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Find your frequencyHot 49ers exact revenge on reigning Super Bowl champs
AAP • October 12th, 2026 5:05 pm
San Francisco kicker Eddy Pineiro booted a match-winning field goal against Seattle | Photo: AP
The San Francisco 49ers' winning season start continues after they rallied to exact some payback on the Seattle Seahawks.
Having opened the season with their crushing 27-7 win over the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, the 49ers improved to 5-0 by downing the reigning Super Bowl champions 32-29 in Seattle on Monday (NZ Time).
The 49ers had copped two late losses to Seattle last season when they failed to score a touchdown, including a 41-6 defeat in the divisional round of the playoffs with a short-handed roster.
San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy got the job done late for his team | Photo: AP
Quarterback Brock Purdy engineered two scoring drives in the fourth quarter of a game featuring an NFL season-high seven combined turnovers and the ejection of 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw for head-butting Seattle's helmetless Ernest Jones IV in a sideline confrontation, having delivered a late hit on Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold.
With his team down 26-21 late in the third quarter, Purdy responded with an impressive drive against the vaunted Seahawk defence, setting up a touchdown pass to Brandon Cooks.
Darnold replied by leading Seattle on a game-tying field-goal drive before Purdy and the 49ers moved the ball 43 yards for Eddy Pineiro's go-ahead 43-yard field goal with 1:56 to play.
Australian punter Michael Dickson finished with two kicks for 83 yards, including a high punt in the first quarter that was muffed by 49ers receiver Jacob Cowing and recovered by the Seahawks to set up a touchdown.
In New Orleans, the Minnesota Vikings also moved to 5-0, beating the slumping New Orleans Saints 23-13 as Aaron Jones made up for an early fumble with a pivotal, fourth-quarter touchdown.
Minnesota running back Aaron Jones dives for the end zone to score in New Orleans | Photo: AP
Led by their blitz-happy defence, the Vikings came in allowing an NFL-low 12.8 points per game. In addition to allowing only one offensive TD, they forced three turnovers and held New Orleans to 142 total yards.
"When you do something like that, it's a special feeling and a special defence," said cornerback Byron Murphy Jr, who intercepted Saints QB Tyler Shough twice.
In London, Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Cam Little landed a last-gasp 57-yard field goal to snatch his side a 19-17 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
"It was the coolest moment of my career," said Little, who wore a Manchester United jersey at his post-game news conference.
Jacksonville's Cam Little was the toast of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium | Photo: AP
The Eagles (2-3) appeared set to grab victory when their kicker, Jake Elliott, was successful from 48 yards to edge his side 17-16 ahead with eight seconds remaining at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Little's improbable scenario was made possible by Ameer Abdullah's 53-yard kickoff return that left one second on the clock.
At Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the Baltimore Ravens secured an overtime 30-23 victory against the Atlanta Falcons in primetime.
After the New York Giants and Washington Commanders had to settle for a draw earlier, the Ravens (4-1) made sure they earned a win as backup quarterback Tyler Huntley stormed into the end zone for an overtime one-yard touchdown.
The Falcons needed to surge up the field quickly to equalise, but Atlanta-raised Kyle Hamilton intercepted a Tua Tagovailoa pass to seal the victory.
