Three reasons the Seahawks should destroy the 49ers in week 13

The Seahawks will defeat the 49ers on Sunday in week 13. And here are three reasons the game will not be close.

The Seahawks have beaten the 49ers in 11 of the last 12 meetings between the teams. And these games do not all include the last few seasons when San Francisco has not been good. Even when the talent between the NFC West rivals was more level, Seattle won.

But this Sunday the game has no reason to be close. The Seahawks aren’t quite as talented as they have been. But Seattle’s strengths will still expose San Francisco’s weaknesses. And one of the 49ers strengths (of which there are very few) goes head-to-head with a Seattle strength (more on that in reason one).

Here are three reasons Seattle blows out the 49ers in week 13.

Bradley McDougald doesn’t let tight ends do anything

George Kittle is a very good tight end, and one of the 49ers few strengths,  but he won’t be on Sunday. McDougald simply shuts down opposing tight ends. Seattle has given up the second fewest receptions to tight ends in 2018 and the fourth fewest yards. This is all due to McDougald having simply a beast of a year.

And to make matters worse for Kittle, the 49ers are without most of their productive receivers due to injuries. Seattle will, of course, have even more focus on Kittle. The 49ers won’t have much to throw to on Sunday and the run game should be shuttered. If San Francisco scores 10 offensive points then something weird has happened.

The 49ers secondary won’t stop Russell Wilson

Sure, Richard Sherman will want to make some noise in his return to CenturyLink, but he cannot play the entire secondary. San Francisco, even when healthier this year, had trouble against opposing quarterbacks. And Wilson is no ordinary quarterback.

The 49ers aren’t bad against the run, though, so that means Seattle might throw more. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Wilson with 350 yards passing and three to four touchdown passes. Against a 49ers defense that has allowed 23 touchdown passes and only has two interceptions in 2018, Wilson may have even better numbers than I just suggested.

The Seahawks young players are beginning to make their own bones

Seattle didn’t make the playoffs last season. And this team is full of rookies and second-year guys who haven’t been to the postseason. Players like Chris Carson and Shaquill Griffin haven’t yet proven themselves in the playoffs.

But you can sense this team is beginning to believe in itself. And they are ready to unload on some poor opponent. This will be the week that happens. A weakened 49ers team against young players who want to be the core for the next five years of Seahawks football? The game will not be close.