Patrick Willis: I don’t get ‘caught up’ in trash talk, but Seahawks rivalry is a ‘dogfight’

Dec 29, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis (52) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis spoke with Sporting News on Tuesday and discussed a variety of subjects including his team’s rivalry with the Seahawks.

Willis said he tries not to get “caught up” in trash talk during the Seahawks-49ers rivalry, especially when it comes from Richard Sherman, via PennLive.com:

"I don’t really try to get caught up in that. People play the game and do whatever they do to get into guys’ heads. I’m not one to judge. You do what you feel like needs to be done to win."

At the same time, Willis said he appreciates the rivalry between the two teams. He said the fact that both teams have been winning a number of games in recent year’s has made the rivalry one of the best in the league.

"Seattle’s winning games, they won the whole thing. Us, we went to the Super Bowl the year before. We both win, play each other twice, and it’s a dogfight. Our scores, even when they’re not close, aren’t indicative of the games. If neither team was winning, there wouldn’t be a rivalry and no one would care about watching."

Since Pete Carroll took over as head coach of the Seahawks in 2010, the Seahawks have a 4-5 record against the 49ers, including last year’s NFC Championship game, which the Seahawks won.

All four of those wins have come at CenturyLink Field and Seattle hasn’t lost at home against the 49ers since Christmas Eve, 2011.

The recent trend seems to be that the Seahawks blow out the 49ers when the games are played in Seattle, but then they lose when they travel to San Francisco.

In their last three games at home, the Seahawks have outscored San Francisco 94-33, but they haven’t won a game at Candlestick Park since 2008.

The Seahawks will play the 49ers two more times next season, but the dates have not yet been set.