SEATTLE — This was almost a column about a collection of clutch plays that saved the Seahawks' season opener. Instead it's about a team that got the result it deserved.

It's one thing to lose because of a few highlight-reel moments and unfortunate bounces. It's quite another to lose despite them.

In Sunday's 17-13 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, the Seahawks had their flashes of spectacular on offense, defense and special teams. They got some help from one of the NFL's most erratic place-kickers, too.

But none of that was enough to overcome a harsh truth that the scoreboard did its best to conceal: The Seahawks were clearly outplayed at Lumen Field. And after those four quarters, it's fair to question whether they've actually improved from last season.

The casual fan might see a four-point defeat in a game in which Seattle came within 9 yards of winning. The more critical one saw a contest in which the Seahawks were outgained 384 yards to 230.

The casual fan might see a defense that held NFC West favorite San Francisco to 17 points. The more critical fan saw a defense that couldn't get off the field, as the Niners had the ball for nearly 38 minutes.

That new Seahawks offense that was supposed to be able to run the rock" at will? It was held to 84 rushing yards on 26 carries. Replacing quarterback Geno Smith and receiver DK Metcalf with Sam Darnold and Cooper Kupp? An ostensible downgrade through Week 1.

Projecting an entire season based on one four-point game is a folly reserved for the irrational. But this was an inauspicious start that goes beyond the L.

How it happened …

After going three-and-out on their opening drive, the Seahawks watched San Francisco march 95 yards on 14 plays for a touchdown on its first possession. Four times on that drive, the Niners snapped the ball on third down — and whether it was via a completion from QB Brock Purdy or a roughing-the-passer penalty, they converted every time.

The Seahawks did bounce back with a 69-yard touchdown drive on their next possession, and the teams traded punts for most of the second quarter. Then, Niners kicker Jake Moody missed a 27-yard field-goal attempt off the left upright with a minute left in the first half, setting up a Seahawks field goal eight plays later. It was essentially a six-point swing.

It wasn't enough Sunday.

It also wasn't enough that, on a first-and-10 from the Seahawks' 39, Seattle linebacker Ernest Jones IV intercepted Purdy at the 22 with the Niners down three. It also wasn't enough that, one San Francisco possession later, Julian Love blocked a 36-yard field goal with the Niners still down three.

San Francisco had little trouble moving the ball after the first two quarters Sunday. It got into Seahawks' territory on its first three possessions in the second half, tying the game with a field goal early in the fourth quarter. Seattle just couldn't get anything going on offense until after Josh Jobe intercepted Purdy at the Seahawks 47 midway through the fourth quarter, setting up a field goal that gave Seattle a 13-10 lead with 3:42 remaining.

So that's two interceptions, a blocked 36-yard field goal and a doinked 27-yarder. All for a three-point lead. That doesn't seem sustainable for the season. Turns out it wasn't sustainable for the game.

The 49ers answered with a seven-play, 68-yard drive that included a 45-yard completion and 4-yard touchdown pass on a third-and-3. This time it was San Francisco making the spectacular play, as tight end Jake Tonges leapt above Riq Woolen to reel in the scoring catch with 1:34 remaining. And though it seemed like the Seahawks might have some magic left — they drove it to the Niners' 9 in part because of a 40-yard pass from Darnold to Jaxon Smith-Njigba — a Darnold fumble with 42 seconds left sealed San Francisco's win.

"It sucks," said Seahawks safety Julian Love after the game. "There's no way to sugar coat it. It sucks.

What seemed particularly concerning was how much trouble the Seahawks had moving downfield before that final drive. Darnold finished with a mere 150 yards on 16-of-23 passing, looking more like the mediocrity he was through his first six seasons than the standout he was in his seventh in Minnesota last year. And though Smith-Njigba shined with 124 yards on nine receptions, Kupp had just two catches for 15 yards. Doubtful Metcalf would have been that limited.

Defensively, it wasn't a disaster for the Seahawks. They forced two interceptions and kept the Niners to 3.3 yards per rush. But San Francisco converting seven of their 14 third downs and both of their fourth downs is what doomed Seattle.

OK, now for the deep breath. It's just one game. Unfortunately, it was a game versus a divisional rival at home, where the Seahawks have won just once in their past eight contests.

It's not time for panic, but the Seahawks had the clutch plays Sunday. Imagine what happens when they don't.

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