's interception?

"He just has to make a better decision in that moment. Considering where we were on the field, let's just punt the ball and play defense."

What happened with Seattle Seahawks CB Dee Williams?

"He has an ankle issue right now. I don't think it's broken or anything as I believe the X-ray said, but we'll see this week after we get it imaged."

What about the injury to Seattle Seahawks WR Laviska Shenault Jr.?

"[Shenault] has an oblique injury. I'm not sure on the extent yet. We'll get that image soon as well."

In the fourth quarter, what went into your decision making on that third and fourth down?

"I'll look at the second one that we didn't get on the fourth down. In real time, it felt like the sneak got there, but they got the assist. I thought that was a good place. I actually feel like our short-yardage game took a step forward this week. Still, we'll look at the play where we felt short and see what we need to do better."

QB Geno Smith

I know it's one game, but what does this win mean to you?

"Shoot, like you said, it's just one game. I said it earlier in the week that division games are always going to feel like this. These are the most important games of your season. I think the way that we came out and we fought, collectively as a unit and as a team, it just spoke to our urgency. I thought the way that we practiced all week, I knew we were going to come out and play well and get the monkey off my back. I didn't feel it at all. There is no monkey on my back. I was telling [Seahawks WR] Tyler [Lockett] in the locker room, 'man, we already won.' You know what I'm saying? No matter what happens in this life, in this game, we're blessed. I know narratives kind of shape a lot of this, but the reality is, we won one game today against a division opponent, and now it's on to the next one."

What do you think allows you to kind of get past those moments?

"I just think [it's] perspective. I was out there smiling on that last drive, like when I walked on the field. I mean, I just kind of felt like angels in the outfield, like somebody's rubbing my shoulders the whole time. I just felt like there was no pressure. I think the perspective that I've gained over my career has allowed me to play that way. Whenever there is a moment or a mistake that's made, I never really get too down on myself and I also don't get too high when good things happen. I think as long as you stay even keeled throughout the process, things work out better that way."

What went into your decision to run it in for the touchdown to win the game?

"We've got to win. Just doing whatever it took to win the game. I felt like they were playing a lot of coverage there, rushing four and they were dropping back pretty deep. I felt like if I could escape that they were running some TE games from twist. I knew the contain wouldn't be great and if I could find a lane somewhere in there, I could get out there and make some plays with my legs. I got in there and made a few scramble throws as well. In those moments I just know to play with instinct and try to do the best thing."

The two minute offense, do you think that suits your play style?

"I think throughout the game, I've always had the ability to be a dual-threat [quarterback]. My main thing is to win from the neck up and then use my arm to beat guys, but whenever I can use my legs and I can be a threat that way, I think it just puts an extra pressure on the defense. They might not be paying attention to it. It's just doing the right thing at the right time."

What do you have to say in this moment?

"We won, we won the game. We knew how much was at stake, man. We were trying to turn our season around. We had a bye week and we got eight games ahead of us to put ourselves in positions that we want to be in. This is just a step in the right direction for us. I was very ecstatic and happy for that."

What are your thoughts about the interception you threw today?

"It feels great anytime you win. I made mistakes today. I made a mistake that cost us some points today. There's still always a learning process and a learning curve when you're playing this game, and it's never going to be perfect. The main thing, like I said last week, is you find ways to win and it just makes those things feel a little bit better."

Talk about how your offensive line played today.

"Oh, man. I thought they were the unsung heroes throughout the game. Like [Seahawks C] Olu [Oluwatimi] how much he's battled, right? He battled all throughout camp, didn't get the start and was asked to step in. A lot of guys would've taken the wrong approach, but throughout the entire process, he's had the right approach. I think that led to him stepping right in and playing a tremendous game. I thought he led the guys throughout the entire game. His communication was great. Then he played a great game if you watched the tape. I thought he did some tremendous things out there. For [OL Abraham] Abe [Lucas], knowing how much he battled back from injury, he's my locker mate, and talking to him every single day about how's he feeling, where his mindset is at. He was locked in the entire time. I knew when he steps on the field, he's a difference maker. He means a lot to this team, he means a lot to me as my right tackle. I was really happy to have him out there today."

Talk about your chemistry with WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba?

"Jaxon's such a special player. His confidence is growing and he can do so many great things out there. He's got such a feel for the game. He knows how to play and he's so young, but he's a professional in every sense of the word. I think as long as he continues to work the way that he does, he's got a tremendous future. I think he can be one of the best in this game. He's showing it, man. He's shown it, he's so tough. He blocks, he catches, and he runs after catch. He's a great teammate and I think he does all those things really well."

