Seahawks have won 4 of last 5 home games against 49ers

Sep 15, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the 2nd half at CenturyLink Field. Seattle defeated San Francisco 29-3. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

The Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers played their first game against each other on Sept. 26, 1976, a game that ended in a 37-21 San Francisco victory at The Kingdome.

The teams only played each other five times in the next 21 years, but they began playing each other regularly in 2002.

Since then, the Seahawks have won 13 of the 24 meetings between the teams, including eight of their 12 games at home.

More recently, the Seahawks have won four of their last five games against the 49ers in Seattle. Their most recent victory was a 29-3 win in Week 2 of this season and the win before that came on Dec. 23, 2012, when the Seahawks pounded the 49ers 42-13.

For the 49ers, both losses were their most lopsided of the season.

Most people in the football world knew that once the Seahawks clinched home-field advantage in the postseason, they would be a very tough team to beat.

But what makes the Seahawks so good at home? It’s not just the 49ers who can’t seem to figure out how to win in Seattle — in the past two seasons, the Seahawks have won 16 of 17 games at CenturyLink Field.

Most agree that it’s the crowd noise of the 12th Man that babbles opposing teams. Seattle’s crowd has set the world record of being the loudest stadium in the world not once, but twice this season.

They will be looking to get into the head of the 49ers on Sunday as well. The Seahawks know that their crowd is one of their biggest advantages and it can also play an integral part in helping with the confidence of the team.

If this game was going to be played in San Francisco, the outcome might be very different. The confidence of the Seahawks would certainly be different.

After all, the Seahawks have not won a game at Candlestick Park since 2008.

But the game won’t be played in San Francisco. It will be played at CenturyLink Field in front of some of the best — and loudest — fans in the world.

The Seahawks have won four of their last five games at home. If they can make it five of their last six, they will be going to the Super Bowl.

It’s that simple.