San Francisco is on a good dynamic and goes to Seattle to validate its first place in the division.
Kick-off Thursday night to Friday at 2:15 a.m.
Seattle Seahawks (7-6) – San Francisco 49ers (9-4)
What if the 49ers were the hottest team in the league? Currently, San Francisco does not have the best record in the NFL. Franchise is not even that 6th behind in particular three NFC teams: Philadelphia (12-1)Minnesota (10-3) and Dallas (10-3). But it’s Kyle Shanahan’s men who have the longest streak (In progress) of victory. Californians indeed remain on 6 straight wins (@Rams, vs. Chargers, vs. Arizona, vs. Saints, vs. Dolphins and vs. Buccaneers). Above all, they give off an impression of dominance during these encounters. It’s simple, the last four games have been won with 10 points or more.
The best defense in the league
You have to go back to the week 7the October 23 last, to find traces of a defeat of the 49ers (vs. Chiefs). Result, a victory during this Thursday Night Football and they would be officially champions of their division. And therefore qualified for the playoffs. An important objective that was not won a few months ago. Perhaps most impressive is that during this period, San Francisco lost, Jimmy Garoppolo, its starting quarterback for (nearly) all year. He who was already replacing another injured quarterback, Trey Lance. With his 3rd pitcher therefore, Kyle Shanahan always manages to make his team perform.
The main reason is to find the other side of the ball, in defense. This squad is certainly the best in the NFL right now. San Francisco is the team that allows the fewest yards per game (286.8) and who collects the fewest points (15.2). The Seahawks’ challenge is therefore immense this Thursday. Conversely, Seattle is far from being in a good dynamic. We remember that it was Pete Carroll’s players who led the way in this division at the start of the season. Except that for a few weeks, it’s been more complicated and Seattle has just lost three of its last four games. To continue to claim the title in the NFC West or even a place in the Wild Cards, we will have to find a certain defensive solidity that has been fleeing Seattle for some time.
The key to the ground
The other important element for the Seahawks to become competitive again is on the ground. Despite a good Geno Smith (even during some defeats), the offense can’t just rest on the shoulders of his quarterback. Pete Carroll understood this perfectly and Kenneth Walker III had become an important part of this attack. Except that for a few weeks, it’s been a little more complicated until last week and the total absence of the rookie, injured. This Thursday, the running back could return to competition. He should do good, even if he’s going to face the best ground defense in the league. The 49ers only allow 75.1 rushing yards per game.
The ground will also be the key to this meeting. Brock Purdy is also a little hurt. It should hold its place, but could be diminished. Christian McCaffrey will therefore have even more work during this Thursday Night Football. Especially since, conversely, Seattle is in great difficulty in this sector. It’s simple, the Seahawks have one of the worst « run-stop » of the league with 160.5 yards allowed in this sector per game (31st in NFL, only Texans do worse). So Kyle Shanahan knows what to press on to get the Californians’ first division title since 2019.
