Jimmie Ward leveling Geno Smith with a senseless hit cost 49ers key 3 points, and NFL fans blasted him

In the playoffs, where a single poor decision can quite literally decide close battles, the last thing anyone wants to do is gift the opposition a chance at more points. Evidently, no one passed on the memo to San Franciso 49ers DB Jimmie Ward.

After the Seattle Seahawks stormed back from an early 10-0 deficit in the NFC Wild Card round opener, San Francisco seemed poised to at least go into halftime and regroup around a tenuous two-point lead. But Ward got a little overzealous when Geno Smith scrambled while trying to make something out of nothing on a late first-half play with mere seconds remaining.

As Smith clearly put himself in a sliding position, Ward dropped a very late shoulder on the quarterback. He was deservedly penalized 15 for unnecessary roughness, and the Seahawks would capitalize on Ward’s awful decision with a 56-yard Jason Myers field goal to take a shocking 17-16 lead going into the half:

Jimmie Ward is called for the late hit on a sliding Geno pic.twitter.com/MvjUJ13d6K

— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthewCFB) January 14, 2023

Of course, there’s a long way to go in this matchup between division rivals, and anything can happen when it’s win-or-go-home. In fact, San Francisco would retake a 23-17 lead on their first possession of the second half.

But Ward may still regret this play all offseason if the 49ers — a bona fide Super Bowl contender — don’t come out with the victory.

NFL fans ripped Jimmie Ward for his terrible and costly late hit on Geno Smith

The decision to squib plus Jimmie Ward’s awful unnecessary roughness penalty are the types of mistakes that lose these types of games..

— Ian Wharton (@NFLFilmStudy) January 14, 2023

That was a terribly unwise penalty from Jimmie Ward. Free points opportunity for Seattle. Wow

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) January 14, 2023

One of the dumbest penalties you’ll see right there from Jimmie Ward.

— Al Sacco (@AlSacco49) January 14, 2023

What an incredibly stupid play by Jimmie Ward. Wow.

— Sosa Kremenjas (@QBsMVP) January 14, 2023

Jimmie Ward wyd

— Arif Hasan, but NFL 🏈 (@ArifHasanNFL) January 14, 2023

3 point penalty potentially from Jimmie Ward there

— Brad Spielberger, Esq. (@PFF_Brad) January 14, 2023

If Jimmie Ward just stays up the clock runs out and the 49ers go in at halftime up.

Terrible play by a veteran. #49ers

— Jack Hammer (@JackHammer_NFL) January 14, 2023

3 point play right there https://t.co/BqK4IJH7EZ

— IceBathSports (@icebathsports) January 14, 2023