San Francisco 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir wanted the task of shutting down Seattle Seahawks‘ Jaxon Smith-Njigba. However, that wouldn’t be the case as the wideout recorded six receptions and 84 receiving yards in the 13-3 Seattle win over the Niners on Jan. 3 at Levi’s Stadium.
“Hopefully, I’ll get to shadow JSN,” Lenoir told reporters in a Dec. 29 video posted by On SI’s Grant Cohn. “I’m ready for this. I hope he ready. Man to man covers me and him. That’s what I want. Me and him.”
After the game against the 49ers, Smith-Njigba was asked about Lenoir’s response, and the Seahawks star didn’t hesitate to roast the Niners standout.
“I definitely heard it,” Smith-Njigba told reporters. “It’s hard to respond back to all my fans. But I knew that we were going to see him today and take care of business.”
JSN Doesn’t Hold Back on Seahawks QB Sam Darnold
Darnold went 20-for-26 on his pass attempts for 198 passing yards and leaned heavily on the Seattle run game as the Seahawks ran for a total of 180 rushing yards. Moreover, the road team’s ground game allowed the Seahawks to milk the clock late and accumulate a time of possession of 37:48.
Moreover, one aspect of his game that won’t show up on the stat sheet is his leadership. After the win over the 49ers, Smith-Njigba shared an honest message about the Seahawks’ QB that helped guide them to the victory.
“Sam led us today,” Smith-Njigba told reporters. “Sam was an absolute dog today. His demeanor, his approach, everything about what he did today was great. Of course, we want to fix some things. Of course, there’s always going to be things to fix, but just from the time that we got here yesterday, really, the way we prepared, the way he prepared all week to make sure his guys were ready is one of one stuff. Super happy for him.”
Seahawks Defense Gets Major Praise for Performance
The standout of the game was Seattle’s defense, which completely shut down the 49ers both in the air and on the ground. Seattle limited Brock Purdy to 127 passing yards and the Niners to 53 yards rushing. Moreover, the Seahawks’ defense sacked Purdy three times and picked him off once.
Following the win, CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones lavished praise on the unit, highlighting a performance that positions the Seahawks as a major force on the path to the Super Bowl.
“This was a fantastic performance by a defense that I know we talk a lot about, the Houston Texans,” Jones said on the Jan. 3 edition of “CBS Sports HQ.” “We have talked a lot about the Denver Broncos. But what this defense did [on Jan. 3] is what they have been doing.
“We’re all waiting on the clock to strike midnight, and us not believing we’re going to get to Sam Darnold, and us not believing in the Seattle Seahawks, because it’s not the Legion of Boom, and we don’t have some nickname for this defense. I’m telling you what, they are arguably one of the best defenses in the NFL.”
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Roasts Deommodore Lenoir After Seahawks Win