The Niners and Seahawks hate each other, and they also happen to have two of the best, hardest-hitting defense in the NFL. So there's bound to be some chippiness, and huge hits during Sunday's NFC Championship game. But this sequence involving Seattle tight end Luke Willson and San Francisco safety Donte Whitner might be the most violent of the day.
Donte Whitner flagged for violent hit on Seahawks tight end Luke Willson
The intent was not to go high here, but the result was some disturbing violence.
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Willson pulled in a ball going over the middle when a pursuing Eric Reid took him out low. That was just the start of the tackle, unfortunately for the tight end, as a Whitner was coming from the other side with his feet off the ground and his body in full launch. Whitner was expecting to catch Willson in the midsection, but Reid's first contact led to his disturbing pinball sequence.
Whitner never did actual made helmet-to-helmet contact (rather shoulder to shoulder), but Gene Steratore did still penalize the Niners 15 yards for the hit to the “head and neck area.”
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