Seahawks defense finally breaks, Darnold fumbles late in loss

This is how these new Seahawks have been rebuilt to play.

Not always beautifully.

That leaves a thin margin to win.

A Seattle defense on the field for most of Sunday bent, bent and finally broke in the final 2 minutes. That’s when San Francisco got Brock Purdy’s go-ahead touchdown pass on third down for its first lead since the first half.

Then new Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold had his chance for a heroic debut.

Darnold and the offense took over with 94 seconds and one time out left, from the Seahawks 35. He completed his first pass, for 11 yards to Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The second throw got tipped incomplete. The Seahawks’ new offensive line picked up a linebacker blitz, and Darnold coolly threw a perfect ball to Smith-Njigba in stride past 49ers cornerback Renardo Green down the le