Seahawks know the 49ers hold the keys to the NFC West
The Seahawks are off to a 5-1 start, their best since their championship season. But for now, the road to the division title goes through San Francisco.
Despite their excellent start, the Seahawks aren’t the top dog – um, make that bird – in their division. Surprisingly, at least to those outside of San Francisco, that distinction doesn’t go to the two-time defending NFC West champion Rams. Instead, it’s the 49ers sitting at the top, undefeated at 5-0. No sooner than Seattle knocked off Los Angeles, they have a new contender to battle.
You could say the fight actually started in 2018. Seattle obliterated San Francisco in their first meeting last season, 43-16. Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny gouged the Niners defense for 134 yards rushing. The real damage came through the air, though. Russell Wilson completed 11 of 17 passes for 185 yards. It sounds like a bad day at the office for one of the league’s very best quarterbacks, right?
Well, it does until you see he also threw four touchdown passes. Wilson didn’t throw often, but he made each pass count. I think you’ll agree, four touchdowns on 11 passes is a pretty sweet ratio. The Niners could never get going as the Hawks jumped to a 20-0 lead. To rub a bit of salt into their eyes, Seattle capped the scoring with a spectacular 98-yard interception return by Bobby Wagner.
Apparently the Niners weren’t too happy about that result. Two weeks later, San Francisco got their revenge on Seattle with a shocking 26-23 win in overtime. 49ers backup QB Nick Mullens played another solid game, and Seattle forgot to bring their magic with them to the Bay. The Niners were aided by a 97-yard kickoff return and 14 penalties on the Seahawks for a staggering 148 yards. The long-dormant rivalry was back.
Seahawks have to play catch-up with the Niners
More from Seattle Seahawks News
- 4 prospects Seahawks could reach for at No. 20 in 2023 NFL Draft
- Seattle Seahawks Mock Draft: Post-first wave of free agency
- Seahawks podcast: A review of the first week of free agency
- 4 experiments the Seattle Seahawks could cut short in 2023
- 3 pros and cons of Seattle Seahawks drafting Anthony Richardson
Fast forward to 2019, and the 49ers are making a lot of noise. That noise isn’t about their GQ poster boy, either. Jimmy Garoppolo is a good quarterback, but any comparison to Russell Wilson is ludicrous. The Niners are winning for two reasons that will be familiar to 12s. In San Francisco, the wins are generated by the strength of their potent running game and a stifling defense. It sure doesn’t sound like a Kyle Shanahan formula, but it’s definitely working.
Their three-headed running attack is led by Matt Breida, who is averaging 5.8 yards per carry so far this season. Raheem Mostert isn’t far behind with a 5.5-yard average. Tevin Coleman, late of the Falcons, rounds out the trio. Together they’ve run for 790 yards and three touchdowns. That’s on 150 carries which gives them a 5.3-yard average. When they’re near the goal line the Niners often turn to Jeff Wilson, who has scored on four of his 18 carries. They lead the league in rushing attempts and are second in yardage and touchdowns.
The Niner defense is just as accomplished as their running attack. San Francisco currently ranks second in fewest points and yards allowed. Perhaps even more impressive is that they’re allowing opponents to score on just 19 percent of their possessions. That’s the third-best mark in the league behind the Patriots and the Bills. It sure helps to play the Jets and Dolphins.
As with the running backs, the 49ers don’t depend on one standout player. Rookie Nick Bosa may be getting the headlines, but Dee Ford is right there with him. In fact, the Niners have six players with at least two sacks and two quarterback hits this season. I know you don’t want to hear this, but the Seahawks only have two players that have done this, and that’s in six games, not five. Of course, they have that Richard Sherman guy, too.
Next. Metcalf a big advantage for Hawks. dark
The Seahawks and 49ers will face three more teams before they finally meet in Seattle on Veteran’s Day. A lot can happen before that clash but consider this. San Francisco will play Washington, Carolina, and Arizona in that stretch. There’s an excellent chance they’ll come into CenturyLink Field with a gaudy 7-1 record. Circle that date a third time, 12s.