The NFL is a copycat league and on Sunday, the 49ers were reminded of that fact the hard way.
Facing off against the Seahawks in a crucial Week 14 divisional game, San Francisco entered as heavy favorites with Seattle starting backup quarterback Drew Lock in place of an injured Geno Smith.
With their backup under center, the Seahawks decided to dip into their bag of tricks and pulled out one stellar play that the 49ers had previously burned them with.
Trailing 21–10 but in San Francisco territory, Lock took a shotgun snap, faked a screen pass to his left, turned, faked a screen pass to his right, and finally tossed a ball right up the middle of the field to tight end Colby Parkinson, who scampered past the bamboozled 49ers defense into the end zone.
Fake, fake, find the TE! @Seahawks for 6️⃣
— NFL (@NFL) December 10, 2023
📺: #SEAvsSF on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/pWMED8SAQa pic.twitter.com/oGw6FODEXs
If that play looked familiar to any NFC West football fans, that’s because it is. The 49ers fooled the Seahawks on an identical play in 2022, nearly a year ago to the day.
The double fake from Purdy! Kittle is in for the TD @brockpurdy13 @gkittle46#SFvsSEA on Prime Video
— NFL (@NFL) December 16, 2022
Also available on NFL+ https://t.co/gyMqx7NKs2 pic.twitter.com/D4TA8mIiq2
Eagle-eyed fans spotted the Seahawks' clever bit of gamesmanship. Some loved the gambit, while others were stunned that San Francisco failed to recognize their own play being turned against them.
copying kyle
— GreenQueen (@favlady12) December 10, 2023
We scored last year vs Seattle on this same exact call. Kittle scored!.
— MARTIN2180 (@KMart2180) December 10, 2023
Appreciate the call even though it stung a little.
Literally Kyle Shannys play how did the D not sniff it out smh
— matthew (@matthewrdriguez) December 10, 2023
🧐pic.twitter.com/j3QD3cFO0r https://t.co/s64BW6EY4H
— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) December 10, 2023
The Seahawks just totally stole this play from when Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers used it against them on Thursday Night Football in Seattle last year lol https://t.co/puaNAknBgd
— Jack Gross (@JKG_4) December 10, 2023
Looks like the same double fake screen that the 49ers ran against the Seahawks last season 👀 https://t.co/1Kx1drFydy
— Brian (@thebrianchan) December 10, 2023
You know what they say—imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