What can you say about your defense today?

"The week of practice kind of showed me what it was going to be. They were locked in communicating throughout the week of practice. When they come out and they play the way they did today, we deserve to win, they deserve to win. It's my job as the quarterback to make sure that happens. Like I said two weeks ago, I thought I did some things that hurt those guys and I just wanted to make up for it. I talked to Head Coach Mike MacDonald during the bye week and told him I was going to do everything in my power to make it right. Today was just a step in that direction, but we have a long way to go."

The 49ers came into this year as one of the Super Bowl favorites. What is possible for this team now?

"We get to determine that. I think that's the best part. We get to determine what our season's going to be. The 49ers are a great team. Hats off to them. Much respect to those guys, they have great players, but we do too. I think we just have to keep working and I think things will be alright."

The TD at the end, what did you see there?

"I felt like they were playing a Quarters coverage there. We had one of our vertical concepts on. I saw [San Francisco 49ers LB] Fred [Warner], he relayed it to the back. We had to back out empty. He relayed it to the back, they rushed forward, did a TE game. I saw the lane stepped in there, potential to maybe throw one, they plastered and I saw the pylon and got to it."

Scoring there and then throwing the ball into the tunnel, was that one of your more satisfying throws?

"That was probably my best throw of the day. I was just happy for the team and glad we got the win."

Have you uncorked that celebration before or was it just pure adrenaline?

"Pure adrenaline right there. Pure adrenaline."

Talk about the second half.

"I thought [Offensive Coordinator Ryan] Grubb did a tremendous job. He called a heck of a game. I thought the line did a great job. I thought a lot of our stretch runs were hitting pretty well early in the game and even in the second half. I thought the screen game really opened up a lot for us. I thought that drive, when we went to take the lead, we hit two or three screens on that drive and I thought the lineman getting downfield being able to block some guys downfield, all those things really led to us getting momentum. I thought that led to the victory."

Did you talk to WR DK Metcalf during the bye week? It looked like you were talking there, is that normal conversation?

"Yeah, it's just normal conversation."

Talk about what you've seen from the defense in the last two games and what that can mean to the offense.

"A great defense. I've seen that throughout practice and through our training camp OTAs they were really, really, really sound. We have so many playmakers on that side of the ball. So many young guys who are developing, some great veteran leadership, like [FS Jerrick] Reed, and all of the guys that are just pushing those guys to be the best that they can be. We have a great coordinator with [Head Coach] Mike [MacDonald] and AD [Defensive Coordinator Aden Durde] and that entire staff, I think they gel really well. I think our defense has the capability to be the best defensive in football. They're on their way to being that, they just have to continue to build. We all do."

In your experience, can an emotional win like this have a turnaround effect on the team?

"I think it definitely has a positive effect on your team. We're thinking about winning our division and everyone is pretty much right around the same record. That's why the next seven games are going to be that much bigger. They're going to feel like playoff games because we're fighting to get into the playoffs. We just have to continue to fight, continue to stick together. I think positive things will always happen for us.

Talk about that interception.

"Big Hank [DT Jonathan Hankins] man. Yeah, year 12, same draft class. He got his first pick, he got off the ground pretty good too. I didn't know he had hops like that. I saw the ball when it tipped up in the air, and I was like, "Man, somebody get it," and you see Big Hank just jump up and get it. I was happy for him."

Why do you guys have so much success on the road?

"I just think we band together. We band together well. Our fans travel well. We take our fans with us. You see the Seahawks flags flying throughout the stadium. I think when we're on the road, we know we only have each other. That's the type of team we have. We're so connected, so close together, and we always play for one another. Road games don't feel like road games."

Given the losses the last few weeks, did you feel those internally or was it just business as usual?

"It's just business as usual. It can be a turning point. It depends on how we do the rest of the way, but business as usual, it's one game. We have to get back. I'm ready to get back to the weight room and get ready for next week. You always have to win these division games and every opponent in this league, every opponent in our division is going to be tough. But we have the guys, we have the makeup of the team that can get this thing going down the stretch and it's going to take a lot of hard work and I'm prepared for it."

Seven game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime for you. What do you think about that?

"It's team ball. It takes everybody. It takes everybody to win. I get the stat, but without the guys around me it wouldn't be possible. Games are going to be close in this league and like I say, put the ball in my hands."

TE AJ Barner

What was Seattle Seahawks QB Geno Smith like on that last drive?

We just saw him doing his thing. He commanded the offense. He was very calm. He knew what we had to do. He understood the situation and knew how many timeouts we had. Then, he made great plays."

