3 bold predictions for Seahawks versus 49ers Week 2
By Lee Vowell
The Seahawks play their first road game of 2022 in Week 2 against the 49ers in, well…wherever they are located. Here are three things that maybe – possibly – could happen.
OK, to be fair. The San Francisco 49ers play in Santa Clara. The Seattle Seahawks play in Seattle where they should. Because, you know, it’s in the name of the team.
The weird part about Week 2 is that literally, anything can happen. The 49ers have been the more successful team, generally speaking, over the last few years but San Francisco also hasn’t defeated the Seahawks since 2019 and Seattle has won 17 of the last 20 meetings. Seriously.
49ers quarterback Trey Lance wasn’t great in his first start of 2022 and taking over full-time at QB this offseason but it was raining in Chicago and most QBs would have struggled. Seahawks QB Geno Smith was great in the first half of Week 1 and then hung on after that. So here’s what might happen in Week 2.
Three things that will happen when the Seahawks and 49ers play in Week 2
Deebo Samuel will have more yards by himself than the Seahawks have as a team
This is no disrespect to Geno Smith and company but Samuel is a different breed of cat. Or gold miner or whatever the 49ers are. And while facing fellow great receivers might motivate players like DK Metcalf, the truth is that San Francisco is going to use Samuel in ways the Seahawks would never dare to use Metcalf.
Add to that the fact that San Francisco still has an excellent defense and the part of the unit that Seattle could somewhat expose in previous seasons – the cornerbacks – is less likely to be exposed by Geno Smith and Seattle’s limited offense is going to probably be even more limited.
So Samuel will catch the ball and be handed the ball as a running back a lot in Week 2. Samuel is probably the best player on the field in Week 2 and will especially be the 49ers best offensive player if tight end George Kittle once again cannot play. Lots of Samuel use means production while the 49ers defense likely limits the Seahawks production.