Three Seahawks that must be beasts against 49ers week 17

Akeem King

Let me be clear in saying I do not think that the Seahawks will stop 49ers tight end George Kittle. Possibly no defense in the NFL would be successful at that. But Seattle also cannot let Kittle go off for 170 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns. Most likely, the person charged with covering Kittle a lot will be Akeem King.

King will get help, of course, but against a 49ers offense that can be tricky to defend at times, players will need to go one on one a bit. King has been decent playing outside the last two weeks with Shaquill Griffin out with an injury. But King has mostly played nickel during his two years with the Seahawks and has been pretty successful there.

But Kittle is a different kind of beast than King normally faces and limiting the 49er tight end will be a key to Seattle winning the game. Without Kittle in week 10. the 49ers picked up just a bit over 300 total yards and looked disjointed. Kittle returned in week 12 and had 129 yards receiving in a 37-8 blowout of the Packers. Kittle makes that big of a difference.

Seattle struggles generally covering tight ends and again, Kittle is going to get his yards tonight. But keeping him somewhat under control is crucial for Seattle. If King plays the game of his life, the Seahawks might come away with a win and the NFC West crown.