You've obviously been playing for a long time. You know every game matters. How much can a win like that matter in terms of propelling you guys forward?

"Yes, it is a huge division win. It's a team that we haven't had too much success against in the past years. We want a better rivalry with these guys. As a rookie, I was just trying to step in and do my job, but I know these vets. It means a whole lot to them. It's just one win in the grand scheme of things, but it can help propel us forward."

LB Ernest Jones IV

First one with the Seahawks, how does it feel?

"Feels great. First, I want to give all thanks to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for this team, for this win. I'm just so thankful to be a Seattle Seahawk. This year has been crazy for me. To get a win like that, against a good team like that, and to see how this team reacted and responded, I'm thankful I'm a Seahawk."

How do you feel about the way the defense played?

"This defense, I look to my left, I see [LB Tyrice] T Knight, I look behind me and I see [CB Devon Witherspoon] Spoon, I see those safeties, and I look in front and I see those dogs. We can go out there and play with anybody. We come out there and show what we are and play physically, be disciplined in the moments that we need to be, which really, at all moments, I think we can be something special."

Can you sense how big of a win this was for the team?

"I do. You know, heck, I was in LA. We couldn't beat them in the regular season either. So, for us to come down here in their spot, go out there and take a win from them, that's big for this team. That's big for what we have going forward. I'm going to keep saying, I'm excited about what we really can be when this thing gets rolling."

LB Tyrice Knight

What went according to plan? When you guys looked back at the tape from week six and you decided what changes needed to be made, what went according to plan today?

"I can honestly say we still had the same game plan from the last time. We just know that there are a lot of guys trying to do too much. I just felt like everybody today just did their job and just trusted the guy beside them and everything played out."

Nothing felt like it was a panic, but was there a greater sense of urgency to force that punt that set up the game winning drive?

"Yeah, we knew we had to get the ball back to the offense. You know, once we didn't get that fourth down, the defense stayed confident. We would rather get back on the field. Simply put, we played well. We got the ball back for offense."

And how much confidence did you have that the offense was going to get the job done when they got the ball back?

"They trusted us to get the stop and we trusted them to go down the field. I feel like the trust, on both sides, was at a hundred percent."

WR Tyler Lockett

What did you see from QB Geno Smith and just the offense, on the final drive?

"Just a lot of resilience. We were able to drive down about 90 yards in about two minutes and 45 or 50 seconds. That's big time. Being able to pick apart the defense every time they threw something at us. We had some big scrambling plays. In the two minute they are accounting for stopping all the route runners, but you always have to account for a quarterback that can be able to run on his feet. So big time runs by Geno especially at the end on their side of the field. That really helped us out."

Seattle Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba converted to third downs as well. What is it about him that makes him clutch in those situations?

"Just always being able to find that open void. I think that's the biggest thing because we got a quarterback that's going to be able to find you. So just being able to make sure we do our part, being able to make sure we stay open. We know he is going to keep the play alive."

What was the talk in the huddle in that final?

"I don't really think there was much talk at all. It was just that we are so used to being able to do two minute all the time to where it's almost like second nature. We understood how many timeouts we had. Luckily they threw the ball on that second down, which helped us out to where we save another timeout, us just being able to take advantage of the whole entire situation. Scoring when there's 13 seconds left on the clock, it's almost impossible for them to be able to get a chance to go all the way down there."

How much is it a weight off all of you, especially you as you've been here a couple years, finally to beat these guys?

"It's great for us to finally beat them. Obviously things weren't going our way. We talked about how we had them in the playoffs and then it was seven or eight penalties in a row. We talked about that before, but for us you just have to be able to keep climbing that mountain and that's all we can do."

FS Julian Love

Can you tell me what changed defensively from the first half to the second half?

"Honestly, I think we played well in the first half. That [San Francisco 49ers] team is a team who always starts games fast. We negated that. We held them on drives. They scored that one touchdown and we went into halftime close in a close game. We knew that in the second half, we needed to take off. They're a first-half team. They like to get up early and we wanted to make it a full 60-minute fight. Yes, I think we kind of came in ready for this game. From here on out we're going to get gritty matchups. Today, I think both defenses started off the game playing very well. We had a couple of turnovers, but we got them behind the sticks and that helped us out early in the first quarter again. It was a gritty football game. I'm a defensive player so we love it that way."

You guys helped stop the run game as well as the pass game too. You guys had some big plays including the interception. What did you guys talk about defensively when you went into the locker room and said, 'we gotta do something in the second quarter or second half?

