Penalty costs Lynch chance at winning TD in Seattle return

st was set for a storybook ending, with ball on 1-yard line and Marshawn Lynch running out onto field rey to score a division-clinching touchdown in his first game back in Seattle in more than four years.

Inste of a Beast Mode leap into end zone, Seahawks took a baffling delay-of-game penalty after confusion over personnel. So Lynch returned to sideline and was only a spectator when Jacob Hollister was stopped inches shy of goal line on fourth down in closing seconds of a 26-21 loss to San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night.

"It was a wild one," quarterback Russell Wilson said. "We h several different opportunities. We tried to make a play but sure eugh, we came up a half-inch short re."

chaotic closing sequence began when rookie John Ursua me his first career catch on fourth-and-10 from 12 with less than a minute to play.

Ursua was stopped inside 1 and Seahawks (11-5) rushed to line to spike ball to stop clock. re were still 22 seconds left for Seattle to get winning score, but Lynch was late running on field and Seahawks took a delay of game at a most ipportune time.

"We were in backs play before. We called personnel. We just didn't quite get it communicated with backs and we were late," coach Pete Carroll said. "We were late getting in re and we burned time. We just didn't get it done. We didn't function cleanly."

Seahawks still h a chance to win, but Wilson missed a second-down pass to Tyler Lockett and n again on third down to Jacob Hollister on a play that featured contact from linebacker Fred Warner but flag for interference.

"I felt him grabbing me, but you don't get every call," Hollister said. "I didn't get that call."

Officiating he Al Riveron said he reviewed play and determined it didn't warrant a stopp or an interference call.

Hollister n did get ball on a fourth-down pass and appeared heed to end zone before he was hit squarely by rookie Dre Greenlaw right at goal line. Hollister tried to reach ball over plane before he fell and re was confusion at end of play, with Niners rushing out on field in celebration and officials making immediate signal.

Eventually, referee Tony Corrente said play was under review and after a few minutes, Hollister was ruled down just shy of goal line.

"It was obviously such a bang-bang play," Hollister said. "But after seeing replay I really do think I got in. I'll have to watch it closer. Those guys do best y can making calls. Obviously I got called down short. It is what it is."

Those couple of inches were difference between Seahawks opening playoffs at home a division winner and traveling nearly 3,000 miles to Philelphia to take on Eagles (9-7) in wild-card round on Sunday.

"It was so close," Carroll said. "If y called it a touchdown we probably win a championship inste of or way around. It was as close as it can get. Sorry to fans we weren't able to get ar inch. That's what it was."

ending spoiled what h been a celebratory return to action for Lynch, who came off his couch earlier this week to play his first NFL game in more than 14 months and his first in Seattle, where he dominated earlier this dece, in more than four years.

Lynch was signed after Seattle lost running backs Chris Carson (hip) and C.J. Prosise (arm) to injuries last week. After just a few days of practice, Lynch was welcomed back with a thunderous ovation in pregame introductions and when he came on field for his first play.

"Straight love. That me your boy feel right at home," he said.

comeback was dealt a little setback when Lynch was stopped on fourth-and-1 late in first half, but he found his groove a bit in second half with a couple of vint runs, including a 1-yard leap into end zone early in fourth quarter. He finished with 34 yards on 12 carries.

"Just to see Marshawn dive in end zone was awesome," Wilson said. "To have Beast Mode back, he h some amazing runs. Just excitement when he came in game, it just felt right."

But it didn't end that way for Seahawks due to delay-of-game call that prevented Lynch from having a chance at winning score.

"I thought Marshawn would get ball," linebacker Bobby Wagner said, "and we'd run it in for a touchdown."