Turnovers were once again a problem in the Seahawks' loss to the 49ers

As the Seahawks capitalized on the game's first possession, Geno Smith, one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the game, unleashed a third-down pass to Tyler Lockett under pressure. The ball flew over Lockett's head, where 49ers safety Malik Mustapha secured an interception.

In a season full of impressive throws, it was a rare throw that eluded Smith, and it was the start of a difficult night for the Seahawks in terms of turnovers.

Not least thanks to three turnovers, the Seahawks lost 36:24 to the 49ers, which meant their third consecutive defeat to 3:3 this season.

That early interception ended a promising drive that appeared to be scoring, and the 49ers were able to turn it into a field goal. In the second quarter, Laviska Shenault Jr. fumbled a kick return, setting up another field goal. In the fourth quarter, as the Seahawks attempted to mount an impressive comeback, Smith was intercepted again while trying to hit DK Metcalf with a crosser.

“We have to win the takeaway difference,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said. “That’s a team statistic…Obviously we don’t emphasize that enough. That's the starting point. The guys know that. I mean, add that to the list of things we need to attack. But we can’t give the ball away.” “We have to play more precisely.”

With three more turnovers tonight, the Seahawks now have 10 on the season and have committed multiple turnovers in five of six games. But the offense isn't the only part of the equation; Seattle's defense, which had three takeaways in the season opener, has just one in the last five games and didn't have a single one on Thursday. That puts the Seahawks' turnover differential at minus-six, which, as Macdonald noted, is hardly a winning formula.

“It’s probably the single thing that hurt our football team the most,” Macdonald said. “We have to take better care of the ball. Better practice it. You get what you emphasize, and apparently we don't emphasize it enough. Shooting is my responsibility.”