"Yeah, it's just staying disciplined. I had a few bad plays, I have to stay more disciplined. In the first half, they tried to set up bootlegs, set up misdirection, you know, gimmicky stuff. So in the second half we had to be disciplined and just play ball. We felt great about the scheme. We also felt very good very good about playing these guys in one-on-one matchups. We felt great. That was just about playing disciplined football in the second half which we did."

Is there anything you guys would change, defensively, that happened in the second quarter or second half?

"Obviously there are a few plays we would take back. I would take back the touchdown but it's a full 60- minute fight. Plays are going to happen. They're going to make plays. We simply have to make more plays than the other team. We did that today."

T Abraham Lucas

I know you practiced the last couple of weeks but did you have any sort of nerves, butterflies, or anxiety?

"Always. Always. I try to lessen it. As I've gotten further into my career, it's less adrenaline play and more of a cool, calm, collected type of stuff because you can feel the nerve and you kind of get used to it after a while."

You knew that you weren't going to play 100 percent of the snaps. Is that hard though, to find a rhythm when you know you're going every other series?

"For me, not really. My whole thing is just to stay loose and active. If I had been sitting around in between each drive, then yes, I probably would've had a little bit of a problem. But I knew the plan coming into it, so I was able to expect that and prepare for that mentally yesterday and the rest of this week."

What was said before you guys got on the field for that final drive?

"I don't remember, honestly. I can tell you for the last probably five or six plays I was breathing very heavy. It's been almost a year since I've played, right? When [Seattle Seahawks QB] Geno [Smith] took off and I knew he was going to score, I said thank you Jesus then turned and walked towards the sidelines. I needed to go get some oxygen."

When you have a defensive battle like this, how proud are you that the offense was methodical and stayed on the field?

"I'm more so looking kind of at the execution piece of it all. It was just a really grimy, sort of gritty game, but we knew it was going to be. San Francisco has a really good front. They have really good head rushers. Their style of play and how they get off the ball and try to get off the field is a tough kind of system to block. We knew that coming in so we wanted to try to set the tone as an offensive line."

WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Can you describe the feeling of this win?

"It's great. It's what the rivalry's about. Bringing it back, two tough teams and just grinding it out. A hard- nosed game and coming out with the win is a blessing. I give all glory to God. I'm thankful we came out with the win."

What's it like having WR DK Metcalf back in the lineup?

"It's definitely a relief. With 14 in the game, it changes the whole game and how the defense looks at your offense. It frees up a lot of other things. So, we're definitely a better team with DK out there and to have his leadership and for him to go out there and always play his heart out, we're always behind him."

What has Offensive Coordinator Ryan Grubb done to open up this offense?

"He takes it play by play. One, you can't get to a big play or a shot play without the first play. Just taking it step by step is something that he preaches and something that our offense believes in and has shown time after time. It's something that I feel like is built in our offense, when it's time to score, we need one. We're just going to take it one play at a time and that's what we stand on."

RB Kenneth Walker III

What was the feeling like on that last drive when you guys took over at your own 20? "We just knew we had to go down and score [a touchdown]. A field goal wasn't going to get it, so we had to blow up and go score."

How tough was [Seattle Seahawks QB] Geno Smith throughout that drive? He's obviously done this before.

"Even just the whole game. We had some adversity with a pick and everything, but he was poised. Everybody was poised, and I want to give a shout out to the O-Line. They played lights out and also a shout out to [Seattle Seahawks C] Olu [Oluwatimi]. He came in and stepped up and played lights out as well."

In general, how big a win can this be for you guys?

"We've got to take it one win at a time, go back and watch film, clean some stuff up and get ready for next week."

What does it say about the resilience of your team to come in under these kind of circumstances and get this win?

"We've been going through a tough patch these last few weeks, but coach has been keeping us positive and everybody's been positive around the facility. We just know we've got to stay positive and keep grinding."

CB Devon Witherspoon

How about DL Jonathon Hankins' Interception?

"We need those tips and over throws we have to get those. We preach that every day in the defensive room, so shout out to Hank for sure.

How does the locker room feel after the win?

"It was long overdue. They beat us many times without us getting a W and today we came out and we got a W today. So it was long overdue."

How did you guys get it done?

"We played complimentary football. We never gave up even when things started to take a turn. We always have each other's backs out there. So I think being together, staying together as a football team, knowing it's only us, it's us against them. That got us through this. I don't really look for stats. I'm not a chaser of stats type of dude. I make the plays that come to me and then the ones that don't, I try to go over there and help my guys make the play as well. So I really don't pay attention to the stats and stuff."