Inman: With 49ers’ sights set on Seattle, only 5 things left to say about Broncos

SANTA CLARA – Two starkly contrasting memories came up postgame about the 49ers’ past visits to Seattle, where they’ll resurface next Sunday with a 4-0 record.

First, as coach Kyle Shanahan brought up how inspiring and intimidating linebacker Dre Greenlaw can be, he referenced Greenlaw’s 2019 goal-line tackle in Seattle that secured the 49ers’ No. 1 seed and path to the Super Bowl.

Second, as Siran Neal held court at his locker after Sunday’s 24-14 win over Denver, he brought up a vivid nightmare from last season’s divisional-round playoff exit in Seattle. That 41-6 rout opened with a 95-yard kick return for a touchdown by the Seahawks’ Rashid Shaheed.

“That’s a highlight from their team I saved on my phone at the end of the season. I hated that feeling,” Neal said. “I remember seeing the back of his jersey. That play swung the game’s whole momentum.”

Neal created Sunday’s turning point, recovering a fumble on a punt return and teeing up the 49ers’ first touchdown drive in a second-half surge.

Rather than glow in victory, several 49ers set their sights on the Seahawks, who improved to 3-1 by beating the winless Chargers 30-23.

“I don’t like the turf field, but the atmosphere the fans bring is one of my favorite places ever, because of how much they hate us. I thrive on that,” George Kittle said. “We’ve had great games there. We’ve had horrible games there. But every time I thoroughly enjoy the atmosphere.”

OK, a week of hype awaits. So let’s only reflect on five things that jumped out Sunday at Levi’s Stadium as the 49ers completed a three-game sweep in their opening homestand:

1. KITTLE BREAKS AWAY

Brock Purdy said they’ve run the “chip/screen” with Kittle in the past, and the Broncos’ aggressive nature sprung it at the right time. “Anytime you get a blitz with a screen, there’s no one there to make a play after,” Purdy told me after his press conference. “You’re one broken tackle away from doing what George did.”

What he did, after chipping Nik Bonitto, was race 56 yards untouched with the ball for the 49ers’ final touchdown. His surgically repaired right Achilles allowed him to reach hit 19.84 mph past safety Talanoa Hufanga.

“And he was pulling away,” Purdy added. “The dude is impressive.”

The dude, who passed Vernon Davis for No. 4 in all-time 49ers touchdown catches, did not get to play in that playoff blowout in Seattle. He tore his Achilles in the wild-card win at Philadelphia. Shanahan said it only took one game to buy into Kittle’s comeback: “He’s been unbelievable since Australia.”

Left tackle Trent Williams, who Kittle lined up next to before the touchdown, confessed he didn’t envision a score. “I didn’t think the play would work. The guy we were screening, I thought (Bonitto) would drop because they had all-out pressure. Once he rushed, it was nothing but green grass. And shout out to Jake Brendel; he made the block to spring him.”

2. GREENLAW’S REVENGE

Dre Greenlaw harnessed his rage “just enough” to emphatically slam Broncos and taunt coach Sean Payton at every opportunity. It has been six months since Denver cut him and created what has become a glorious return to the 49ers.

Payton didn’t whine afterward about Greenlaw: “I said this to Kyle (Shanahan) afterwards: I think the world of him. I really love everything about him and he plays with that emotion. So, it’s all good.”

Greenlaw’s 12 tackles matched his most since a 2023 Christmas Night loss to Baltimore, but he also contributed with third-down blitzes and a mean streak that didn’t draw a penalty. In fact, the 49ers were penalized once all game: Deommodore Lenoir, for delay-of-game as he tangled with Courtland Sutton late in the first half.

3. EVANS’ RESOLVE

Each week, Mike Evans amazes. He backs up his lofty credentials and true-pro demeanor. He also mostly catches what Purdy throws.

Purdy noted he did consider how to properly place his targets so that Evans’ injured ribs would not be further compromised.

It took 25 minutes of game time before Evans’ first target, which was low and safe for an 18-yard gain to spark their first scoring drive. A 24-yard catch over the middle came with a hit to Evans’ torso by Brandon Jones. Evans didn’t retreat, and he almost scored in the fourth quarter until Hufanga tripped him up at the 1-yard line on a 17-yard catch-and-run.

“I know how bad ribs hurt and to have him go out there with as much production, we’re blessed to have him,” Deebo Samuel said.

“That’s the most casual 76-yard game I’ve seen. How good is he? Good for us,” Kittle added.

4. NO SACKS. AND NO SACKS.

Sacks could be an overrated metric.

First, the 49ers’ defense: It produced no sacks and just two official quarterback hits, by Keion White and Sebastian Valdez. But defensive coordinator Raheem Morris isn’t shying away from blitzing his linebackers and safeties, at least early in the game, to create pressure. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but with Nick Bosa out a second straight game, that defense only allowed 14 points and is the NFL’s third-stingiest.

Second, the 49ers’ offense: Purdy still has not been sacked all season, and he’s happy to commend his linemen for that. But Purdy’s pocket sense and escapability has been uncanny all season. He avoided nose tackle Sai’vion Jones in the second quarter and scrambled out of harm’s way more times after.

This is the first time in 49ers history they’ve opened without a sack through four games, and the last team to do so was Peyton Manning’s Indianapolis Colts in 2005. John Brodie’s 1965 49ers were the last team in franchise history to enjoy a four-game, sack-free spree and that came late in the season.

5. WARNER’S WISE WORDS

Sure, Greenlaw had 12 tackles. Well, Fred Warner added seven, plus two pass breakups that were close to being fumbles. No game this season has better showcased this linebacker reunion.

Greenlaw was a rookie and Warner was in his second year when the 2019 49ers won the regular-season finale at Seattle, largely due to Greenlaw’s goal-line stop. No one knows more than Warner how combustible his wingman can be on the field, so advice was offered Sunday.

“He had extra emotion. I told him to use it wisely, which he did. I was proud of him,” Warner said.

Warner is well aware the 49ers’ defense has its warts, but aside from late-game explosives and third-down trouble, his unit is not a weak link to this 4-0 start.

That 2019 team also started 2019, and they did so with linebacker Kwon Alexander lighting a fire under Warner, nicknaming their unit the “Hot Boyzz,” and launching a catchphrase (“legendary”) that Warner pulls out at the right time, like after another 4-0 start.

“It feels legendary. It feels great,” Warner said. “We’ve got a great test ahead of us in Seattle coming up. And we wouldn’t want it any other way. And I’m, more than anything, just happy with the way that we fought every single week. And like you said, just handling adversity and not blinking, not flinching, and just trying to figure out a way to be 1-0. That’s all that matters.”