RENTON, Wash. -- Seattle coach Pete Carroll said Sunday’s 19-17 loss at San Francisco was the kind of physical game he expected, but some offensive penalties at key moments had a major impact on the outcome.

“We had nine drives, but three of them had major penalties they really affected positive plays for us,” Carroll said Monday. “Two of the three of them could have not been called and no one would have said anything.”

The three plays Carroll singled out were a first-quarter holding call on offensive tackle Russell Okung, an offensive interference call on receiver Golden Tate when he pushed off on a 16-yard first-down catch, and a hands to the face call on fullback Michael Robinson when Marshawn Lynch had a 20-yard run in the third quarter.

“I don’t think they were wrong calls, just unusual,” Carroll said. “We’re just looking for consistency. The penalties were a big factor in the game. We got backed up three different times. I'm not saying it was the story of the game. I don’t think it was. We need to stay out of those situations. It shows how the littlest things can determine the outcome of a game like that one.”

Carroll thought the story of the game was a slugfest between two strong teams and division rivals.

“It played like a championship game,” he said. “I think it was the kind of game a lot of people expected. But it was a difficult loss to take, because we had so much to gain out there.”

Seattle, 11-2, could have clinched the NFC West title with a victory. Now it will take two wins or one victory and a 49ers loss in the final three games.