The San Francisco 49ers became the second NFL team to seal a place in this season’s play-offs by winning 21-13 at divisional rivals Seattle Seahawks.<\/span><\/p>\n On just his second NFL start, rookie quarterback Brock Purdy threw two touchdown passes to tight end George Kittle to give the 49ers a seventh straight win and move to a 10-4 record.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n That secured the NFC West title with three regular season games left.<\/span><\/p>\n The Seahawks (7-7) can still make the post-season via a wild-card spot.<\/span><\/p>\n Purdy, 22, was this year’s ‘Mr Irrelevant’, the nickname given to the player selected last in <\/span>the NFL draft.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n But injuries to Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo have handed the 262nd draft pick an unexpected opportunity to lead the 49ers into the play-offs and potentially to Super Bowl 57.<\/span><\/p>\n Since the draft moved to seven rounds in 1994, no quarterback selected in the final round has started a play-off game as a rookie – and only six have played in a play-off game at any point in their career.<\/span><\/p>\n Purdy became the first Mr Irrelevant to throw a regular-season touchdown pass when he replaced the injured Garoppolo two weeks ago.<\/span><\/p>\n Last week he became the first quarterback to beat record seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady on his first career start, as the 49ers defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 35-7.<\/span><\/p>\n And on his first away start on Thursday, he completed 17 of 26 passes for 217 yards in Seattle, while Kittle made four catches for 93 yards.<\/span><\/p>\n From 26 carries, mid-season signing Christian McCaffrey rushed for 108 yards and a touchdown, and added 30 yards on six catches.<\/span><\/p>\n The 49ers led 14-3 at half-time and 21-6 with less than four minutes remaining, when Seattle quarterback Geno Smith made his solitary touchdown pass to Noah Fant.<\/span><\/p>\n In his first season as a starter since 2014, Smith, 32, has surprisingly led the Seahawks back into play-off contention after trading <\/span>Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos<\/span><\/a> and was 31 of 44 passing for 238 yards.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/onesport\/cps\/624\/cpsprodpb\/CD98\/production\/_128023625_tv081075116.jpg\")
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